An attack by Alberto Contador 5okm out began a stunning battle on the final stage of Paris-Nice and the most exciting end to a stage race we can recall for a long time.
Geraint Thomas has won Paris-Nice after a gripping final stage saw him drift out of the yellow jersey only to fight his way back all the way to the line.
Thomas began the final day in the mountains with 15 seconds to spare on Alberto Contador (Saxo-Tinkoff) in 2nd place overall.
And on the final stage it was the Spanish rider, who has won this race twice in the past, who took the battle to the Welsh leader and his Sky team mates, among them Ireland’s Nicolas Roche.
Thomas and Team Sky, especially Nicolas Roche, rode a terrific race from start to finish to come away with victory.
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Contador attacked on the penultimate climb but Roche, Ben Swift and Ian Boswell brought him back just before the cat 1 Col d'Eze.
However, no sooner was he caught than Contador went again.
And this time, after several attacks, he found himself clear with Richie Porte (BMC Racing) and Tim Wellens (Lotto Soudal) who was caught by the Spaniard and Australian after leading over the final climb alone.
The three leaders gained 30 seconds and with a 10 second time bonus on offer for the stage winner, Thomas’s lead was under threat and he knew it, as he buried himself to stay in contention on the final slopes of the last climb.
A really exciting chase followed, which you can see in the clip below; with Contador pegged right back but never actually caught.
The last 9km, Thomas hunts down Contador
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