In anticipation of the awful conditions, Ryder Hesjedal has reverted to a more traditional bike today...
In anticipation of the awful conditions, Simon Gerrans is dragging on his leg warmers...
The bedraggled peloton turns off the bigger roads to commence the climbs - no-one has escaped yet...
Linus Gerdemann has started the first escape - they quickly gain one minute on the first ascent...
Alexandre Vinokourov is also in this escape - he leads on the second ascent but will blow up before the top of the third ascent...
Lars Bak leads the HTC train in pursuit, about four minutes back...
Matteo Carrara is leading the escape up La Turbie - just six riders remain in this group...
Sergio Paulinho leads the chase from a group of about 40 riders - they are less than two minutes behind the escape...
Shack has four riders on Tony Martin's wheel, does the German need to be scared of this..?
Geraint Thomas leads for Sky along the plateau above Eze - the gap is down to about 90-seconds now...
Tejay Van Garderen chases for HTC, but the gap barely changes....
Sammy Sanchez attacks from the yellow jersey group - he's going for a higher G.C placing...
Rein Taaramae leads the chase to protect his 4th place overall...
Voeckler has attacked on the treacherous descent to Nice - the Italian cannot stay with him...
Tony Martin can affford to smile at last - he's won a first-ever Paris-Nice with the potential to win a lot more...
