Paris-Nice Stage 7: Richie Porte seals overall win with victory on the Col d'Eze

Richie Porte has emulated Team Sky colleague Bradley Wiggins' achievement of 12 months ago in winning not only the final stage of Paris-Nice, a time trial from Nice to the top of the Col d'Eze, but in doing so sealing his overall win in the Race to the Sun. Porte becomes the first Australian to win the race.

While Wiggins was pushed all the way last year by Vacansoleil-DCM's Lieuwe Westra, 28-year-old Tasmanian Porte was never in trouble today, posting a time of 19 minutes 17 seconds for the 9.6 kilometre climb, 22 seconds ahead of the second placed finisher, Andrew Talansky of Garmin-Sharp. Movistar's Nairo Quintana posted the third fastest time today.

Talansky, aged 24, has the consolation of the best young rider's white jersey at the end of a week that has underlined his huge potential, while Omega Pharma-Quick Step's Sylvain Chavanel, winner of the sprint finish on the Promenade des Anglais in Nice yesterday, was ninth quickest today and wins the points competition. Swiss rider Johann Tschopp of Professional Continental outfit IAM takes the mountains jersey.

Paris-Nice finished with a time trial stage to Col d'Eze every year from 1969 to 1995, but prior to its reappearence in the race to mark the 70th edition of the event last year, it had not featured since 2001, when it was ridden on the penultimate stage.

“I just never thought or believed that I could win Paris-Nice," said Porte afterwards. "For me personally I’ve never had a nice experience at this race so it’s a massive monkey off the back to come here and win it.

“I woke up this morning and I knew that I had good legs," added Porte, who lives just down the road in Monaco and as a result knows the Col d'Eze climb better than most.

"After the armchair ride that I got from the team yesterday – as well as on stage five and for the entire week – I knew I’d be in good shape. The guys were just incredible this race.

“I don’t feel like I’m ready to lead at a Grand Tour yet. My goal is to go to the Tour and support Chris [Froome] and Brad [Wiggins]. Do that and maybe next year I could potentially lead Team Sky at the Giro,” he concluded.

Paris-Nice Stage 7 result  
  
1  PORTE Richie               SKY PROCYCLING                19' 16''
2  TALANSKY Andrew            GARMIN - SHARP              + 00' 23''
3  QUINTANA Nairo Alexander   MOVISTAR TEAM               + 00' 27''
4  PERAUD Jean-Christophe     AG2R LA MONDIALE            + 00' 32''
5  VAN GARDEREN Tejay         BMC RACING TEAM             + 00' 52''
6  SPILAK Simon               KATUSHA TEAM                + 00' 55''
7  ULISSI Diego               LAMPRE - MERIDA             + 01' 00''
8  SCARPONI Michele           LAMPRE - MERIDA             + 01' 03''
9  CHAVANEL Sylvain           OMEGA PHARMA-QUICK STEP     + 01' 05''
10 IZAGIRRE Ion               EUSKALTEL - EUSKADI         + 01' 06''
11 KLÖDEN Andréas             RADIOSHACK LEOPARD          + 01' 16''
12 JEANNESSON Arnold          FDJ                         + 01' 17''
13 COPPEL Jérôme              COFIDIS, SOLUTIONS CREDITS  + 01' 17''
14 LOPEZ David                SKY PROCYCLING              + 01' 18''
15 DENIFL Stephan             IAM CYCLING                 + 01' 25''
16 MOINARD Amaël              BMC RACING TEAM             + 01' 26''
17 LOSADA Alberto             KATUSHA TEAM                + 01' 30''
18 MORENO Javier              MOVISTAR TEAM               + 01' 31''
19 MENCHOV Denis              KATUSHA TEAM                + 01' 32''
20 WESTRA Lieuwe              VACANSOLEIL-DCM             + 01' 35''
  
Overall standings after Stage 7  
  
1  PORTE Richie               SKY PROCYCLING            29h 59' 47''
2  TALANSKY Andrew            GARMIN - SHARP              + 00' 55''
3  PERAUD Jean-Christophe     AG2R LA MONDIALE            + 01' 21''
4  VAN GARDEREN Tejay         BMC RACING TEAM             + 01' 44''
5  CHAVANEL Sylvain           OMEGA PHARMA-QUICK STEP     + 01' 47''
6  SPILAK Simon               KATUSHA TEAM                + 01' 48''
7  ULISSI Diego               LAMPRE - MERIDA             + 01' 54''
8  WESTRA Lieuwe              VACANSOLEIL-DCM             + 02' 17''
9  KLÖDEN Andréas             RADIOSHACK LEOPARD          + 02' 22''
10 VELITS Peter               OMEGA PHARMA-QUICK STEP     + 02' 28''