Bradley Wiggins adds Paris-Nice to his Dauphine Libere Victory in 2011, to become only the second Brit to win the race to the sun. Tom Simpson won it in 1967
|Â Stage 1Â |Â Stage 2Â |Â Stage 3Â |Â Stage 4Â |Â Stage 5Â |Â Stage 6Â | Stage 7 |
The British rider used all his experience to hold off the challenge by Lieuwe Westra and win the final time trial up the Col d’Eze. Wiggins, who is well known for his prowess in the time trial also showed that a mountain time trial was another of his key talents as he beat the Vacansoleil rider by just two seconds.
Wiggins had started the final day of the ‘Race To The Sun’ six seconds ahead of Lieuwe Westra (Vacansoleil-DCM) and 18 in front of third-placed Alejandro Valverde (Movistar). In a thrilling finale, second-last-out Westra threw down the gauntlet when he was two seconds faster than Wiggins at the intermediate time check at 5.6km with easily the quickest time of the day.
Westra maintained that momentum and crossed the line with a time of 19.14 seconds, over half a minute faster than anyone else. Wiggins, in yellow, responded brilliantly as he attacked the final couple of kilometres to stop the clock in 19:12 to take both the stage and the overall.
Post race reactions
Afterwards, Bradley explained, “In terms of pressure, it was nothing compared to an Olympic final on track. You can also enjoy the moment. I was confident in my ability, I stayed in the front all week and did not put a foot wrong.”
“Today I rode it perfect. I know the history of the sport and to be on that list and to become the second Brit after Tom Simpson to win Paris-Nice means a lot for me. I’m on that list of riders who won Paris-Nice, the Dauphine. There’s just one left now to win.”
“I said Paris-Nice was a stepping stone, no disrespect for Paris-Nice. But I must continue that progression to July now. Lance Armstrong warned me recently not burn too many matches for July. It’s certainly a long trail.”
“It was seriously hard but it was always going to be hard today, whether I was trying to get time back or protecting a lead. I always said it was about me doing my ride, emptying it to the top which was always going to be horrible. It was a 19-minute effort and pacing wise we got it absolutely perfect.”
“Then it just depended on what everyone else did and there was one guy in Westra who got very close but it’s job done. I’m pleased more for everyone else rather than myself after all the hard work the boys have put in this week. Ultimately it fell on my shoulders to finish the job off and I’m just made up that I was able to do that.”
“It’s massive to win this race too. I really think about things like that but I’ve tried not to think too much about it in the last few days. To follow in Tom Simpson’s footsteps and become the second British rider to win Paris-Nice is something special. I’d probably say it’s one of my biggest wins – as was the Dauphiné – and to have both those on my palmares is a huge honour.”
Lieuwe Westra: In his first ever mountain time trial, Westra finished two seconds behind Bradley Wiggins. The number one and two of the general classification left the rest of the field railing far behind.
“This was my first goal of the season and I am really happy with this second place. Last year, I set the goal to compete this year in races like Paris-Nice and I confirm that I am capable of doing so. Losing to Wiggins who is in the top echelon at races like this for years isn’t a shame.â€
