29-year-old Simon Yates has once again confirmed his top, early season form, following on from Wednesday’s time trial performance, by fighting to third place on today’s Queen stage at Paris-Nice. 

Yates, riding his own pace as Adam Yates, then Primoz Roglic launched moves ahead, settled into a solid rhythm before riding up to the front of the race for the final showdown on the Col de Turini. 

With Daniel Martinez, Nairo Quintana and Roglic left for company in the final closing kilometres, Yates tested the legs, with two accelerations but the day came down to a four-up battle to the line, with Roglic taking the victory and Yates in third place. 

The Team BikeExchange-Jayco rider now heads into tomorrow’s short and explosive final stage around Nice in second place on the general classification, with a 45 second deficit to race leader Roglic. 

Simon Yates – 3rd place 
“Not much you can do when (Roglic) is in second gear. He’s not even breathing and everybody else is panting like they’re on their death bed, so it’s hard to do anything.

I tried to see what I could do, I put a few cheeky moves in but it wasn’t to be. There’s been some tough days back-to-back and I think it’s taken it’s toll in the peloton.

We’ve still got a really short, hard tomorrow, I really like it. It’s a good race, it’s one of the only days of the year that I actually enjoy to really get stuck in to so we will see what I can do but it’s pretty much run already.”

2022 Paris-Nice Results after stage 7:
1. Primoz Roglic 4:02:47
2. David Martinez ST
3. Simon Yates +5:43

General Classification after stage 7:
1. Primoz Roglic 26:26:11
2. Simon Yates +0:47
3. David Martinez +1:00

Photo: Getty Images