This 7th stage of the Paris-Nice 2026 which was supposed to offer a beautiful spectacle between Nice and Auron ultimately turned out to be a massive sprint over 47 km. At the finish in Isola, it was Dorian Godon who secured the first French victory. The Ineos Grenadiers team rider takes the green jersey on the eve of the finish.
It was supposed to be the queen stage of this Paris-Nice 2026, but it turned out to be a leisurely ride for the riders. The organizers of Paris-Nice were forced to drastically modify the route of the seventh stage due to particularly unfavorable weather. The Alpes-Maritimes department was placed on yellow alert for rain and flooding, and snow also complicated matters. The start, which was supposed to take place in Nice, ultimately did not start in the Côte d’Azur capital but at Pont Louis Nucera. The finish planned for Auron was also changed as it had been two years ago. It ultimately took place in Isola, as had been the case in the past when the stage had been cancelled at the Mercantour resort.
The peloton, which had prepared to cover 120.4 kilometers, ultimately only competed in a stage of just under fifty kilometers, with nearly three in parade before the actual start. Once again this year, the Nice stage of Paris-Nice 2026 took place under rain and snow, confirming the fears that had been mounting since the day before.
Under heavy rain, the peloton, which numbered only 110 riders at the start, showed no real desire to race. Yet on a rolling profile but with over 300 m of climbing, it was possible for an ambitious team to make gaps by creating a breakaway. It didn’t happen. Only Dutchman Tim Marsman (Alpecin-Premier Tech) attempted to escape for a few kilometers. Well controlled by the peloton, he was caught less than ten kilometers from Isola.
Dorian Godon surprise green jersey wearer
While the Nice native, Nikolas Vinokurov, also attempted to attack without any chance, the stage was destined for a sprinter. In a finish dusted with snow on the roadside that potentially caused nervousness and crashes, it was French champion Dorian Godon (Ineos Grenadiers) who prevailed. Perfectly positioned by his teammates, the Frenchman dominated a sprint against good sprinting specialists. Among them, Biniam Girmay of NSM Cycling (green jersey of the 2024 Tour de France), second today, ahead of Cees Bol (Decathlon CMA CGM) and Laurence Pithie.
The green jersey of this Paris-Nice 2026, winner of the first stage, Luke Lamperti (EF Education – EasyPost), finished 5th and hands his jersey to Dorian Godon by four points. A classification contested by Jonas Vingegaard who will have the opportunity to seize it tomorrow on a stage that will be significantly more difficult. The riders will have 129 km to settle things in the Nice hinterland.
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