“Our team is excellent in this race and I had great support. The team gave me the confidence this winter to aim for this race and the result is satisfying. In the upcoming weeks I wish to show my shape and help the other riders in races like Flanders.â€
A hero from last years Tour de France, Jonny Hoogerland wasn’t surprised by this week’s results of the team: “Without being arrogant I think that at this moment we are among the best teams in the world. We don’t have to be afraid of anyone.â€
Results
Stage 8
1 Bradley Wiggins Sky Procycling 00:19:12
2 Lieuwe Westra Vacansoleil – DCM Pro Cycling Team 00:02
3 Jean-christophe Peraud Ag2R – La Mondiale 00:33
4 Simon Spilak Katusha Team 00:47
5 Jérome Coppel Saur – Sojasun 00:51
6 Alejandro Valverde Belmonte Movistar Team 00:52
7 Andréas Klöden RadioShack – Nissan 00:58
8 David Moncoutié Cofidis – Le Credit En Ligne 00:59
9 Damiano Cunego Lampre – ISD @ same time
10 Rigoberto Uran Sky Procycling 01:06
11 Daniel Navarro Garcia Team Saxo Bank @ same time
12 Arnold Jeannesson Equipe Cycliste FDJ – BigMat 01:07
13 Sylvester Szmyd Liquigas – Cannondale 01:15
14 Tejay Van Garderen BMC Racing Team @ same time
15 Maxime Bouet Ag2R – La Mondiale 01:16
16 Javier Moreno Bazan Movistar Team 01:21
17 Sylvain Chavanel Omega Pharma – Quickstep 01:26
18 Diego Ulissi Lampre – ISD 01:27
19 Eros Capecchi Liquigas – Cannondale @ same time
20 Thomas De Gendt Vacansoleil – DCM Pro Cycling Team 01:28
21 Jens Voigt RadioShack – Nissan 01:32
22 Levi Leipheimer Omega Pharma – Quickstep 01:33
23 Maxime Monfort RadioShack – Nissan 01:35
24 Ãngel Vicioso Arcos Katusha Team @ same time
25 Tony Martin Omega Pharma – Quickstep 01:37
26 Frank Schleck RadioShack – Nissan 01:41
27 Bart De Clercq Lotto – Belisol Team 01:43
28 Richie Porte Sky Procycling 01:44
29 Hubert Dupont Ag2R – La Mondiale @ same time
30 Jonathan Hivert Saur – Sojasun @ same time
31 Amaël Moinard BMC Racing Team 01:46
32 David Lelay Saur – Sojasun 01:48
33 David Lopez Garcia Movistar Team @ same time
34 Alexandre Geniez 1t4i 01:49
35 Jérémy Roy Equipe Cycliste FDJ – BigMat @ same time
36 Igor Anton Hernandez Euskaltel – Euskadi 01:52
37 Brent Bookwalter BMC Racing Team 01:54
38 Laurens Ten Dam Rabobank Cycling Team @ same time
39 Janez Brajkovic Astana Pro Team 01:55
40 Evgeni Petrov Astana Pro Team 01:57
41 Gianni Meersman Lotto – Belisol Team 01:58
42 Nicolas Roche Ag2R – La Mondiale 02:01
43 Romain Sicard Euskaltel – Euskadi 02:03
44 Kevin Seeldraeyers Astana Pro Team 02:08
45 Vasil Kiryienka Movistar Team 02:09
46 Robert Kiserlovski Astana Pro Team @ same time
47 Danny Pate Sky Procycling 02:17
48 Dominik Nerz Liquigas – Cannondale 02:18
49 Luis Angel Mate Mardones Cofidis – Le Credit En Ligne 02:21
50 Frederik Veuchelen Vacansoleil – DCM Pro Cycling Team 02:22
51 Julien Simon Saur – Sojasun 02:23
52 Eduard Vorganov Katusha Team 02:24
53 Luis Leon Sanchez Gil Rabobank Cycling Team 02:27
54 Pierrick Fedrigo Equipe Cycliste FDJ – BigMat @ same time
55 Xabier Zandio Echaide Sky Procycling @ same time
56 Kanstantsin Siutsou Sky Procycling 02:29
57 Mikel Astarloza Euskaltel – Euskadi 02:31
58 Alexandre Pichot Europcar 02:33
59 Gaetan Bille Lotto – Belisol Team 02:34
