March 10, 2013 (Col d’Èze, France) – Sylvain Richie Porte became the first Australian to win Paris-Nice when he sealed victory in the final time trial on Col d’Eze on Sunday. The 28-year-old Tasmanian clocked 19:16 to emulate his Team Sky leader Bradley Wiggins, who achieved the same double last year. It was an even more emotional day for Porte as he usually serves as a luxury domestique for his leaders but above all because it was earned on his training roads as he lives in Monaco.

At the top, the Montagne de Lure stage winner narrowly missed beating Wiggins’s record for four seconds but crushed the rest of the field. Andrew Talansky (GRS) was second in the stage, 23 seconds adrift, and runner-up overall, 55 seconds behind, keeping a white jersey he promised to convert to a shinier colour next year. France’s Jean-Christphe Peraud (ALM) completed the podium 1:21 off the pace.

The other honours in this edition went to Sylvain Chavanel, who topped a great week and a stage win with the green jersey while Johann Tschopp kept the best climber’s polka-dot garment.

Reference times
Dutchman Rick Flens (BLA), the first man out, set a reference time of 22:35. But he was quickly toppled from top spot by France’s Jeremy Roy (FDJ), the first rider under 21 minutes in 20:59. The Frenchman’s mark was improved by Italy’s Mattia Cattaneo (LAM) in 20:51. While Jerome Coppel (COF) avenged a disappointing Paris-Nice to date with a fine 20:33, former Giro winner Michele Scarponi (LAM) seized the lead on 20:19.

Quintana impresses
But the first rider under 20 minutes was Colombia’s Nairo Quintana (MOV), who confirmed his climbing abilities at 29.2 kph. Former junior world champion Diego Ulissi (LAM) in 20:16 and Slovenia’s Simon Spilak (KAT), 4th last year, in 20:11, were unable to improve the former Tour de l’Avenir winner’s time.

Even American Tejay Van Garderen (BMC), seen by many as the pre-race favorite, failed against the 20 minutes mark and Quintana’s time was enough to earn him a podium placing.

Porte was the best man
When the top five riders in the GC started, the big battle did as well. Jean-Christophe Peraud (ALM) avenged a silly crash in the first turn by clocking what would be the 4th fastest time in 19:48, enough for him to feature on the podium of this edition. White jersey holder Andrew Talansky also impressed by bettering Quintan’s times with every kilometer.

But there was no denying Richie Porte a victory he amply deserved. The Australian led from the gun and crossed the line in19:16, only four seconds slower than Bradley Wiggins’s record climb a year ago. Team Sky and Australia now have a new champion to celebrate.

