Garmin-Sharp’s Tom-Jelte Slagter won his second stage of Paris-Nice yesterday and helped ease the sting of a late-race mechanical which was caused by another rider on Friday derailing his podium ambitions.
Tom-Jelte Slagter wins stage 7 of Paris-Nice ahead of world champion Rui Costa. Photo: Tim De Waele
A winner in Belleville on stage 4, Slagter won the seventh and penultimate stage of Paris-Nice, an uphill sprint, ahead of world champion Rui Costa (Lampre-Merida) and yellow jersey holder Carlos Betancur (ag2r La Mondiale).
“Like I said after winning the first stage, I can’t believe it,” Slagter said.
“Today is maybe even better. Yesterday I lost everything. It was really hard, I could have gone top five in GC, and it all disappeared. But today, everything is okay again. It’s incredible.”
Sky’s Geraint Thomas, second overall at the start from Mougins, lost seven minutes after a hard fall 5km from the finish line.
If Betancur hangs on, he will become the first Colombian to win Paris-Nice. – VeloNews
