Wiggins first British Paris-Nice victor in 45 years

Bradley Wiggins won the 70th edition of the Paris to Nice race here on Sunday, edging home first in the closing 9.6-kilometre time-trial stage.

His victory in the eighth and final stage made him the first Briton since Tommy Simpson in 1967 to triumph in the early-season Race to the Sun classic.

"I know my cycling history, the Paris-Nice is a historic race, and my idol Tommy Simpson won here," said the Team Sky rider, who is tipped as a potential victor of this year's Tour de France in July.

"I finished fourth in the Tour (in 2009), I won the Dauphine (in 2011) and now the Paris-Nice, so I'm among the best, the five who can do something in the Tour," said Wiggins, who turns 32 in April.

Wiggins took possession of the yellow jersey in Monday's 185.5-kilometre second stage on the flat between Mantes-la-Jolie west of Paris and Orleans.

Completing the podium were Dutchman Lieuwe Westra, eight seconds behind Wiggins, and Spaniard Alejandro Valverde, one minute 10 seconds back.

Wiggins added to a career haul that also includes three British road titles, a trio of world track honours and as many Olympic track golds.

His victory in the Paris to Nice was one of the tightest in the race's history, and a photofit of Spaniard Miguel Indurian's win over Ireland's Stephen Roche in 1990.

Westra and Valverde had likewise gone into Sunday's uphill time-trial from Nice to the Col d'Eze in second and third place.

Wiggins pipped newcomer Westra in the time-trial by 1.98 seconds, while the day's early leader, Frenchman Jean-Christophe Periaud slipped back into third place, 33 seconds back.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/britains-wiggins-wins-paris-nice-141900761.html

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