Paris-Nice 2025 Stage 7 - Michael Storer wins mountain stage from the break, Matteo Jorgenson defends race lead

A shortened Queen stage went the way of the break, as Michael Storer (Tudor Pro Cycling) executed an impressive victory, while yellow jersey Matteo Jorgenson (Visma-Lease a Bike) had little difficulty hanging onto the overall lead. 

Wintry weather conditions meant the middle two climbs were removed from the original route, as the race headed straight for the final climb at Auron. Nine riders abandoned overnight, due to the conditions past and those to come, while several would follow during the stage. 

A group of 17 riders made it into the break, including some strong climbers with big wins on their palmares. Up and over the first couple of small bumps, they maxed out their lead at just under 3’30".

As the road began gradually to rise again disaster struck for Lidl-Trek. Their GC leader Mattias Skjelmose, who had moved onto the provisional podium on Friday, rode into a low traffic island and was taken to hospital.

The peloton was somewhat motivated and organised to bring the break back, with Red Bull Bora–hansgrohe, Astana and UAE Team Emirates spending the most time on the front. Their work brought the gap to the escape down to just under two minutes as they reached the official start of the climb to Auron ski station.

At least matching their motivation, however, were Tudor Pro Cycling and Jayco AlUla. The former had Julian Alaphilippe working for Storer, while Jayco had Kelland O’Brien in the engine room on behalf of Mauro Schmid. 

The pair pulled away from the rest halfway up the climb, and having dropped the dead weight they were able to increase their advantage. With 2.7km to go Storer showed himself to be the stronger and set off in search of the stage win, which he duly secured. His margin of more than a minute to the peloton was enough to lift him nine places in the overall standings to fourth. 

There was no real action in the breakaway group, although second place Florian Lipowitz (Bora) was able to steal a few seconds towards the top.

Looks much like the old one, with a single glaring, unfortunate exception.

1. Matteo Jorgenson 23'37'42"
2. Florian Lipowitz +37
3. Thymen Arensman +1'20
4. Michael Storer +2'25
5. Joao Almeida +2'40

TOP FIVE ON THE STAGE
1. Michael Storer (Tudor) 2'43'31"
2. Mauro Schmid (Jayco AlUla) +20''
3. Georg Steinhauser (EF Education-EasyPost) +30''
4. Ivan Romeo (Movistar) +45''
5. Jordan Jegat (Total Energies) +50''

Martinez in seventh place, gaining three seconds, and Mads Pedersen in 10th.

It doesn't matter much, and the fireworks were stifled by the snow, but chapeau that man, who's supposed to be a sprinter. Lenny Martinez was only a few seconds in front of the peloton, and Lipowitz pulled back a couple of seconds, that's all.

He just about manages to take his arms off his bars to celebrate. It's not the most stable of celebrations, but it doesn't matter. He's done his team, and Western Australia proud.

And he still has a minute over Gall, plus the riders between he's gaining on. I think it was just too cold for most of these riders today. He's into the steep section, and he'll be able to put a coat on very soon.

Following one from Felix Gall. Too little, too late? He presumably received word on the radio, but I'm not sure there's enough road on which he can pull this back, even if he rides a whole lot faster.

Storer can press on now and ride away to a big win for Tudor Pro Cycling. Not guaranteed at this point but he has a great opportunity to bring this home.

He just likes to ride hard, I guess. His sprinting might not be where it usually is, but you can't question his climbing legs. Tobias Foss is riding strongly, but it's not looking like enough to bring these two back entirely. Dead weight dropped, they've increased the advantage.

That's a bit of a shock. We thought Steinhauser was riding for him but an acceleration from Storer has done for him. 1'21 the gap with Storer and Schmid leading the way. The roadside is starting to look pretty snowy.

And sending riders out the back of the peloton, including the last of Matteo Jorgenson's team-mates. Thomas Gachignard, the maillot a pois, isn't picking up any more mountains points today. The breakaway is also diminishing, now down to just ten riders. Including Fred Wright, in case you were worried I hadn't mentioned him for a while. And as I say that, there goes Fred, at the same time as Bruno Armirail.

And job done for Julian Alaphilippe. Sean Kelly thinks it's advantage breakaway but barely. The climb gets harder towards the summit. Time for some riders to go up and away, but most are about to go backwards.

And Red Bull riding like they want more from this stage - possibly more from the entire race. Bahrain also contributing, despite having Fred Wright in the break. They obviously want to give Lenny Martinez a shot and think he has a better chance at the stage than Fred. They're still two and a bit kilometres from the start of the climb proper.

15KM TO GO: MORE ABANDONS
Anthony Turgis and Jefferson Cepeda are the latest to leave the race. That takes us to 30 since last Sunday.

He's one who certainly isn't shirking, riding across the intermediate sprint in pole position, with his Tudor team-mate Alaphilippe right behind. Alaphilippe is another one giving everything for Storer, while Steinhauser is doing what he can for Powless.

20KM TO GO: BREAKAWAY LOSING COHESION
And the chase increasingly committed. Nils Politt is back at the front, gritting that shiny set of nashers of his. 2'40 now the time between front group and second, as the race approaches the intermediate sprint. Lots of looking around, a few too many missed turns, you'd think it would aid the escape's chances if they were to drop some of the dead weight, or at least find them out.

Red Bull also riding, while UAE have backed off a bit, as have Visma. You'd think UAE would be the most motivated to ride. Even if the podium is a bridge too far, double mountains points at the finish would put the Portugese rider more than back in the jersey. Still three minutes they are down.

As much as I would love to see Fred Wright claim his first Worldie I don't think this is the day for him, not in this company. Neilson Powless (EF Education EasyPost) is a pretty clear pick, as has Mauro Schmid and Michael Storer. You wouldn't rule out Julian Alaphilippe of course, although it's been a few years since he's shown his yellow jersey form. He'd like to get a win for his new team, though, especially on French roads.

Proper flurries of the stuff. Fortunately it's not sticking to the roads, and of course they don't have to go down at any further point.

Rob Hatch has just pointed out that it was the fastest Paris-Nice stage ever, and the fastest over 200km in length. Given the conditions, I think they all just wanted to get back to the bus as soon as possible.