PREVIEW | Paris-Nice 2023 stage 8 - Pogacar, Gaudu and Vingegaard's final mountain battle

Preview. Tadej Pogacar, Jonas Vingegaard and David Gaudu have been battling for the yellow jersey this week, and stage 8 will be the final day and opportunity for this big battle to climax on a very dangerous day.

The traditional final stage in Nice will wrap up the race. The general classification can and likely will play out in this day. A breakaway can also succeed here, and it's with no surprise as the stage features only 118 kilometers and five similar categorized climbs, all followed by descents which are frequently technical. An explosive day where a lot of action is in store.

Start Time: 11:55CET

Finish Time: 14:50CET

6,2Km at 5.8%, 5.4Km at 4.5%, 6.5Km at 5.8% are the details of the initial climbs of the day which start after 14 kilometers of racing. This is likely where the breakaway will be set, the GC fight will begin to be played out tactically, as the short succession of ascents and technical descent are ideal terrain for a chaotic race situation, leading up to the first decisive climb of the day.

Côte de Peille which has 6.6Km at 6.9%. It's a climb which doesn't frighten many by it's details but almost every year sees big attacks which decimate the peloton. There are 14 hairpins in this ascent which could be called a mini Alpe d'Huez. It is no surprise why so many riders try their luck attacking here and why even the best GC riders find themselves under great difficulties. After follows a long plateau and descending section into Nice.

And the hardest vertent of the Col d'Éze which is 6.2Km at 7.6% (with some 1.9Km at 10.7% in the middle). It's a brutal climb and likely the most difficult vertent of the climb. Used in past years, this is one where differences can actually be made. It features the gradients, but also the distance, it's a serious ascent which at the end of such a difficult day and eight days of racing can be deadly to some.

The summit is 15.5 kilometers away from the finish, most of them downhill back into Nice where gaps can still be cut or increased, before the finale at the Promenade des Anglais.

Calmer, at long last. Some small breeze from the south but it won't be crucial throughout the day. The sun will finally be out (the saying Race to the Sun could not be more fitting) and there won't be threats of strong wind and rain.

Tadej Pogacar - He's the man to beat. Over the whole week Pogacar has looked to be the strongest consistently. The toughest day would be today, but having taken the win he will be calmer. The gap to Gaudu isn't big however, he will need to have his very best level to keep his yellow jersey.

Jonas Vingegaard - Vingegaard has the motivation, but the legs are not yet his very best. The Col de la Couillole was the climb where he could do damage, he looked better but Pogacar was on a superior level. He will most likely try to raid the race at Peille, it is a very frequent strategy and it's not like he has much to lose. Very likely Jumbo will try to get Tobias Foss in the breakaway, who could both fight for the stage win or be there as a possible rider to bridge across.

David Gaudu - Gaudu is showing his best legs. The gap to Pogacar is of only 12 seconds, the yellow jersey is very much within reach if there is a mishap, the gap can almost be closed on bonifications alone. He's got some time over Vingegaard and a lot over Yates so as to go on the attack, and the explosive gradients of tomorrow will suit him quite well.

Simon Yates - Don't be mistaken by not having directly responded to the attacks today. Yates finished only 19 seconds back on Pogacar and continues within reach of the podium. Last year he's won this stage and the climbs suit him. Let's see if he will find his best level, if so he could fight for the stage win as well.

The GC fight won't just include them however. Most likely they will be the main figures, but it is possible for there to be surprises on the final day of racing. Gino Mäder, Neilson Powless and Aurélien Paret-Peintre have shown very good level throughout this race on occasion, and despite having GC responsibilities they most likely can surprise and benefit from the lack of coverage from the other men.

Romain Bardet, Matteo Jorgenson and Pavel Sivakov will also be within the outsiders for the stage, likely to battle for the lower spots in the overall classification, but always within reach of a great day and a surprise.

As for the breakaway it holds big chances. This is a stage that very much suits a breakaway, although less than it used to as the organizers have brought a very difficult climb to it's end. Nevertheless the constant climbs and very technical descents make it hard to have an organized chase, and this late in the race many quality riders have lost time. This provides an opportunity for some to succeed.

The likes of Daniel Martínez, Ion Izagirre and Kévin Vauquelin had a bad day today and lost time in the GC. On the upside they've got freedom now, and if they have a day back at a strong level they can benefit quite a lot. Kobe Goossens and Javier Romo who thrived in the final ascent today, out of the breakaway riders, will also be good cards for a result.

Lilian Calmejane, Wout Poels, Nick Schultz, Clément Berthet and Bob Jungels are in my oinion riders who will also have a chance of succeeding in this scenario. It's a day for the in-frm climbers, this is where they have to perform if they want to consolidate the work of the whole week.

*** Tadej Pogacar
** David Gaudu, Jonas Vingegaard, Simon Yates
* Neilson Powless, Romain Bardet, Gino Mäder, Kobe Goossens, Daniel Martínez, Kévin Vauquelin, Ion Izagirre

Pick: Ion Izagirre