Roche tried but Gates took the stage in Paris-Nice
Cyril Lemoine (SOJ), Paolo Longo Borghini (CAN), Thierry Hupond (ARG) and Jens Voigt (RLT) were in the long breakaway on the 176 km long fifth of the Paris-Nice from the old papal city, Chateauneuf de Pape, to the final climb, La Montagne de Lure.
Robert worked to keep Gesinks and Richie Portes back, while veteran Jens Voigt extended stay in the sun by running from his followers on a small increase in the final. With 8 kilometers to the finish there were attacks by various riders including Team Saxo-Tinkoff’s Nicholas Roche, but in the end it was Richie Porte (Sky) who got the decisive opportunity and rode alone to the finish line.
Saxo-Tinkoff’s Dan Frost says: “I am pleased with Nico’s (Roche) effort. He tries to attack at the end, and he runs with everything he has, and I cannot ask for more. I have to take my hat off to Porte. He will be hard to get now. Tomorrow I believe that a break can hold, while the favorites are resting their legs for the time trial.”