60 José Ivan Gutierrez Palacios Movistar Team @ same time
61 Sébastien Minard Ag2R – La Mondiale 02:36
62 Carlos Barredo Llamazales Rabobank Cycling Team 02:37
63 Markel Irizar Aranburu RadioShack – Nissan 02:38
64 David Arroyo Duran Movistar Team @ same time
65 Imanol Erviti Ollo Movistar Team @ same time
66 Tristan Valentin Cofidis – Le Credit En Ligne 02:42
67 Simon Clarke GreenEdge Cycling Team 02:43
68 Michael Albasini GreenEdge Cycling Team @ same time
69 Jose Joaquin Rojas Gil Movistar Team 02:47
70 Thomas Dekker Team Garmin – Barracuda @ same time
71 Daniele Pietropolli Lampre – ISD 02:48
72 Stijn Vandenbergh Omega Pharma – Quickstep 02:49
73 Francesco Gavazzi Astana Pro Team 02:50
74 Giovanni Bernaudeau Europcar 02:54
75 Thomas Voeckler Europcar @ same time
76 Xavier Florencio Katusha Team 02:55
77 Sergey Lagutin Vacansoleil – DCM Pro Cycling Team 02:56
78 Cédric Pineau Equipe Cycliste FDJ – BigMat 02:57
79 Yannick Talabardon Saur – Sojasun 02:58
80 Simon Geschke 1t4i 03:03
81 Gorka Izagirre Insausti Euskaltel – Euskadi 03:04
82 Danilo Wyss BMC Racing Team 03:06
83 Simon Gerrans GreenEdge Cycling Team 03:08
84 Rein Taaramäe Cofidis – Le Credit En Ligne 03:16
85 Wesley Sulzberger GreenEdge Cycling Team 03:18
86 Grischa Niermann Rabobank Cycling Team 03:19
87 Anthony Geslin Equipe Cycliste FDJ – BigMat @ same time
88 Davide Malacarne Europcar 03:20
89 Giampaolo Caruso Katusha Team 03:21
90 Pierre Cazaux Euskaltel – Euskadi @ same time
91 Thor Hushovd BMC Racing Team 03:22
92 Heinrich Haussler Team Garmin – Barracuda 03:25
93 Vincent Jerome Europcar 03:27
94 Grega Bole Lampre – ISD 03:28
95 Kevin De Weert Omega Pharma – Quickstep 03:31
96 John Degenkolb 1t4i 03:34
97 Ricardo Garcia Ambroa Euskaltel – Euskadi 03:36
98 Patrick Gretsch 1t4i 03:38
99 Tiziano Dall’antonia Liquigas – Cannondale @ same time
100 Romain Feillu Vacansoleil – DCM Pro Cycling Team 03:39
101 Paolo Longho Borghini Liquigas – Cannondale @ same time
102 Samuel Dumoulin Cofidis – Le Credit En Ligne 03:42
103 Yukiya Arashiro Europcar 03:43
104 Andrey Kashechkin Astana Pro Team 03:44
105 Mickael Buffaz Cofidis – Le Credit En Ligne 03:46
106 Jan Ghyselinck Cofidis – Le Credit En Ligne 03:50
107 Anders Lund Team Saxo Bank 03:51
108 Christophe Le Mevel Team Garmin – Barracuda @ same time
109 Bjorn Leukemans Vacansoleil – DCM Pro Cycling Team @ same time
110 Mark Renshaw Rabobank Cycling Team 03:56
111 Matteo Bono Lampre – ISD 04:02
112 Andreas Klier Team Garmin – Barracuda 04:03
113 Michael Morkov Team Saxo Bank 04:04
114 Mickael Cherel Ag2R – La Mondiale @ same time
115 Elia Viviani Liquigas – Cannondale 04:06
116 Tom Boonen Omega Pharma – Quickstep @ same time
117 Adrian Saez De Arregi Euskaltel – Euskadi @ same time
118 Leonardo Bertagnolli Lampre – ISD 04:11
119 Edward King Liquigas – Cannondale 04:17
120 Jaroslaw Marycz Team Saxo Bank 04:20
121 Kris Boeckmans Vacansoleil – DCM Pro Cycling Team 04:22
122 Martijn Maaskant Team Garmin – Barracuda @ same time
123 Anthony Ravard Ag2R – La Mondiale 04:27
124 Karsten Kroon Team Saxo Bank @ same time
125 Koen De Kort 1t4i 04:28
126 Jens Keukeleire GreenEdge Cycling Team 04:29
127 Daniele Righi Lampre – ISD 04:30
128 Dennis Van Winden Rabobank Cycling Team 04:37
129 Jonas Aaen Jorgensen Team Saxo Bank 04:41
130 Murilo Antonio Fischer Team Garmin – Barracuda 04:48
