With only two days left to race in the 73rd Paris – Nice, many riders are willing to try their luck in the breakaway, including Team Katusha’s Egor Silin. Part of an original group of five, Egor pushed on toward the finish line, only to be caught within sight of the tape with a mass sprint to follow.

"We had a plan to go in the breakaway today, so on the first climb I saw some riders who were trying so I also attacked. The group had a high pace but finally I managed to go in the escape. I felt quite good today and we worked well in the break. But I thought the peloton would catch us much earlier because in the break were two riders at only 3 minutes behind the GC leader. When I saw we were close to the finish and the peloton was still behind us I tried to do my best. At first our numbers dropped to three, then later two and finally the group caught us with only 450 meters to go. Anyway it was a good try for me; my first big escape in the season," said Egor Silin.

Today’s stage began in Saint-Étienne and ended in Rasteau after 192,5 km. At 15 km to go the gap to the 5 breakaway riders was 50-seconds, but the small climb at 10 km to go did some damage to the group and only Egor Silin and Thomas De Gendt (Lotto Soudal) were still in front. By the 5 km mark they still held 25-seconds to the group and looked like they had a slight chance of staying away. But a determined sprint group snatched the victory from the breakaway at the last possible moment and it was Davide Cimolai (Lampre-Merida) coming through for the win by half a bike length ahead of Bryan Coquard (Europcar). Team Katusha’s Alexander Kristoff was sixth on the day.

"In the last left corner I almost crashed. Jacopo [Guarnieri] brought me in a good position, but some riders blocked me in the corner so I lost I think around 10 positions. I tried to come back and to fight in the sprint but it was too late. What a pity because I felt good today and thought maybe I could fight for a win," said Alexander Kristoff.

There was no change on the general classification and Michal Kwiatkowski (Etixx – Quick Step) still holds a one-second lead in front of Richie Porte (Sky). Tiago Machado and Simon Špilak are still 9th and 11th, respectively.

Saturday brings another chance for the climbers. With six climbs on tap, the 180,5 km stage begins in Vence. The last climb tops out some 25 km before a long descent into the finale in Nice.