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Wiggins wins Paris-Nice in style

By Jean Montois (AFP) – Mar 11, 2012 

NICE, France — 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.

"This was massive. I'm thinking of the record of Simpson, my cycling idol. It's like Bobby Moore for football fans," said Wiggins, referring to the 1966 World Cup winning England captain.

The Team Sky rider is tipped as a potential victor of this year's Tour de France in July. He finished fourth in the 2009 edition.

"We have a plan with my training team. The plan took off on November 1, in order to hit the peak in July. Paris to Nice was part of that plan," Wiggins said.

"Even if Paris to Nice was a target, I'm probably at 95 percent form-wise, and I can get better," added the rider, 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.

"We weren't thinking about the Tour. We were concentrating on the race. We were here 100 percent to win the Paris to Nice," he said, adding that his victory would also boost his team-mates morale ahead of the summer.

"When we reach July, there won't be any questions about what we can do," he explained.

Completing the Paris to Nice 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.

"I remember the Kelly and Indurain era, so that adds an edge," Wiggins said.

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.

"I lost by two seconds, which is a disappointment, even if I didn't expect to hit this level in this Paris to Nice. I came up against Super Wiggins," said Westra.

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