"We voted to race" - Dorian Godon never had doubts on racing at Paris-Nice and takes his first win for INEOS Grenadiers

INEOS Grenadiers started Paris-Nice with one of the best lineups they could and so at the start of today's stage at Paris-Nice, the team wanted to race and make use of their strong lineup. It was a positive decision for the British team as one of their winter signings, Dorian Godon, stormed to his first win in the INEOS jersey.

Godon was never a favourite for stage 7 once the route was presented, as it was planned to finish atop the Auron ski station. However, heavy snowfall and extremely low temperatures changed the plans and deemed it unsafe to do so. After two route changes, the riders were off to a 47-kilometer long stage, finishing in Isola, near the base of the final climb.

"We wanted to race. We have riders, we were very motivated, we voted to race, and we stayed focused the whole time. I think that was our strength—always concentrated," Godon said in a post-ace interview. "Even here, the weather was good, the roads were safe. So, I'm very happy to have stayed focused, everyone was motivated, the staff is 200% behind us".

There wasn't the need for a breakaway chase, but instead have the right men in the right place at the right time. That is what the team did, and after avoiding the crashes in the snow-covered finale, Joshua Tarling and Sam Watson delivered Godon perfectly to the final sprint. After finishing second the previous days, only to an Harold Tejada who had attacked and taken a solo win, it was a great sigh of relief for the French champion.

"Every day was a new step forward. I showed I could win yesterday. And the whole team gave 200% for me today, and even yesterday, and now everyone has confidence in me. When I'm given a chance, I often succeed. I was really well supported, so it's very satisfying."

INEOS showed up at the French race with an incredibly strong team consisting of Carlos Rodríguez who crashed early in the race and didn't show his best level; an Oscar Onley who also crashed in the echelons day and has since abandoned; Kévin Vauquelin who is still in the mix for the podium; Joshua Tarling who carried the team into TTT victory; Road captain Michal Kwiatkowski and of course British and French national champions Watson and Godon who formed the sprinter block, one who can handle the climbs very well.

It is a '7' worthy of the Tour de France and that seems to be exactly what the British team was putting into practice this week. "That was the best reward. It's kind of the Tour de France team of the season, so yes, it's about developing new routines, and yeah, everything was a bit new for me too, the way of racing as well. And so, I'm learning, and I'm learning quickly, so that's good."

Whilst tomorrow's stage may still provide an opportunity for an in-form Godon, he certainly is not going to ignore this afternoon's achievements: "A while before the start of the season, I bought a bottle of wine called 'Satisfied,' and I'm finally going to open it," he joked, but with a well-deserved celebration.