Paris-Nice: Stage 7 Brignoles > Biot - Sophia Antipolis, 215.5kms

It's taken about 35 kilometres for an escape to develop - Lauren Ten Dam leads the way out of Draguinan...

The peloton seems happy to let this escape go...

SCENERY

Ten Dam puts his head down ahead of the other five escapers - they gain a few minutes before the peloton reacts...

RABOBANKESCAPE

Alexandre Vinokourov is the one leading the chase on a steep hill...

Ryder Hesjedal is leading a totally new escape now, but this too gets caught...

GARMINESCAPE

Eric Barthou and Karsten Kroon have been allowed to escape - they start the day's longest climb with over seven minutes lead..!

The peloton is hardly racing as it climbs to a height of over 1,000 metres behind the Cote d' Azur...

SCENERY

Kroon and Barthou reach the summit with their lead of seven minutes well intact...

BMCESCAPE

The peloton still shows little interest in chasing hard - maybe because it's cold up here..!

SCENERY

It's getting wet and slippery now - Martin Maaskant crashes heavily on the descent from Gourdon...

GARMINCRASH

The peloton has split on the treacherous descent - Brice Feillu is trying hard to pace Jens Voigt back to the leading group...

LEOPARD

Frank Schleck has dropped off this group and tells Kim Andersen he's quitting with stomach troubles...

LEOPARD

The Movistar team picks up the chasing now - they have two potential stage-winners in Rojas and Tondo...

MOVISTARLASTRAS

Kroon has just dropped Berthou and starts an attempt to win the stage - he has a two-minute gap...

BMCESCAPE

Tony Martin looks utterly composed in the leading group, he is one day away from winning Paris-Nice..!

HTC

Rein Taaramae is fourth overall and banking all his podium hopes on an attacking ride tomorrow...

COFIDIS

Remy Di Gregorio has attacked and replaces Kroon in front - he gains 20-seconds but no more...

ASTANA

Linus Gerdemann launches a counter-attack with 8-kilometres to go - can he catch Di Gregorio..?

LEOPARD

Remy Di Gregorio celebrates winning stage seven of Paris-Nice..!

ASTANA

Xavier Tondo crashes on the finish-line a little later - just as well he wasn't racing for the win..!

MOVISTAR