Tom-Jelte Slagter (Garmin-Sharp) claimed his second stage win of the week as Carlos Betancur (Ag2r-La Mondiale) extended his lead in the overall standings in a hectic penultimate stage of Paris-Nice.

The final fifteen kilometres on a rolling circuit around Biot Sophia Antopolis saw numerous attacks as Ag2r-La Mondiale tried to protect Betancur's lead, but the Colombian's grip on the yellow jersey tightened considerably with a crash for Geraint Thomas (Team Sky) with five kilometres remaining which saw the Welshman slip out of GC contention.

All the attacks neutralised in the final five kilometres, it was Slagter who emerged from the peloton to sprint to victory, ahead of Rui Costa (Lampre-Merida) and yellow jersey Betancur.

With five categorised climbs on the agenda, it was a surprise not to see polka dot jersey Sylvain Chavanel (IAM Cycling) in the day's break, which consisted of Laurent Didier (Trek Factory Racing), Matthias Frank (IAM Cycling), Brice Feillu and Florian Guillou (Bretagne-Séché Environnement), Cyril Lemoine (Cofidis), Pim Ligthart (Lotto-Belisol) Sylvester Szmyd (Movistar), Albert Timmer (Giant-Shimano), and Lieuwe Westra (Astana).

With Feillu sitting only a minute off the race lead, Ag2r never allowed the group to gain too much of an advantage, although this was not a problem for Pim Ligthart who led them over all of the day's climbs, giving him the lead in the mountains classification.

Despite a solo effort by Westra, the break was caught with 40km to go, opening the door to numerous attacks on the lumpy finishing circuit, each of them brought back by the team of the yellow jersey.

At 10km it was Lampre-Merida who took over duties at the head of the peloton, with José Serpa and Przemyslaw Niemiec combining to set a fearsome pace as they sought to prevent further attacks and deliver world champion Rui Costa to his first win in the rainbow jersey.

It might have been an ideal finish for Geraint Thomas, but instead of attempting to retake the yellow jersey, the Team Sky rider found himself involved in a crash with Frank Schleck (Trek Factory Racing), and would eventually roll in seven minutes down.

Back at the front the pace slackened as Lampre dropped away under the flamme rouge, allowing for a last minute move by Dries Devenyns (Giant-Shimano) before Wilco Kelderman (Belkin Pro Cycling) opened up the sprint.

As Kelderman faded in the final 200m it was another Dutchman, Slagter, who emerged from his wheel, powering away to win by a bike length ahead of Costa and Betancur, who now holds a fourteen-second lead going into the final stage.

Stage 7 Result: Mougins - Biot Sophia Antopolis, 195km

1. Tom-Jelte Slagter (Ned) Garmin-Sharp 5:00:05

2. Rui Costa (Por) Lampre-Merida

3. Carlos Betancur (Col) Ag2r-La Mondiale

4. José Joaquin Rojas (Esp) Movistar

5. Arthur Vichot (Fra) FDJ.fr

6. Tony Gallopin (Fra) Lotto-Belisol

7. Stefan Denifl (Aut) IAM Cycling

8. Zdenek Stybar (Cze) Omega Pharma-Quickstep

9. Jakob Fuglsang (Den) Astana

10. Peter VElits (Svk) BMC Racing

General Classification after Stage 7

1. Carlos Betancur (Col) Ag2r-La Mondiale 32:04:49

2. Rui Costa (Por) Lampre-Merida 00:00:14

3. Zdenek Stybar (Cze) Omega Pharma-Quickstep 00:00:26

4. José Joaquin Rojas (Esp) Movistar 00:00:27

5. Jakob Fuglsang (Den) Astana 00:00:29

6. Arthur Vichot (Fra) FDJ.fr 00:00:31

7. Cyril Gautier (Fra) Team Europcar 00:00:35

8. Stefan Denifl (Aut) IAM Cycling

9. Peter Velits (Svk) BMC Racing 00:00:39

10. Simon Spilak (Slo) Katusha

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