Team Sky‘s Richie Porte recorded a winning time of 20-23 on the uphill time trial on Col d’Eze, which was enough to see off overnight GC leader Tony Gallopin (Lotto-Soudal) and the challenge of Michal Kwiatkowski (Etixx-QuickStep). The stage win gave Porte the overall victory at Paris-Nice by 30 seconds.
German time trial champion Tony Martin (Etixx-QuickStep) set the early benchmark, powering his way up the 9.6km parcours in a time of 20-52. In the end this was only enough to finish in fourth place, 29 seconds down on Porte.
Sir Bradley Wiggins, winner on this stage when he took the overall in 2012, opted not to start today’s stage, a decision he wasn’t alone in as a number of others also avoided the wet conditions on Col d’Eze.
Geraint Thomas was 29 seconds down on his Sky teammate on the day, and as a result dropped to fifth on the final general classification. After working hard all week for Porte, and falling hard on the previous day’s stage, the Welshman still put in a combative ride on the day’s stage but it wasn’t enough to get him a podium finish.
Paris-Nice stage seven ITT, Col d’Eze, 9.6km
1. Richie Porte (Aus) Team Sky, 20-23
2. Simon Spilak (Slo) Katusha, at 13 seconds
3. Rui Costa (Por) Lampre-Merida, at 24 seconds
4. Tony Martin (Ger) Etixx-QuickStep, at 29 seconds
5. Michal Kwiatkowski (Pol) Etixx-QuickStep, same time
6. Andrew Talansky (USA) Cannondale-Garmin, at 37 seconds
7. Geraint Thomas (GBr) Team Sky, at 39 seconds
8. Jon Izaguirre (Esp) Movistar, at 50 seconds
9. Tim Wellens (Bel) Lotto-Soudal, at 54 seconds
10. Gorka Izaguirre (Esp) Movistar, at 55 seconds
Richie Porte on his way to victory on Col d’Eze. Photo: Graham Watson
Paris-Nice final general classification
1. Richie Porte (Aus) Team Sky, 29-10-41
2. Michal Kwiatkowski (Pol) Etixx-QuickStep, at 30 seconds
3. Simon Spilak (Slo) Katusha, same time
4. Rui Costa (Por) Lampre-Merida, same time
5. Geraint Thomas (GBr) Team Sky, at 41 seconds
6. Tony Gallopin (Fra) Lotto-Soudal, at 1-03
7. Jakob Fuglsang (Den) Astana, at 1-05
8. Rafel Valls (Esp) Lampre-Merida, at 1-24
9. Gorka Izaguirre (Esp) Movistar, at 1-38
10. Tim Wellens (Bel) Lotto-Soudal, at 2-18
Geraint Thomas on stage seven of Paris Nice. Photo: Graham Watson
Richie Porte wins Paris-Nice 2015. Photo: Graham Watson
Tony Martin set the early fastest time, but dropped to fourth on the stage. Photo: Graham Watson.
Michal Kwiatkowski on stage seven of Paris-Nice. Photo: Graham Watson
