Interviewer: We're listening, do you have something to say?
Interviewee: Yes, hello. Following Saturday’s weather forecasts in the Auron area, we have worked with the prefecture, the Nice Côte d'Azur metropolitan area, and the city of Nice to modify the route. The start will remain in Nice, and the finish will still be in Auron. However, we will remove the entire Vésubie Valley section, including the climbs of Belvédère and La Colmiane.
The idea is that temperatures are expected to be between 0 and 2 degrees Celsius at 1500 meters, and we don’t want the riders to experience extreme cold again like they did a few days ago. More importantly, we want to avoid any risks on the descent of La Colmiane.
The new route will be 109 km long, with a course modification at kilometer 46. The beginning of the route will remain the same until kilometer 46, and we will rejoin the original route at kilometer 71. The stage will now be 109 km long, with 2,300 meters of elevation gain. The finish in Auron remains unchanged, and the climb to Auron will be the deciding factor in this 7th stage of Paris-Nice.
Interviewer: This changes the dynamics of the race a bit. It becomes more of a summit finish with a direct climb at the end, doesn’t it?
Interviewee: That’s correct. We are removing some challenges, but it remains a mountain race. Previously, there were 30 km of valley roads between the end of the La Colmiane descent and the base of the Auron climb. Now, there will be around 50-60 km of valley, so 30 km more. The overall philosophy of the stage remains the same. We wanted to keep this summit finish and ensure the arrival in Auron.
We will be near the rain-snow limit tomorrow, but conditions will allow the riders to reach the finish. The decision has been made, which is important for the teams and riders so they have clarity on the course the day before the stage.
We are fortunate to be well-supported by the prefecture, the city of Nice, and the Nice Côte d'Azur metropolitan area. We’ve been in contact all week, as the weather has been very changeable, making it difficult to make the right decision. But we believe we have found a good solution for both the riders and the teams.
Interviewer: It seems like every year, there are course changes. Is it becoming more difficult to organize Paris-Nice as planned?
Interviewee: This has always been somewhat the case. Of course, we would have preferred to hold the race a week earlier when temperatures were 15-17 degrees—it would have been easier for us as organizers. But it’s up to us to adapt.
When we are close to the rain-snow limit, we must avoid long descents because the riders can suffer from extreme cold. We took that into account and are still offering a stage that will be competitive while prioritizing rider safety and well-being.
Interviewer: The weather will improve on Sunday, right?
Interviewee: Yes, the weather will change overnight from Saturday to Sunday, and we will have a great Paris-Nice course. We are removing one climb, but if you look at yesterday’s stage, we added many climbs. Over the entirety of Paris-Nice, the overall balance will be good.
Interviewer: Without a crystal ball, what weather conditions can we expect at the summit of Auron tomorrow evening?
Interviewee: If I knew for sure... The forecast puts us right at the rain-snow limit. If we hit the right window, there won’t be any snow. If we hit the wrong window, there could be a little snowfall. But in any case, it won’t settle on the road, and we have the guarantee of a well-cleared road. The riders will be able to perform well on the final climb.
Interviewer: Did what happened on Thursday at La Loge des Gardes influence today’s decision?
Interviewee: Let’s say we’ve already used our "joker" once, and we don’t want to repeat that situation. We are doing everything we can to ensure things go smoothly.
Interviewer: Was this decision something that all teams found acceptable?
Interviewee: Yes, I think so. The riders and teams always do their best to complete the stages, but we can’t ask too much of them. What happened at La Loge des Gardes earlier this week was difficult to manage, and we didn’t want to be in the same situation again. We also wanted to anticipate any potential rider protest. This way, we have a stage that will take place under tough but manageable conditions.
Interviewer: One last thing—Vingegaard won’t start this morning. Any reaction?
Interviewee: Yes, he was unlucky again yesterday. That does take away some excitement from the race. But the season is long, and unfortunately, crashes are part of it. Yesterday’s fall happened in relatively easy conditions—he was climbing a pass at 15-20 km/h, touched a wheel, and went down. It’s bad luck, but these things happen throughout the season.
Cycling is a risky sport at times, and we have to accept that there will be injuries.
Interviewer: Thank you.
Interviewee: Thank you.
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