131 Gregory Henderson Lotto – Belisol Team 04:56
132 Kasper Larsen Klostergaard Team Saxo Bank 04:57
133 Sébastien Chavanel Europcar 04:58
134 Koldo Fernández De Larrea Team Garmin – Barracuda 04:59
135 Nikolas Maes Omega Pharma – Quickstep 05:05
136 Damien Gaudin Europcar 05:18
137 Sep Vanmarcke Team Garmin – Barracuda 05:51
138 Yauheni Hutarovich Equipe Cycliste FDJ – BigMat 06:20
FINAL OVERALL
1 Bradley Wiggins Sky Procycling 28:12:16
2 Lieuwe Westra Vacansoleil – DCM Pro Cycling Team 00:08
3 Alejandro Valverde Belmonte Movistar Team 01:10
4 Simon Spilak Katusha Team 01:24
5 Tejay Van Garderen BMC Racing Team 01:54
6 Arnold Jeannesson Equipe Cycliste FDJ – BigMat 02:13
7 Maxime Monfort RadioShack – Nissan 02:21
8 Sylvain Chavanel Omega Pharma – Quickstep 02:42
9 Robert Kiserlovski Astana Pro Team 03:30
10 Ãngel Vicioso Arcos Katusha Team 03:59
11 Jérome Coppel Saur – Sojasun 04:28
12 Rigoberto Uran Sky Procycling 04:40
13 Damiano Cunego Lampre – ISD 04:41
14 Maxime Bouet Ag2R – La Mondiale 04:50
15 Daniel Navarro Garcia Team Saxo Bank 05:26
16 Jose Joaquin Rojas Gil Movistar Team 05:33
17 Luis Leon Sanchez Gil Rabobank Cycling Team 05:54
18 Andréas Klöden RadioShack – Nissan 06:11
19 Jérémy Roy Equipe Cycliste FDJ – BigMat 06:13
20 Nicolas Roche Ag2R – La Mondiale 06:28
21 Evgeni Petrov Astana Pro Team 06:33
22 Jens Voigt RadioShack – Nissan 06:38
23 Brent Bookwalter BMC Racing Team 06:39
24 Frank Schleck RadioShack – Nissan 06:46
25 Eros Capecchi Liquigas – Cannondale 06:52
26 Gianni Meersman Lotto – Belisol Team 07:12
27 Francesco Gavazzi Astana Pro Team 07:14
28 Daniele Pietropolli Lampre – ISD 07:35
29 Thomas De Gendt Vacansoleil – DCM Pro Cycling Team @ same time
30 Thomas Voeckler Europcar 07:45
31 Javier Moreno Bazan Movistar Team 08:32
32 Alexandre Pichot Europcar 08:55
33 Xavier Florencio Katusha Team 09:02
34 David Lelay Saur – Sojasun 09:05
35 Levi Leipheimer Omega Pharma – Quickstep 09:09
36 Giovanni Bernaudeau Europcar 09:19
37 Michael Albasini GreenEdge Cycling Team 09:26
38 Mickael Cherel Ag2R – La Mondiale 09:38
39 Romain Sicard Euskaltel – Euskadi 09:49
40 Julien Simon Saur – Sojasun 10:39
41 Davide Malacarne Europcar 10:47
42 Mikel Astarloza Euskaltel – Euskadi 11:00
43 Laurens Ten Dam Rabobank Cycling Team 11:06
44 Dominik Nerz Liquigas – Cannondale 11:56
45 Yukiya Arashiro Europcar 13:05
46 Bjorn Leukemans Vacansoleil – DCM Pro Cycling Team 13:06
47 Anthony Geslin Equipe Cycliste FDJ – BigMat 13:36
48 Diego Ulissi Lampre – ISD 14:32
49 Sylvester Szmyd Liquigas – Cannondale 14:34
50 Igor Anton Hernandez Euskaltel – Euskadi 14:38
51 Yannick Talabardon Saur – Sojasun 14:45
52 Amaël Moinard BMC Racing Team 14:54
53 Sébastien Minard Ag2R – La Mondiale 14:55
54 Anders Lund Team Saxo Bank 15:58
55 Eduard Vorganov Katusha Team 16:54
56 Janez Brajkovic Astana Pro Team 17:05
57 Giampaolo Caruso Katusha Team 17:11
58 Sergey Lagutin Vacansoleil – DCM Pro Cycling Team 18:34
59 Markel Irizar Aranburu RadioShack – Nissan 18:36
60 David Lopez Garcia Movistar Team 18:56
61 Hubert Dupont Ag2R – La Mondiale 18:57
62 Tony Martin Omega Pharma – Quickstep 19:02
63 Carlos Barredo Llamazales Rabobank Cycling Team 19:42
64 Pierrick Fedrigo Equipe Cycliste FDJ – BigMat 19:46
65 Kevin Seeldraeyers Astana Pro Team 21:02
66 Koen De Kort 1t4i 21:07
