Team Sky's Bradley Wiggins took the Paris-Nice classic race by winning the final stage time trial this afternoon.
The final stage was a 9.6km time trial up the Col d'Eze in Nice and saw Team Sky's Danny Pate set the early lead with a time of 21.30.
Jean-Christophe Peraud became the first man under twenty minutes when he flew home in 19.46, beating the record set in 1972. It was a time that World Time Trial Champion Tony Martin failed to beat and the German could only finish in a time of 20.50.
Bradley Wiggins, who was bidding to be the first British winner of the Paris-Nice since Tom Simpson some 45 years ago, went last. Wiggins, in an all yellow skinsuit and riding a black Dogma bike, was six seconds ahead of Lieuwe Westra, who went off two minutes earlier.
Westra went through the intermediate time fastest in 11.29, some two seconds ahead of Wiggins (Pictured Below).
Simon Spilaks came home with the second best time of 19.59 before Valverde beat his time but the front two were still hammering it down on the road.
Vacansoleil's Westra came home in a superb 19.14, meaning that Wiggins had it all to do.
Wiggins gave it all he had and won in a time of 19.12 to win the race overall by eight seconds with Westra admitting that Wiggins was stronger.
Wiggins, who also won the points jersey, said to Cycling Weekly that it was difficult.
Picture copyright of Covsupport News Service. Credit CNS/KM