The Frenchman Sylvain Chavanel (Omega Pharma – Quick Step) won the penultimate stage of the Paris-Nice between Manosque and Nice with a finish on the Promenade des Anglais. Richie Porte retains his Yellow Jersey as leader before the final time trial this Sunday on the heights of the Col d’Èze.
The 6th stage was the longest of this 71st edition of the Paris-Nice (220 km). A group of 11 riders formed right at the exit of Manosque (1). The teammates of Richie Porte (Sky), wearing the Yellow Jersey, set the peloton’s pace to counter Romain Bardet, who was in the breakaway and the closest competitor to the Australian at 1’49” behind in the overall standings.
But the climbs of the Cols de Cabris and Ferrier took a toll on the riders. The lead group saw their advantage shrink and the peloton gradually closed the gap before catching the escapees at Tourrettes-sur-Loup, 39 kilometers from the finish. A mass sprint would therefore decide the outcome of this 6th stage.
The wheels narrowly missed the rain. The road dried up thanks to a sunny breakthrough in Nice after rain had been present for several days on the Côte d’Azur. On the Promenade des Anglais, it was the Frenchman Sylvain Chavanel (Omega Pharma – Quick Step) who won in the sprint ahead of the Belgian Philippe Gilbert (BMC), the reigning World Champion, and the Spaniard Joaquin Rojas (Movistar). This is already the 3rd stage victory for the French after Damien Gaudin in the Prologue and Nacer Bouhanni in the 1st stage between Saint-Germain-en-Laye and Nemours.
The stage also featured numerous withdrawals (2). In the General Classification, Richie Porte retains his Yellow Jersey as leader with a 32″ advantage over Andrew Talansky and ten seconds more over Sylvain Chavanel.
Here we are. The Paris-Nice concludes today but what a beautiful event, like last year, with this time trial in Nice and the Col d’Èze. A 9.6-kilometer climb starting from Boulevard Bischoffsheim, then heading to the Observatoire Road, the Col des Quatre Chemins, and then Èze. A fairly demanding climb with sections reaching up to 8.5% (3).
The first start is scheduled at 1:40 PM. For your information, the starting order is determined by the General Classification. The last rider starts first and so forth. Riders are expected to take between 13 and 14 minutes to reach the finish. The first to start will be Rick Flens (Blanco). Richie Porte, barring any technical issues, is not expected to miss his chance. The Australian from Sky is a specialist in this distance but will also need to watch out for his closest competitors, particularly Lieuwe Westra (Vacansoleil), Tejay Van Garderen (BMC), and of course Sylvain Chavanel, who is in full confidence.
