Aleksandr

Aleksandr Vlasov soloed to victory in the Paris-Nice stage seven summit finish on Saturday as unseasonable weather played havoc with what had been billed as the race showdown.

Overnight leader Brandon McNulty was dropped on the final climb but dug deep in a damage limitation effort that salvaged a slender four-second lead over fellow American Matteo Jorgenson, with pre-race favourite the Belgian Remco Evenepoel in third at 36sec.

"I was so cold and at the end I got a bit stuck, but I held on for the jersey," said McNulty.

Looking ahead, Jorgenson said: "Tomorrow everything can change."

The expected penultimate stage showdown was reduced to a skirmish due to the ultra-short 104km route, but Sunday's finale in the Nice back-country mountains could create a bigger shake-up.

The expected penultimate stage showdown was reduced to a skirmish due to the ultra-short 104km route, but Sunday's finale in the Nice back-country mountains could create a bigger shake up.

Saturday's finish up the Madone d'Utelle 15km climb at 5.7 percent saw the field gradually whittled down with Bora-Hansgrohe rider Vlasov going out alone with 5km remaining.

"It was tough conditions with the rain and cold," said the Russian winner.

Resurgent Ineos rider Egan Bernal was bereft of his sherpa Carlos Rodriguez and lost time, while Evenepoel had Yves Lampaert until late in the climb and was first across the line from the yellow jersey group.

Known as the 'Race to the Sun', the 2024 Paris-Nice was shortened on Saturday due to snow and ice in the mountains and was contested in cold, rainy conditions.

Sunday's stage is still a tough one with the potential for much change with five climbs on the 109km route.