Paris-Nice - Stage 7 & Photos
A day conclusions and promise - French Celebration in Nice, Amaël
Moinard and Thomas Voeckler lead to the finish as the Spanish Armada
dominates the podium in Nice...
Alberto Contador met every challenge of his rivals to win his second Paris-Nice.
The 27 year old rider from Madrid once again proved he is man to watch in July
taking control on the Col d'Eze and take the final one second time bonus that
followed. Contador also led his fellow countrymen and Caisse d'Epargne duo
Alejandro Valverde and Luis Leon Sanchez in a sweep of the 68th Edition
podium; and 4 of the top 5 placed riders.
Sanchez took a 2 second time bonus at the first intermediate sprint to
leapfrog best young rider Roman Kreuziger (Liquigas) to join Valverde and
Contador on the podium. Euskaltel/Euskadi's Olympic champion Samuel Sanchez rode
a strong race finishing in 5th place at 30 seconds. Fan favorite Jens Voigt of
Saxo Bank finished 6th.
28 year old French rider,
took his best professional win since
his start as a stagiare with Cofidis in 2004 taking the two up sprint over
Thomas Voeckler (Bbox Bouygues Telecom) at the finish in Nice. The two riders
attacked on the first climb of the day Col de la Porte after 49 km and
evaded capture of the group of favorites by a slim margin of three seconds while
Moinard put the final polish on his commanding performance as King of the
Mountain taking the final 2 summits.
Cofidis' Amaël Moinard celebrates his best pro win. Photo © 2010 Fotoreporter
Sirotti
Caisse d'Epargne's Alejandro Valverde led the chasers to the line for third,
followed by Ag2r's Nicolas Roche 4th and Moinard's team mate Rein Taaramae
filling out the top 5 in the star studded finale in Nice.
The revelation of the race Liquigas' 20 year old Peter Sagan of Slovakia took
the first points sprint Plan du Var to take home the Maillot Vert along with two
impressive stage wins in his debut. Sagan also impressed finishing 5th in the
U25 competition proving he is more than just a sprinter losing 2 minutes of that
today after he had secured his green jersey and supported team leader Roman
Kreuziger.
Team Liquigas took two jerseys home courtesy of their two youngsters Sagan
and the very talented Roman Kreuziger; the rider from Moravská Třebová in the
Czech Republic will be 24 years old on May sixth and added the Maillot Blanc and
4th place to his already impressive palmares.
Nicolas Roche who finished 4th today, led his team Ag2r la Mondiale to the
top slot in the teams final classification, the 25 year old Irish rider
continues to fulfill his promise finishing in 11th place at 1:30.
Frank Schleck leads Alberto Contador and Luis Leon Sanchez Photo © 2010 Fotoreporter
Sirotti
Stage 7 Nice - Nice 119 km
The final stage of the 2010 Paris-Nice would be no grand parade to a mass sprint
finish; the stage was set for a pitched battle between Alberto Contador and his
rivals over three category one climbs in the coastal mountains. Only 38 seconds
separated 8 leaders of the race for the final podium. It was clear from the
start that it was Contador's race to lose; he could not balk as he had last year
on the penultimate stage.
148 riders took the start a break of four reached the 18 km the mark for
first intermediate sprint in Le Plan-du-Var where Liquigas' Peter Sagan led to
take the max points and 3 second bonus and secure his green jersey; Luis Leon
Sanchez followed taking the 2 second bonus to move onto the podium past past
Roman Kreuziger; Aleksandr Kuchynski (Liquigas) took the final bonus. The break
was absorbed shortly later as another attempt by William Bonnet (Bbox), Jos Van
Emden (Rabobank), David Le Lay (Ag2r) and Alexandre Botcharov (Katusha) was
quickly tamed and so it went for the next 20 kilometers. as attempts flew off
the front with Astana tirelessly closing them down.
Alejandro Valverde attacked at 38 kilometers trying to bridge to Albert
Timmer (Skil/Shimano) and Johnny Hoogerland (Vacansoleil); what ever chance the
two had was soon over as Astana geared up and caught the three. More
attacks followed each proved as succefull as the others until the first climb of
the day the Col de la Porte.
French duo Thomas Voeckler a(Bbox) and Amael Moinard (Cofidis) attacked and
rode away on the climb going over the summit 35 seconds ahead of Rein Taaramae
followed by Vlaverde, Contador and Frank Schleck. Ag2r's Christophe Riblon
attacked on the descent attempting to bridge to his compatriots.
Thomas Voeckler and Amael Moinard on the attack Photo © 2010 Fotoreporter
Sirotti
By the start of the climb of la Turbie Moinard and Voeckler had over two
minutes on the peloton with Riblon in the middle at a minute. Riblon was caught
on the climb as our escapees went over the summit with Moinard first solidifying
his lead for the polka dot jersey lead over his companion Voeckler...
