Sunday 11 March 2012 | More details -
Reaction to the win
Wiggins still "locked on Tour de France"
Wiggins can win Tour de France says Boardman (BBC Sport Website)
Wiggins bridges 45 year gap back to Tom Simpson (Cyclingnews.com)
Is Wiggins the greatest cyclist we've ever produced asks Brendan Gallagher? (Telegraph Sport)
Bradley Wiggins speaks about his win, moments after clinching the 2012 Pais-Nice title (Pete Goding/Press Association Images)
Bradley Wiggins claimed arguably the biggest road race success of his career when winning Paris-Nice on Sunday. The Team Sky rider had shown outstanding form throughout the eight-stage race and he rounded it off in perfect style with a hard fought victory in the concluding 9.6 kilometres individual time trial up the Col d’Eze.
That helped him top the overall standings by eight seconds from Dutchman Lieuwe Westra (Vacansoleil-DCM) and he also claimed the green points jersey. The 31-year-old becomes only the second Briton to win what is one of the biggest races on the cycling calendar outside of the three Grand Tours, emulating Tom Simpson who triumphed at Paris-Nice in 1967.
Bradley Wiggins, Team Sky Rider:
“I always said it was about me doing my ride, emptying it to the top which was always going to be horrible. It was a 19-minute effort and pacing wise we got it absolutely perfect.Then it just depended on what everyone else did and there was one guy in Westra who got very close but it’s job done.
“I’m pleased more for everyone else rather than myself after all the hard work the boys have put in this week. Ultimately it fell on my shoulders to finish the job off and I’m just made up that I was able to do that.
“It’s massive to win this race too. I really think about things like that but I’ve tried not to think too much about it in the last few days. To follow in Tom Simpson’s footsteps and become the second British rider to win Paris-Nice is something special.
“I’d probably say it’s one of my biggest wins - as was the Criterium du Dauphiné - and to have both those on my palmares is a huge honour.”
Sean Yates, Team Sky Sports Director:
“Everything's gone our way except the rain on the prologue day. But Brad’s capped it off with a perfect scenario winning the stage and the GC and it's quite a big day for the team.
“He’s very grateful for what the team has done for him. At the end of the day that's their job and he wants to win. The team did such a good job and this just puts the edge on it - a great week for the team and we’re moving onwards and upwards.”
[Comparing Wiggins' win in the Dauphiné in 2011 to this latest success] "Prestige-wise I think the races are fairly equal. The win here was better though because of the way it played out in the final, the way we defended the jersey and the way Bradley climbed up Mende which isn’t a climb which suits him particularly well. So the way we rode and how we handled all the situations makes it a great result.”
PARIS-NICE – 11 March 2012
Stage 8 – Nice to Col d’Eze (individual time trial), 9.6km
STAGE RESULT
1 - Bradley Wiggins - Team Sky - (19m 12s)
2 - Lieuwe Westra – Vacansoleil-DCM - (+2s)
3 - Jean Christophe Péraud - AG2R-La Mondiale - (+33s)
OVERALL STANDINGS
1 - Bradley Wiggins - Team Sky - (28h 12m 16s)
2 - Lieuwe Westra – Vacansoleil-DCM - (+8)
3 - Alejandro Valverde - Movistar - (+1:10)
More details and full result available on our Brits Abroad Home Page and via www.teamsky.com
Links: Reaction to the win
Wiggins can win Tour de France says Boardman (BBC Sport Website)
Wiggins bridges 45 year gap back to Tom Simpson (Cyclingnews.com)
Is Wiggins the greatest cyclist we've had (Telegraph Sport)
