Geraint Thomas has added a prestigious title to his collection, the Paris-Nice classic. The Welshman becomes only the third British rider to win the
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Geraint Thomas has added a prestigious title to his collection, the Paris-Nice classic.
The Welshman becomes only the third British rider to win the event, and his winning margin was the second-smallest in the race’s history, just four seconds.
It so nearly was not to be. Thomas looked dead on the road 17 kilometres from the end as three-time winner Alberto Contador surged forwards in a breakaway attack on the final climb, and although Thomas wore the yellow jersey, he only had a 15 second cushion over the Spanish master, already a winner here twice before.
But Thomas mounted an audacious downhill attack of his own, and closed the gap at high speed making up over 30 seconds on the leaders before the sprint finish, which was eventually won by Tim Wellans.
It is Thomas’s second win of the year, having already beaten Contador in the Volta ao Algarve last month.