Paris-Nice 2018 Stage 6: Solo victory Molard, LL Sánchez still in lead

The 6th stage of Paris-Nice takes in four intermediate hills before the finale spices up the route some more with a 1.8 kilometres 'wall' at 10% and a 3 kilometres climb at 5.7%. Rudy Molard attacks in the last kilometre and solos to victory ahead of Tim Wellens and Julian Alaphilippe. LL Sánchez retains in yellow, while runner-up Wout Poels crashes out of contention. (Slideshow route/profile)

Results 6th stage 2018 Paris-Nice

1. Rudy Molard (fra)
2. Tim Wellens (bel) + 0.02
3. Julian Alaphilippe (fra) s.t.
4. Luis León Sánchez (spa) s.t.
5. Sam Oomen (nld) s.t.
6. Dylan Teuns (bel) s.t.
7. Patrick Konrad (aut) s.t.
8. Esteban Chaves (col) s.t.
9. Gorka Izagirre (spa) s.t.
10. Sergio Henao (col) s.t.

12. Ion Izagirre (spa) s.t.
13. David de la Cruz (spa) s.t.
15. Simon Yates (gbr) s.t.
16. Marc Soler (spa) s.t.

GC after 6th stage
1. Luis León Sánchez (spa)
2. Julian Alaphilippe (fra) + 0.22
3. Marc Soler (spa) + 0.26
4. Gorka Izagirre (spa) + 0.34
5. Tim Wellens (bel) + 0.35
6. Ion Izagirre (spa) + 0.42
7. Simon Yates (gbr) + 0.45
8. Sergio Henao (col) + 0.46
9. Esteban Chaves (col) + 0.48
10. Patrick Konrad (aut) + 0.54

Race report
Despite attempts to break clear, the peloton remains bunched until km 20. Then Bak, Moinard, Martens, Lemoine, Scully and Grellier open up a gap and the peloton literally goes the wrong way. De Gendt, Van Lerberghe, Barbero, Teuns, Kristoff, Démare and Politt chase the front group down and rejoin them after 38 kms.

Astana keeps setting the pace in the pack as Teuns is merely 1 minute down on LL Sánchez’ leader’s jersey. When the Belgium realizes the break wont’t get very far with him on board, he stops his efforts – and the gap widens to 3 minutes.

De Gendt takes the KOM lead as he is first to crest the Col de Luens, Col Bas, Côte de Cipières and Côte de Gourdon. The remaining escapees – De Gendt, Barbero, Scully and Moinard – are reeled in with 24 kms to go.

Yates is first to crest the steep Côte de la Colle-sur-Loup, but other GC contenders are close behind. The Briton pushes on descent, while Poels hits the deck. On the last climb Wellens rejoins Yates, yet shortly before the top the other GC guys track them down.

Following a number of in vain attempts Rudy Molard attacks in with 1.4 kms to go. Now he opens up a gap that’s just big enough to win the race. At 2 seconds, Tim Wellens finishes second in the chase and Julian Alaphilippe third, so they take 6 and 4 bonus seconds. Leader LL Sánchez just misses out in fourth.

Wout Poels abandons Paris-Nice and Alaphilippe moves into second place overall. Marc Soler now sits in third.