Paris-Nice queen stage shortened as snow halts the 'Race to the Sun'

As anticipated in recent days, the queen stage of Paris-Nice has officially been shortened due to severe weather conditions, forcing race organisers ASO to intervene for rider safety.

The decision, which was made in consultation with local authorities, the UCI commissaires’ panel, and team representatives, means that Stage 7 has been reduced by more than forty kilometres.

"The weather conditions remain unfavourable for Saturday, especially at higher altitudes," the organisation confirmed. "In order to guarantee the safety of the riders, the decision to modify the route of the seventh stage has been taken in consultation with the city of Nice, the Métropole Nice Côte d'Azur, Alpes-Maritimes and in consultation with the UCI commissaires' panel and representatives of teams and riders."

The finish in Auron remains unchanged, but the descent of the Col de la Colmiane has been deemed too dangerous, forcing the organisers to reroute the stage. As a result, the peloton will now skip both the Côte de Belvédère and the Col de la Colmiane, instead following a safer alternative route through the Var valley and then the Tinée valley after 55.8 kilometres.

The riders will then rejoin the original course shortly before Saint-Sauveur-sur-Tinée, ensuring that the final 32.5 kilometres remain intact. Ultimately, this modification reduces the stage from 147.8 kilometres to 109.3 kilometres, significantly altering the race dynamics.

It has been a challenging day for the race organisers, already dealing with the shock withdrawal of Jonas Vingegaard earlier in the morning. After crashing on Stage 5, the defending Paris-Nice champion was forced to abandon the race, leaving Team Visma | Lease a Bike to rethink their strategy.

While the shortened stage will dampen some of the excitement for fans, safety remains the top priority, and the modified course still offers plenty of opportunities for decisive racing. With fewer kilometres but the same intense finale, expect fireworks as riders look to take advantage of the altered stage profile.