Cycling: Geraint Thomas (Team Sky) won Paris – Nice 2016. After his second place yesterday, the Brit was able to save his lead over Alberto Contador (Tinkoff) in the final stage today. The day's win went to Tim Wellens (Lotto Soudal) ahead of Alberto Contador and Richie Porte (BMC).
In the end it got exciting again - after Geraint Thomas had gone into the final stage with a 15-second lead after strong performances and an impressive second place in yesterday's queen stage, the Sky professional looked sure winner again. But especially Contador, who was second in the overall standings, made it exciting again with an attack on today's stage around Nice. In the end, Thomas saved his overall victory with a four-second lead over his competitor from Spain.
The surprising day's win by Tim Wellens (Lotto Soudal) was a side note given the exciting duel for the overall standings. While Contador's attack fizzled out on the Côte de Peille and Thomas was able to counterattack confidently with his strong team behind him, the situation on the Col d'Eze was different: Rafal Majka (Tinkoff) attacked from the field with his captain in tow out and the duo quickly pulled away. Only Richie Porte (BMC) could keep up with the two Tinkoff pros, Thomas didn't have an answer ready: “My legs just gave out on the Col d'Eze, it was terrible. I thought it was all over."
But since Thomas and the team had expected such aggressive tactics from Tinkoff and also knew that Thomas would probably not be able to keep up with last year's Giro winner for a second day in a row, they mounted the crank on Thomas' Sky bike a 54 chainring. In the descent from the Col d'Eze and the following kilometers to Nice, Thomas was able to exploit the advantages of the gear ratio, mobilized his very last strength and worked his way up to Contador again.
Contador and Porte lost the final sprint against Wellens and the trio finished 12 seconds ahead of the group with Geraint Thomas – that was enough for the Briton, who won the race to the sun for the first time with a XNUMX-second lead over Contador and XNUMX over Porte. "Incredible - man, Contador, he's one of the best tour drivers ever. Richie won almost every stage race he competed in last year. I can't believe I beat those two [...] It's hands down the biggest win of my career and I'm on cloud nine." said the overjoyed overall winner.
Final result Paris – Nice 2016 Stage 7
Driver | Country | Team | Time | |
---|---|---|---|---|
1. | Tim Wellens | Belgium | Lotto Soudal | 03:16:09 |
2. | Alberto counter | Spain | Tinkoff | |
3. | Richie porte | Australia | BMC | |
4. | Tony gallopin | France | Lotto Soudal | 00:00:05 |
5. | Simon yates | Great Britain | Orica GreenEDGE | |
6. | Arnold Jeanesson | France | FDJ | |
7. | Rui Costa | Portugal | Lampre Merida | |
8. | Jesus Herrada | Spain | Movistar | |
9. | Romain Bardet | France | AG2R La Mondiale | |
10. | Ion Izaguirre | Spain | Movistar |
Final result Paris – Nice 2016 standings
Driver | Country | Team | Time | |
---|---|---|---|---|
1. | Tim Wellens | Belgium | Lotto Soudal | 03:16:09 |
2. | Alberto counter | Spain | Tinkoff | |
3. | Richie porte | Australia | BMC | |
4. | Tony gallopin | France | Lotto Soudal | 00:00:05 |
5. | Simon yates | Great Britain | Orica GreenEDGE | |
6. | Arnold Jeanesson | France | FDJ | |
7. | Rui Costa | Portugal | Lampre Merida | |
8. | Jesus Herrada | Spain | Movistar | |
9. | Romain Bardet | France | AG2R La Mondiale | |
10. | Ion Izaguirre | Spain | Movistar |
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