"It's obvious that I need to make time up" - Remco Evenepoel to go on the attack in attempt to secure Paris-Nice 2024 victory

Coming into Saturday's stage 7 at Paris-Nice 2024, Remco Evenepoel sits in fifth position in the general classification at 1:03 behind Brandon McNulty. Still all to play for.

On stage 6, McNulty was one of a trio that managed to get up the road and put nearly a minute into Evenepoel. "It was a small disappointment from my side after making the decision to not go on the attack as well," Evenepoel reflects in his pre-stage 7 interview. "It's a mistake I've made but now is a new day with new opportunities and we have to turn the page and keep going."

With a shortened 104km stage finishing atop La Madone d'Utelle to come later today, Evenepoel is clear on what's required of him if he wishes to take the Maillot Jaune. "It's obvious that I need to make time up. I will probably not make everything up today but if I can reduce the time gaps that would be good with the stage of tomorrow in mind," he assesses. "I will probably not be the only one with this idea."

"Matteo Jorgenson also wants to win this race so he will attack to put McNulty in difficulty so it will be a bit of cat-and-mouse games I think on the last climb," he continues. "I need to stay on the bike because it's wet, twisty roads and we saw yesterday it can be very slippery in between the trees and in the country."

"Probably INEOS will set a very hard pace at the bottom of the climb. It's one that suits Egan Bernal so it's going to be an interesting day," he concludes with a wry smile.