Michael Storer seals the win on today’s 7th stage at Paris-Nice (2.UWT). It was a cold and wet day of racing in southern France that turned out to be a victorious day for Tudor Pro Cycling.
15.03.2025
Originally set at 150 km, the queen stage was shortened to 109 km due to adverse weather conditions. However, the reduced distance did nothing to dampen the intensity of the race. Under clear skies in Nice, the peloton set a furious pace from the start, ensuring an action-packed battle on the roads.
An early breakaway quickly took shape, featuring Julian Alaphilippe and Michael Storer—the sole GC contender in the front group. After an initial tussle with the chasing pack, the 15-man escape built a solid lead of 3 minutes and 15 seconds. At the front, the Tudor duo demonstrated their strength, with Alaphilippe putting in a huge effort to support his teammate, setting the stage for an electrifying finale.
As the race hit the decisive climb to Auron, Storer unleashed a relentless pace, systematically dropping his rivals until only one contender remained. With 2.7 km to go, he made his final move, surging ahead solo under snowfall, pushing through the brutal conditions to cross the finish line alone. Turning back in disbelief, he soaked in the magnitude of his victory.
After the finish, Storer took time to recover and warm up before reflecting on his remarkable achievement. "It’s an incredible day. The plan was for Julian to be in the breakaway, not me, but when Marco Haller put me in a great position for the first climb, I found myself at the front. It was already a strong group, and when Julian bridged across, he started riding for me. His radio wasn’t working, but with his experience, he read the race perfectly and saw the opportunity. It’s not every day you have a two-time world champion working for you."
Leading up to the stage, his teammates had been motivating him: “Michmich, today you win.” And win he did. The newly nicknamed "Storminator" secured an emotional victory, marking a return to top form. "It feels amazing to be back at this level, especially with Tudor. After so many top finishes and podiums last year, getting this win in such an important race means a lot. The team’s goal was to target a stage win with Alberto and Julian while preserving me for the GC. In the end, I won, and we couldn’t be happier."
Storer also addressed the extreme weather conditions: "We knew it was going to be tough, but choosing the right clothing was a challenge. Starting in 15°C and finishing in sub-zero temperatures made it difficult to prepare."
Now sitting 4th in the GC, just 1 minute and 5 seconds off the podium, Storer looks ahead to the final stage: "The podium will be tough with so many strong riders in the Top 10. It would be a dream, but I’m realistic — I’ll need the same legs I had today."
As he savors the moment, Storer acknowledges the significance of this victory:
"This win is truly special. It’s been an amazing day, and I’ll take the whole evening to process what I just achieved."
Photo credit: Sprint Cycling