Brandon McNulty was eight the last time an American won Paris-Nice. In the tumultuous time - in cycling anyway - of 2006, that winner was Floyd Landis, soon to be banned for doping. 16 years on, in a different sporting landscape, not only is McNulty in the race lead at the week-long stage race going into the final two days, but the man in second is also an American, Matteo Jorgenson.
The UAE Team Emirates and Visma-Lease a Bike pair were part of the three-man winning move on stage six of the race. Neither triumphed in La Colle-sur-Loup, that being Mattias Skjelmose (Lidl-Trek), but now have quite the advantage over some of the pre-race favourites, like Remco Evenepoel (Soudal Quick-Step) and Primož Roglič (Bora-Hansgrohe). With just two stages left, either could become the first since Landis to win the Race to the Sun.
