Could cold conditions freeze GC fight at Paris-Nice today? "The message will be as little suffering as possible" Remco Evenepoel says

Stage 6 of Paris-Nice will see temperatures that will be quite low and risk of rain towards the end. Harsh weather conditions may neutralize the GC fight, that is what Remco Evenepoel hints at the start line of what can be an important day.

"I'm ready. The only bad news is that it won't be a race to the sun. Everyone prefers 10 degrees and dry, but I don't have to ride any classics after this and I can recover from it," Evenepoel told Sporza this morning. "The risk of illness is worse for the other men here. It is so difficult with the weather conditions that it will simply be survival. The message will be as little suffering as possible."

Although these are logical words, it cannot be discarded in any scenario an attack from the Belgian champion, who is very well suited to this finale and has to make up time on several riders in the overall classification. Although a tough weekend ahead follows, Evenepoel currently faces the threat of several riders. The stage into La-Colle-sur-Loup features an ascent of almost 2 kilometers at 10% close to the finish and a very bumpy plateau section that suits him perfectly. It is possible that the Belgian is playing a bluff at the start of the day.

"The bonuses are in a nice place, but I am not going to race specifically for them. I will be able to get through the day well and focus on tomorrow." he adds. Team DS Klaas Lodewyck also points towards the importance of this point: "If you can take it, you should absolutely do it. It would be stupid to pass up those seconds."

Lodewyck also talks about the change in route for stage 7, this Saturday, which will finish atop the Madonne d'Utelle after heavy snow made it impossible for the original finale in Auron to be put together. "The distance has been reduced and you also have fewer elevation meters, which makes it a little less difficult, but it is still difficult enough."

"...We have a plan in mind and we are sticking to it." He says Evenepoel was "pretty calm. He realizes there's a reason for the adjustment. Nobody wants to take risks and race in the snow. Whether this increases or decreases his chances? Neither. If you are the best, you can still make the difference on Sunday."