Key moments

14:44 - Top five placings

Top five placings in the final stage (9.6 kms individual time trial in Col d’Eze):
1. Bradley Wiggins (SKY) 19:12
2. Lieuwe Westra (VCD) two seconds behind
3. Jean-Christophe Peraud (ALM) 33 secs
4. Simon Spilak (KAT) 47 secs
5. Jerome Coppel (SAU)       51 secs.

14:42 - Wiggins wins Paris-Nice

Wiggins won the last stage in 19:12 and the 70th Paris-Nice.

14:41 - 19:14 for Westra

Fastest time for Lieuwe Westra (VCD) in 19:14.

14:40 - 5th fastest for Valverde

Valverde is fifth fastest at the finish in 20:05.

14:39 - Spilak second at the finish

Slovenia’s Simon Spilak (KAT) is second fastest in 20 minutes.

14:32 - Westra two seconds fastest at the intermediate

Lieuwe Westra (VCD) was two seconds fastest than Bradley Wiggins (SKY) in 11:29 against 11:31 after 5.6 kms.

14:25 - Spilak second fastest at half-mark

Simon Spilak (LAM) was second fastest after 5.6 kms in 11:47.

14:22 - Wiggins just started

Race leader Bradley Wiggins (SKY) just started.

14:17 - Valverde is on the course

Alejandro Valverde (MOV) is now on the course.

14:16 - Second fastest time for Coppel

France’s Jerome Coppel (SAU) is second fastest in 20:04.

14:14 - Fourth fastest for Cunego

4th fastest time for Damiano Cunego (LAM) in 20:12. It is close between Moncoutie, Kloeden and Cunego, all within two seconds.

14:13 - Fourth fastest for Navarro

Team Saxo Bank leader Daniel Navarro clocks the fourth fastest mark at present in 20:19. 

14:08 - Coppel second at the intermediate

Jerome Coppel (SAU) is now second fastest on Col des Quatre Chemins (Km 5.6) in 11:49.

14:05 - Cunego second fastest at the intermediate

Damiano Cunego (LAM) is second fastest at the intermediate (Km 5.6) in 11:58.

13:53 - Kloeden second fastest

Andreas Kloeden (RNT) is second fastest in 20:10. The German wil not repeat his 2000 victory but it remains a fine performance by Kloedi. 

13:45 - Leipheimer currently 5th at the top

American Levi Leipheimer (OPQ) set the 5th fastest time at the finish in 20:46.

13:44 - Leipheimer third intermediate

American Levi Leipheimer (OPQ) is third fastest at the intermediate time (km 5.6) in 12:13.

13:41 - Kloeden on course

Andreas Kloeden (RNT) is on course. The German is the last winner of a Paris-Nice stage up Col d’Eze in 2000.

13:40 - Third fastest for Szmyd

Poland’s Sylvester Szmyd (LIQ) is third fastest in 20:38.

13:39 - Peraud: "My last chance"

France’s Jean-Christophe Peraud (ALM), the current leader, believes everything is possible: "To break the 20 minute barrier, I didn’t think I could do it, it’s a satisfaction. In the climb I had good sensations. I looked at my watch and I saw I was going at more than 30 kph and I told myself I was doing alright. I checked the course three times three weeks ago and again in the morning. It was my last chance on this Paris-Nice in which I was unlucky overall. I’ll wait and see but I can’t see how I could beat Wiggins. I hope the weather will help and headwind will rise!"

13:07 - Third fastest for Martin

Germany’s Tony Martin (OPQ) is third fastest in 20:49. It is the end of a disappointing Paris-Nice for last year’s winner.

12:57 - Taaramae finishes

22:28 for Estonian Rein Taaramae (COF), perhaps a little tired after his long break in stage 7.

12:51 - Peraud breaks 20 minutes barrier

France’s Jean-Christophe Peraud (ALM) breaks the 20 minutes barrier in 19:46.

12:47 - Peraud at the intermediate

France’s Jean-Christophe Peraud (ALM) clocks fastest time at the intermediate mark (Km 5.6).

