Portugal Colonial - Paris-Nice contender Skjelmose hospitalised after fall

The Lidl-Trek rider was third in the rankings of the eight-day race that is being contested in near freezing temperatures with a daily drenching of rain.

The 24-year-old hit his head on the tarmac in the fall and was lying under a cover before his team and race doctors sent him to hospital.

"Last year it was just cold, now it's raining too, we can't prepare," he said at the start.

Rain was falling as the 109km seventh stage left Nice's promenade des Anglais Saturday morning and there is heavy snow at the mountain finish at Auron.

Race leader Matteo Jorgenson of Visma said Saturday "anything can still happen" because of the weather.

While second-placed German rider Florian Lipowitz of Bora said at the start "I come from winter sports, so cold conditions don't bother me."

L.Carrico--PC