"Either we would sprint with Primoz, or I would follow some attacks" - Aleksandr Vlasov and BORA - hansgrohe top competition at Paris-Nice showdown

Aleksandr Vlasov said a few weeks ago that despite the presence of Primoz Roglic, he would fight for his opportunities and look for wins. Turns out the BORA - hansgrohe rider was not wrong, he was the strongest out of everyone today at Paris-Nice, winning on the summit finish to Madone d'Utelle.

“It is a stage race in the WorldTour, it is one of the most important races. What makes it extra special is that it is in my training area. I know these roads. I'm super happy to win," Vlasov said in a post-race interview. After Ilnur Zakarin won here a few years ago in the climb's most recent use, Russian compatriot Vlasov this time around succeeded: “I knew he won then. It's funny that I'm winning here now too. It is our happiness mountain."

It was a win of great legs and tactics. After Soudal - Quick-Step's intense work Remco Evenepoel attacked with just over 4 kilometers to go. After the pace stalled Vlasov moved off the front. Tactically it was the right move as Primoz Roglic could then follow the wheels, but it turned out that Vlasov himself ended up being the strongest on the day. Alone, he held off the charge of Visma and Remco Evenepoel who pulled themselves inside out to distance Brandon McNulty.

Vlasov had worked for Roglic earlier in the week and lost time, “that gave me some freedom to choose the attack," he says. The 27-year old didn't expect himself to have such good legs on the day: "The plan was to see how it would go. Either we would sprint with Primoz, or I would follow some attacks. But I found a good time and decided to go, because there was room. I just went.”

The riders faced brutal weather conditions, he tells: “It was raining and cold. I almost froze in the last two kilometers. My arms in particular were very cold. Luckily I was well dressed, so it wasn't too bad."

"The course was also quite tricky.” The final day of racing won't be too different, with cold conditions and a lot of rain set to fall overnight making the roads sketchy. Vlasov will enter the final day of racing in 10th position, 2:05 minutes behind race leader Brandon McNulty.