Sublime, magnificent, wonderful… there are not enough superlatives to describe the 67th edition of the Paris-Nice. The final stage, in the hinterland of Nice (starting and finishing on the Promenade des Anglais), was colorful and full of twists, just like the week itself. While there was a deserving winner in Luis Leon Sanchez (Caisse d’Epargne), the day’s highlight was Alberto Contador. Wearing the yellow jersey at the start of the week, the Spaniard ultimately couldn’t regain the lead (finishing 4th) and didn’t even take solace with the stage win, which went to Antonio Colom (Katusha). From the very first hectometres of the Porte pass, 80 kilometers from the line, the leader of Team Astana (awaiting Lance Armstrong?) attacked, stunning the peloton and his main rivals by catching up with the breakaway, which included the Frenchman Sandy Casar (Française des Jeux). The group got more than two minutes ahead. But strong men had their teams work to close the gap to seventeen seconds at the end. Showing pride after his terrible failure the day before, Contador went solo but was caught before Villefranche by Franck Schleck and Colom. “He made a breakaway worthy of Merckx or Hinault,” admitted Christian Prudhomme, the race director. “But without Horner and Leipheimer (withdrawn, ed) his team is weak. In cycling, an individual sport played by teams, you need strong teammates to aim for the final victory,” he continued.
Prudhomme: “The most beautiful Paris-Nice I have experienced”
Having a fantastic week, Sylvain Chavanel also went chasing Contador down the Eze pass descent. But suffering from a chain slip and a crash, he only rejoined the peloton 2.5 kilometers from the finish and even lost his second place in the general classification by nine seconds. “I took risks on the descent; it’s rare that I fall, but during the Paris-Nice, the roads are slippery,” he smiled, not at all disappointed. Indeed, the Frenchman had no reason to be upset after his performances: “Second or third, for me, it’s a fine Paris-Nice. I kept my place on the podium. Alberto Contador was very strong today. I have nothing to be ashamed of in my performances, three days in yellow, a stage win, always well-placed, and the green jersey. I have definitely met my goal.”
On Tuesday, March 10th, he took the yellow jersey, which he held for three days, during the Ornal-Vichy stage after a beautiful tactical race. “Chavanel has come of age. He has gained the maturity that he lacked to win,” explained Christian Prudhomme. “In Vichy, he was self-assured. It’s doubtful he would have won this stage two years ago,” continued the Tour de France director, before concluding: “I am very happy. The week was wonderful. It was the finest edition of the Paris-Nice that I have experienced, both as a journalist and in the role of race director. There were upheavals everywhere: on the plains, in the mountains, climbing, descending, even on the flat with the echelons. The hallmark of this race is suspense, but this time, it was magical.”
In early July, cycling will return to Nice as the Tour de France passes through the azure capital after starting in Monaco.
