Sanchez Wins Paris-Nice Sixth Stage

Last updated : 09 March 2012 By Kev Monks

Luis Leon Sanchez won the sixth stage of the Paris-Nice race this afternoon.

This 176.5km stage from Suze-la-Rousse to Sisteron was one for the climbers with five climbs at Cote de Buisson, Cote du Pas du Ventoux, : Cote d’Aurel, Cote des Mourres and Cote des Marquises.

Race leader Bradley Wiggins made the leading group which went clear after six kilometres before King Of The Mountains Frederik Veuchelen (Vacansoleil), Jens Voigt (RadioShack), Simon Geschke (Project 1T4i),  Mickael Cherel (AG2R)  Anthony Geslin (FDJ), Luis Leon Sanchez (Rabobank) and Daniel Navarro (Saxo Bank).

With 100km to go, they were four minutes and thirty seconds ahead but a further 50kms up the road, that lead had dropped to less than three minutes.

Veuchelen added four more points to his KOM tally when he was first over the Third Category Cote des Mourres on the wamest day of the race so far.

The gap continued to fall and it was a minute and ten seconds with 9.5kms to go.

Radio Shack Nissan's Jens Voigt attacked with Luis Leon Sanchez. They were 20 seconds ahead of the other leaders and a minute and eight seconds ahead of the peloton.

They stayed out in front and Sanchez sprinted to victory just ahead of Voigt in 4;07.58.

Bradley Wiggins stays in yellow for another day