67 Frederik Veuchelen Vacansoleil – DCM Pro Cycling Team 22:13
68 Richie Porte Sky Procycling 22:16
69 Jonathan Hivert Saur – Sojasun 22:22
70 David Arroyo Duran Movistar Team 22:36
71 Simon Geschke 1t4i 22:40
72 Gorka Izagirre Insausti Euskaltel – Euskadi 22:43
73 Paolo Longho Borghini Liquigas – Cannondale 25:56
74 Leonardo Bertagnolli Lampre – ISD 26:03
75 Simon Gerrans GreenEdge Cycling Team 26:06
76 Kevin De Weert Omega Pharma – Quickstep 26:23
77 Simon Clarke GreenEdge Cycling Team 26:49
78 Alexandre Geniez 1t4i 27:08
79 Grega Bole Lampre – ISD 27:14
80 Heinrich Haussler Team Garmin – Barracuda 27:20
81 Kanstantsin Siutsou Sky Procycling 27:38
82 Wesley Sulzberger GreenEdge Cycling Team 28:18
83 José Ivan Gutierrez Palacios Movistar Team 28:27
84 Stijn Vandenbergh Omega Pharma – Quickstep 28:28
85 Imanol Erviti Ollo Movistar Team 30:15
86 Vasil Kiryienka Movistar Team 30:45
87 Rein Taaramäe Cofidis – Le Credit En Ligne 31:09
88 Thomas Dekker Team Garmin – Barracuda 33:53
89 Danilo Wyss BMC Racing Team 34:45
90 Jean-christophe Peraud Ag2R – La Mondiale 35:18
91 Kris Boeckmans Vacansoleil – DCM Pro Cycling Team 35:26
92 Tom Boonen Omega Pharma – Quickstep 35:49
93 Karsten Kroon Team Saxo Bank 36:56
94 Samuel Dumoulin Cofidis – Le Credit En Ligne 37:26
95 Cédric Pineau Equipe Cycliste FDJ – BigMat 38:48
96 John Degenkolb 1t4i 39:12
97 David Moncoutié Cofidis – Le Credit En Ligne 40:12
98 Anthony Ravard Ag2R – La Mondiale 40:52
99 Xabier Zandio Echaide Sky Procycling 41:03
100 Tristan Valentin Cofidis – Le Credit En Ligne 41:35
101 Jens Keukeleire GreenEdge Cycling Team 41:48
102 Christophe Le Mevel Team Garmin – Barracuda 41:51
103 Luis Angel Mate Mardones Cofidis – Le Credit En Ligne 41:57
104 Gaetan Bille Lotto – Belisol Team 42:42
105 Gregory Henderson Lotto – Belisol Team 42:53
106 Murilo Antonio Fischer Team Garmin – Barracuda 44:11
107 Andreas Klier Team Garmin – Barracuda 44:44
108 Ricardo Garcia Ambroa Euskaltel – Euskadi 44:49
109 Koldo Fernández De Larrea Team Garmin – Barracuda 45:13
110 Bart De Clercq Lotto – Belisol Team 45:21
111 Mark Renshaw Rabobank Cycling Team 45:33
112 Sep Vanmarcke Team Garmin – Barracuda 46:24
113 Romain Feillu Vacansoleil – DCM Pro Cycling Team 47:26
114 Daniele Righi Lampre – ISD 47:32
115 Nikolas Maes Omega Pharma – Quickstep 48:19
116 Jonas Aaen Jorgensen Team Saxo Bank 49:01
117 Grischa Niermann Rabobank Cycling Team 51:02
118 Thor Hushovd BMC Racing Team 51:10
119 Vincent Jerome Europcar 51:22
120 Elia Viviani Liquigas – Cannondale 53:53
121 Matteo Bono Lampre – ISD 54:00
122 Yauheni Hutarovich Equipe Cycliste FDJ – BigMat 54:59
123 Mickael Buffaz Cofidis – Le Credit En Ligne 55:20
124 Sébastien Chavanel Europcar 56:04
125 Jan Ghyselinck Cofidis – Le Credit En Ligne 58:55
126 Pierre Cazaux Euskaltel – Euskadi 1:00:36
127 Martijn Maaskant Team Garmin – Barracuda 1:01:04
128 Michael Morkov Team Saxo Bank 1:01:59
129 Adrian Saez De Arregi Euskaltel – Euskadi 1:03:43
130 Patrick Gretsch 1t4i 1:05:14
131 Danny Pate Sky Procycling 1:05:27
132 Dennis Van Winden Rabobank Cycling Team 1:06:21
133 Andrey Kashechkin Astana Pro Team 1:06:32
134 Damien Gaudin Europcar 1:08:13
135 Tiziano Dall’antonia Liquigas – Cannondale 1:08:15
136 Edward King Liquigas – Cannondale 1:08:39
137 Kasper Larsen Klostergaard Team Saxo Bank 1:11:05
138 Jaroslaw Marycz Team Saxo Bank 1:23:13