12:41 - Great time by Moncoutié

French climber David Moncoutié (COF) sets a real reference time in 20:11.

12:35 - Moncoutié fastest intermediate

David Moncoutié (COF) is now the fastest at Col des Quatre Chemins (km 5.6) in 11:59.

12:28 - Fastest time for De Clercq

Bart De Clercq (LTB) set the fastest time at the finish in 20:56.

12:21 - De Clercq fastest intermediate

Bart De Clercq (LTB) set the fastest intermediate time (Km 5.6) in 12:27.

12:14 - Wiggins followed Pate

Bradley Wiggins was in the car following Danny Pate.

12:10 - Fatest time for Pate

Former under-23 time trial world champion Danny Pate (SKY) clocked the fastest time at the top in 21:30.

12:09 - Pate fastest at the intermediate

The fastest time so far at km 5.6 (Col des Quatre chemins) was clocked by Danny Pate (SKY) in 12:49.

11:54 - Marycz first to finish

Marycz at the finish in 23:32.

11:51 - Fastest on Col d’Eze

Here are the fastest times on the different courses on which the Col d’Eze time trial took place:
9.5 kms - Raymond Poulidor (1972) 20:40
10 kms - Sean Kelly (1986) 19:45
10.2 kms - Andreas Kloeden (2000) 20:60
12 kms - Jean-François Bernard (1992) 22:15
12.5 kms - Tony Rominger (1994) 22:60

11:49 - Record winners on Col d’Eze

Ireland’s Sean Kelly is the rider who won most Paris-Nice stages on Col d’Eze: five between 1982 and 1988. He is followed by Dutchman Joop Zoetemelk and Stephen Roche, both with four wins. Belgian Eddy Merckx won three times in Eze, in 1969, 1970 and 1971.

11:47 - Marycz started

Poland’s Jaroslaw Marycz (SAX) started. 

11:43 - Start gaps

Riders will start every minute except the 17 best-placed riders, who will start every two minutes.

11:42 - Jersey holders

Bradley Wiggins (SKY) retained his yellow jersey in the stage to Nice and his six seconds lead over Dutchman Lieuwe Westra (VCD). Levi Leipheimer (OPQ) lost his third place by crashing three times in stage 7 and the last podium spot is now held by Alejandro Valverde (MOV), 18 seconds adrift.
The Spaniard retained his green jersey and his seven points lead over Wiggins.
The polka-dot jersey remains and will remain on the back of Belgium’s Frederik Veuchelen (VCD).
American Tejay Van Garderen (BMC) is still in the young rider’s white jersey and leads Team Sky’s Rigoberto Uran by 2:55.
Team Vacansoleil dislodged Omega Pharma Quick Step from top spot in the team standings.

11:38 - In the press today

In l’Equipe, Levi Leipheimer’s team-mate Stijn Vandenbergh explains the day in hel lsuffered by the Omega Pharma Quick Step on Col de Vence: "It was a disastrous day. Levy crashed first when he removed his jacket which got caught in the wheel. He crashed again on a puncture. He didn’t panic because Tom Boonen was there waiting. But I think he probably had a scare. He did not dare take risks in the descent. And the last crash quashed his last hopes. He cracked in the head. He knew he had lost Paris-Nice."

Also in l’Equipe, Bradley Wiggins said he considered himself his one worst enemy: "My only problem will be me. I must focus on my preparation, on my effort and nothing else," he said.

In local paper Nice Matin, Nicholas Roche, who grew around Nice, describes Col d’Eze, a climb he knows like the palm of his hand: "I checked it 15 times at least. With different drills: at full speed, more relaxed, in interval training, behind a scooter. I know all the details so as not to be surprised on race day.

11:35 - First starter

The first man out today will be Poland’s Jaroslaw Marycz (SAX) at 11:45.

11:33 - Welcome on the 8th stage

Welcome on the 8th and final stage of Paris-Nice, a 9.6-kms individual time trial between Nice and Col d’Eze.

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