Paris-Nice (final report)
Izagirre adds WorldTour points to Movistar Team's account in eventful 'Race to the Sun', full of misfortune for their GC specialists
Australian Richie Porte (LTS) became the winner of the 73rd Paris-Nice after dominating his rivals -including former leader Tony Gallopin (LTS)- in a breathtaking, 9.6km TT up the Col d’Èze. Gallopin was joined into the overall podium by Michal Kwiatkowski (EQS) and Simon Spilak (KAT), a top-3 which the Movistar Team fought for with no success, full of spirit in crucial stage yet lacking fortune needed to contest the race with their top guns.
Gorka Izagirre kept the 9th place he snatched after Saturday’s grueling ride towards Nice, close to countryman Rafa Valls (LAM), and confirmed his second top-ten GC finish in this year’s WorldTour after and eighth spot in the Tour Down Under. The Basque was the reference for the group directed by Arrieta and Laguía after Intxausti’s abandon through illness, numerous difficulties for Rubén Fernández and bad luck for Ion Izagirre -best of the Blues today in 8th, with Gorka in 10th-, still trying to bounce back with a solid breakaway yesterday alongside Dayer Quintana and Erviti. The Movistar roster finished second in the teams’ classification, close to repeating their success from the 2014 ‘Race to the Sun.’