In a thrilling conclusion to the seventh stage of the 2026 Paris-Nice, Dorian Godon of INEOS Grenadiers clinched victory in a shortened route that transformed from a mountainous challenge to a high-speed sprint. The stage, initially designed as the queen stage with a summit finish in Auron, was altered due to adverse weather conditions, leading to a 47-kilometre parcours culminating in Isola-Village.
The day’s action unfolded with Visma-Lease a Bike asserting control early on, maintaining a steady pace that deterred breakaway attempts. However, Alpecin-Premier Tech’s Tim Marsman broke away, establishing a lead of over half a minute. Despite his efforts, the peloton reeled him back in nine kilometres from the finish, with Marsman earning the day’s combativity award for his persistence.
As the race approached its finale, a second attack emerged from Nicolas Vinokurov, but like Marsman, he was swiftly neutralised by the peloton. With five kilometres remaining, the stage was set for a mass sprint, albeit on a challenging uphill finish.
The final kilometres saw the peloton thinning out, primarily due to two significant crashes. The most severe involved Harold Tejada, who was forced to abandon the race after a hard fall. Despite these incidents, the leading riders remained intact, and the general classification standings remained unchanged.
In the decisive sprint, Godon was expertly positioned by his INEOS Grenadiers teammates, notably Michal Kwiatkowski, who played a pivotal role in keeping the team at the forefront during the final lap. Godon launched his sprint with precision, holding off challenges from Biniam Girmay and Cees Bol, who secured second and third places, respectively. This victory marked a significant achievement for Godon, showcasing his speed and tactical acumen in a race that had been reshaped by the elements.
The 2026 Paris-Nice continues to deliver unpredictable and exciting racing, with each stage presenting new challenges and opportunities for riders to demonstrate their prowess. As the race progresses, all eyes will be on the upcoming stages to see how the general classification contenders navigate the remaining tests of endurance and strategy.
Highlights:
- ‘Today was the revenge…’ – Harold Tejada slips the bunch for solo victory on lumpy stage 6 of Paris-Nice, Published on Friday, March 13
- Paris-Nice: Harold Tejada survives late issue and launches daring attack to win stage 6 solo, Published on Friday, March 13