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Thomas holds off Contador to win Paris-Nice, Duchesne is King of the Mountains

March 13, 2016
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Geraint Thomas (Great Britain/Sky) had to bomb down the final climb of Paris-Nice to keep his yellow jersey after losing contact with runner-up Alberto Contador (Spain/Tinkoff) in Sunday’s breathless last stage. Thomas clung onto the GC by four-seconds, having led Contador by 15-seconds overnight. Contador was also runner-up on the day to Tim Wellens (Belgium/Lotto-Fix All). Canadian Antoine Duchesne was in the day’s breakaway for the third stage running, defeating his mountains classification rivals on the first four climbs to keep the polka dot jersey.

Thomas De Gendt (Belgium/Lotto-Fix All) and Jesus Herrada (Spain/Movistar) were closest to Duchesne in the KOM and lit out in the 18-man breakaway, so Tony the Tiger had to follow. Duchesne took maximum points on the first two Cat 3’s and a Cat. 2. Needing only one more point to secure the greatest achievement of his career, he also tipped over the Col de la Calaison in the lead.

On the penultimate climb of the day, the Cat. 1 Cote de Peille, the breakaway started to crumble, leaving six out front including Wellens. Contador attacked and pulled out a minute’s lead on Thomas, with two Tinkoff riders from the day’s escape to help him. Thomas and his Sky team didn’t panic and pulled Contador back, but the itchy Spaniard kept attacking, once with Romain Bardet (France/AG2R).

Meanwhile, Wellens was now solo on the Col d’Èze
, the stage and race’s final ascent. There, Contador surged again, with teammate Rafal Majka (Poland) doing the heavy lifting. Richie Porte (Australia/BMC) tipped over the top with Contador 15-km from the finish in Nice, and the duo swept up Wellens on the descent. Thomas was 33-seconds back.

Thomas found a strong group including Saturday’s winner Ilnur Zakarin (Russia/Katusha), who was desperate to keep his podium place. Everyone dropped like stones and the fans held their breath. Wellens took the flowers, Contador took bonus seconds by placing runner-up, but Thomas’s group came in only 5-seconds in arrears.

Porte, last year’s winner, pushed Zakarin off the podium.

Contador was visibly unhappy that his efforts didn’t pay off.

Michael Matthews (Australia/Orica-GreenEdge), who led the race from the first stage until Saturday, took the green jersey honours.

2016 Paris-Nice Stage 7
1) Tim Wellens (Belgium/Lotto-Fix All) 3:16:09
2) Alberto Contador (Spain/Tinkoff) s.t.
3) Richie Porte (Australia/BMC) s.t.
67) Antoine Duchesne (Canada/Direct Energie) +11:44

2016 Paris-Nice Final GC
1) Geraint Thomas (Great Britain/Sky) 27:26:40
2) Alberto Contador (Spain/Tinkoff) +0:04
3) Richie Porte (Australia/BMC) +0:12
4) Ilnur Zakarin (Russia/Katusha) +0:20
5) Jon Izagirre (Spain/Movistar) +0:37
6) Sergio Henao (Colombia/Sky) +0:44
7) Simon Yates (Great Britain/Orica-GreenEdge) s.t.
8) Tony Gallopin (France/Lotto-Fix All) +0:51
9) Romain Bardet (France/AG2R) +1:00
10) Rui Costa (Portugal/Lampre) +1:07
50) Antoine Duchesne (Canada/Direct Energie) +27:35

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