The Road to the Sun ends with a tough stage in Nice that could shake up the overall standings on the final day of the one-week race. Tadej Pogačar is only 12 seconds ahead of David Gaudu, which heralds another exciting cycling day.
On the eventful last day of racing against the Sun, there were several attempts to escape, Jan Tratnik also got in on the action, but the main part did not allow the formation of a real escape. After four climbs, on the gentle approach to the Èze pass, Wout Pouls escaped, but behind him the fight for the second seconds started. This time, with the help of Arnaud Demar, David Gaudu could not stop the prepared Tadej Pogačar, who with two more seconds of deduction increased the advantage over the Frenchman to 14 seconds.
Skupni vrstni red po 7. etapi: 1. T. POGAČAR SLO 21:10:50 2. D. GAUDU FRA +0:12 3. J. VINGEGAARD DAN 0:58 4. S. YATES VB 1:27 5. G. MÄDER ŠVI 1:59 ... 43. J. TRATNIK SLO 32:10 82. D. NOVAK SLO 49:15
16 last-day twists in race history
The 81st Paris-Nice race ends with the 8th stage, which is identical to last year. That’s when it is Simon Yates fairly threatened overall victory with the attack Primož Roglič, but with the help of Wout van Aert, he managed to defend the yellow shirt in a dramatic way. In the history of the race against the Sun, there were 16 reversals on the last day, the last victim of which was Roglič in 2021, when he fell.
Tadej Pogačar is in the best position to succeed his compatriot on the list of winners of the most important spring stage race. But despite two stage victories on the mountain stages, the final success Gorenje wolf not yet guaranteed. David Gaudu with the support of the Groupama FDJ team, he will attack and try to shake off the world’s number one rider.
After Saturday’s victory on the Couillole pass, Pogačar emphasized that the ups and downs in Nice are even more colorful to him, and it’s also no secret that he prefers to win at home. Passing the Èze and finishing on the Promenade de Anglais are just a stone’s throw from his home in Monaco and a regular part of his training rides.
A steep shortcut to the Èze pass
The 118.4 km long stage started in Nice at 11:55 a.m., the winner on the Cote d’Azur is expected around 2:40 p.m. Beautiful sunny and warm weather will accompany the cyclists over all five ascents and descents. First, three slopes of the 2nd category and then two slopes of the 1st category, of which the last ascent to Col d’Èze (6 km with 7.6%). If the previous ascents are even, last year the classic climb to Èze was spiced up with a shortcut: from the town to the Quatre Chemins pass, you go along a narrow path, 1.4 km long, with an average gradient of 11.5 percent.
A key section for the attack of Gaudu or Pogačar, if he really wants to spice up the overall victory with the third stage. But of course, at the same time, there will be no shortage of other teams and hunters for stage glory.
CYCLING – WORLD SERIES 2023
81. PARIS–NICE
8th stage, Nice–Nice, 118.4 km:
Source: Rtvslo