With 40 km to go the peloton followed over the summit - Mathieu Perget
(Caisse), Dmitriy Fofonov (Astana), Cofidis' Leonardo Duque, Katusha's Petrov
and Taaramae taking the final points on offer.
Moinard and Voeckler arrived at the start of the final category 1 climb of
the Col d'Eze with 25 kilometers and a gap of 1:45. Behind Katusha had
come to the front leading the chase on behalf of their leader Joaquim Rodriguez
in 7th place and 35 seconds behind Contador it would be the team and riders last
ditch effort.
With 17 km to go Rodriguez attacked causing a split in the peloton. Meanwhile
at the front of the race Voeckler had dropped Moinard, the Cofidis rider clawed
his way back to Voeckler as they went under the red flag one km from the summit.
Alberto Contador responded to Rodriguez's attack catching him with L L
Sanchez on his wheel. Over the summit Moinard led Voeckler winning the max
points and the climbers jersey .
Contadors attack was eating up the time to the leaders; over the summit he
was only 12 seconds behind the French duo with Rodriguez and Valverde in tow, in
that order claiming the points. Taaramae and Sanchez followed. Contador stayed
on the attack chasing Moinard and Voeckler to collect the the final one
second bonus in the final intermediate sprint 2 km later.
15 riders regrouped on the descent with all the top guns of the race13 km to
go, notably Frank Schleck, Jens Voigt, Samuel Sanchez, Christophe Mevel and
Roman Kreuziger
Joaquím Rodriguez attacked again at 8 knm to go; when the other riders
declined to react Contador went on his own to chase the Katusha rider down. The
lack of organization favored the French riders on the front of the race as their
gap grew to 15 seconds with 5 km to go.
An attack by RadioShack's Janez Brajkovic was joined by Caisse's Luis Leon
Sanchez but it was too late as Voeckler and Moinard went under the 1km banner.
Moinard pips Voekler at teh finish. Photo © 2010 Fotoreporter
Sirotti
Moinard pipped Voekler for the win. Alejandro Valverde won the sprint of the
first chase group of 16 to land on the day's podium and close to 11 seconds to
Alberto Contador.
As usual on a final stage; today 49 riders abandoned the race after giving
their all for their team leaders.
Alberto celebrates his victory of the 2010 edition of Paris Nice at the finish,.
Photo © 2010 Fotoreporter
Sirotti
Results Stage 7 Results
Nice - Nice 119 km
1 Moinard Amaël Cofidis Le Credit En Ligne 2:52:09
2 Voeckler Thomas Bbox Bouygues Telecom - 00:00
3 Valverde Alejandro Caisse D’epargne - 00:03
4 Roche Nicolas Ag2r-La Mondiale - 00:03
5 Taaramae Reine Cofidis Le Credit En Ligne - 00:03
6 Rodriguez Joaquim Katusha Team - 00:03
7 Voigt Jens Team Saxo Bank - 00:03
8 Horner Christopher Team Radioshack - 00:03
9 Brajkovic Janez Team Radioshack - 00:03
10 Contador Alberto Astana - 00:03
Sprint points winner 20 year old Peter Sagan climbs alone after being dropped on
the final climb. Photo © 2010 Fotoreporter
Sirotti
68th Paris - Nice General Classification (Final)
1 Contador Alberto Astana 28h 35:35
2 Valverde Alejandro Caisse d'Epargne - 00:11
3 Sanchez Luis-Leon Caisse d'Epargne - 00:25
4 Kreuziger Roman Liquigas-Doimo - 00:26
5 Sanchez Samuel Euskaltel - Euskadi - 00:30
6 Voigt Jens Team Saxo Bank - 00:35
7 Rodriguez Joaquim Katusha Team - 00:37
8 Taaramae Reine Cofidis Le Credit En Ligne - 01:07
9 Peraud Jean-Christophe Omega Pharma - Lotto - 01:16
10 Coppel Jérôme Saur-Sojasun - 01:17
68th Paris-Nice 2010
March 7 - 14
Paris - Nice
Preview & Start List
Prologue:
Montfort-l'Amaury ITT 8 km
Stage 1:
Saint-Arnoult-en-Yvelines - Contres 201.5 km
Stage 2:
Contres -
Limoges 201 km
Stage 3:
Yrieix-la-Perche - Aurillac 155 km *
Stage 3 Results &
General Classification -Photos
Stage 4:
Maurs - Mende 173.5 km
Stage 4: Results & General Classifications
- Photos
Stage 5:
Pernes-les-Fontaines - Aix-en-Provence
157 km
Stage 5
Results & General Classification -Photos
Stage 6:
Peynie to Tourrettes-sur-Loup
220 km
Stage 6:
Results & General Classifications - Photos
Stage 7:
Nice - Nice; 119 km
Stage 7:
Results & Final General Classifications -Photos
Total distance: 1,233 km
* shortened by 55 km due to weather
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