Results

1. Richie Porte (Aus) Sky Procycling  0:19:16
2. Andrew Talansky (USA) Garmin-Sharp  0:23
3. Nairo Alexander Quintana Rojas (Col) Movistar Team  0:27
4. Jean-Christophe Peraud (Fra) AG2R La Mondiale  0:32
5. Tejay van Garderen (USA) BMC Racing Team  0:52
6. Simon Spilak (Slo) Katusha  0:55
7. Diego Ulissi (Ita) Lampre-Merida  1:00
8. Michele Scarponi (Ita) Lampre-Merida  1:03
9. Sylvain Chavanel (Fra) Omega Pharma-Quick Step  1:05
10. Jon Izaguirre Insausti (Esp) Euskaltel-Euskadi  1:06
11. Andreas Klöden (Ger) RadioShack Leopard  1:16
12. Arnold Jeannesson (Fra) FDJ  1:17
13. Jerome Coppel (Fra) Cofidis, Solutions Credits
14. David Lopez Garcia (Esp) Sky Procycling  1:18
15. Stefan Denifl (Aut) IAM Cycling  1:25
16. Amaël Moinard (Fra) BMC Racing Team  1:26
17. Alberto Losada Alguacil (Esp) Katusha  1:30
18. Javier Moreno Bazan (Esp) Movistar Team  1:31
19. Denis Menchov (Rus) Katusha  1:32
20. Lieuwe Westra (Ned) Vacansoleil-DCM Pro Cycling Team  1:35
21. Mattia Cattaneo (Ita) Lampre-Merida
22. Jonathan Hivert (Fra) Sojasun
23. Peter Velits (Svk) Omega Pharma-Quick Step
24. Maxime Bouet (Fra) AG2R La Mondiale  1:37
25. Robert Kiserlovski (Cro) RadioShack Leopard  1:43
26. Jérémy Roy (Fra) FDJ
27. Daniel Navarro Garcia (Esp) Cofidis, Solutions Credits  1:46
28. Egor Silin (Rus) Astana Pro Team  1:48
29. Rein Taaramae (Est) Cofidis, Solutions Credits  1:51
30. Davide Malacarne (Ita) Team Europcar
31. Maxime Monfort (Bel) RadioShack Leopard
32. Bart De Clercq (Bel) Lotto Belisol  1:53
33. Alessandro De Marchi (Ita) Cannondale Pro Cycling
34. Gorka Izaguirre Insausti (Esp) Euskaltel-Euskadi  1:55
35. Gustav Larsson (Swe) IAM Cycling  1:56
36. Tony Gallopin (Fra) RadioShack Leopard
37. Evgeny Petrov (Rus) Team Saxo-Tinkoff  1:59
38. Mathias Frank (Sui) BMC Racing Team
39. Julien El Fares (Fra) Sojasun
40. Rory Sutherland (Aus) Team Saxo-Tinkoff  2:01
41. Dominik Nerz (Ger) BMC Racing Team
42. Yury Trofimov (Rus) Katusha
43. Luis Angel Mate Mardones (Esp) Cofidis, Solutions Credits  2:03
44. Jesus Herrada Lopez (Esp) Movistar Team  2:07
45. Christophe Le Mevel (Fra) Cofidis, Solutions Credits  2:10
46. Enrico Gasparotto (Ita) Astana Pro Team
47. Stijn Vandenbergh (Bel) Omega Pharma-Quick Step  2:11
48. Johann Tschopp (Sui) IAM Cycling  2:12
49. Kanstantsin Siutsou (Blr) Sky Procycling
50. Romain Sicard (Fra) Euskaltel-Euskadi  2:14
51. Nicolas Roche (Irl) Team Saxo-Tinkoff
52. Mikel Astarloza Chaurreau (Esp) Euskaltel-Euskadi  2:20
53. Ruben Plaza Molina (Esp) Movistar Team  2:21
54. Geoffrey Soupe (Fra) FDJ  2:24
55. Ivan Basso (Ita) Cannondale Pro Cycling
56. Laurent Didier (Lux) RadioShack Leopard  2:25
57. Simon Clarke (Aus) Orica-GreenEdge
58. Julien Simon (Fra) Sojasun  2:26
59. Hubert Dupont (Fra) AG2R La Mondiale
60. Ivan Santaromita (Ita) BMC Racing Team  2:28
61. Jens Voigt (Ger) RadioShack Leopard
62. Martijn Keizer (Ned) Vacansoleil-DCM Pro Cycling Team  2:29
63. Andriy Grivko (Ukr) Astana Pro Team  2:31
64. Maarten Tjallingii (Ned) Blanco Pro Cycling Team  2:33
65. Vasil Kiryienka (Blr) Sky Procycling  2:34
66. Lars Ytting Bak (Den) Lotto Belisol  2:35
67. Eduard Vorganov (Rus) Katusha  2:36
68. Warren Barguil (Fra) Team Argos-Shimano
69. Sébastien Minard (Fra) AG2R La Mondiale  2:38
70. Thomas Lövkvist (Swe) IAM Cycling  2:40
71. Maxim Iglinskiy (Kaz) Astana Pro Team
72. Thomas Voeckler (Fra) Team Europcar  2:41
73. Rémi Pauriol (Fra) Sojasun  2:45
74. Daniel Oss (Ita) BMC Racing Team  2:46
75. Jérôme Pineau (Fra) Omega Pharma-Quick Step  2:47
76. Daniele Ratto (Ita) Cannondale Pro Cycling
77. Nicki Sörensen (Den) Team Saxo-Tinkoff
78. Kristijan Durasek (Cro) Lampre-Merida  2:48
79. Frederik Veuchelen (Bel) Vacansoleil-DCM Pro Cycling Team
80. Mikel Nieve Ituralde (Esp) Euskaltel-Euskadi  2:51
81. Heinrich Haussler (Aus) IAM Cycling
82. Brent Bookwalter (USA) BMC Racing Team  2:52
83. Steven Kruijswijk (Ned) Blanco Pro Cycling Team
84. Kevin De Weert (Bel) Omega Pharma-Quick Step  2:53
85. Marco Bandiera (Ita) IAM Cycling
86. Damien Gaudin (Fra) Team Europcar  2:55
87. Vincent Jerome (Fra) Team Europcar  2:56
88. Mads Christensen (Den) Team Saxo-Tinkoff  2:59
89. Paolo Longo Borghini (Ita) Cannondale Pro Cycling
90. Xavier Florencio Cabre (Esp) Katusha
91. Manuele Mori (Ita) Lampre-Merida
92. Romain Bardet (Fra) AG2R La Mondiale  3:05
93. Jens Keukeleire (Bel) Orica-GreenEdge  3:07
94. Alessandro Petacchi (Ita) Lampre-Merida
95. Thierry Hupond (Fra) Team Argos-Shimano  3:08
96. Evaldas Siskevicius (Ltu) Sojasun
97. Ruben Perez Moreno (Esp) Euskaltel-Euskadi  3:10
98. Philippe Gilbert (Bel) BMC Racing Team  3:11
99. Bertjan Lindeman (Ned) Vacansoleil-DCM Pro Cycling Team  3:13
100. Martin Elmiger (Sui) IAM Cycling
101. Elia Viviani (Ita) Cannondale Pro Cycling  3:16
102. Anders Lund (Den) Team Saxo-Tinkoff  3:17
103. Rick Flens (Ned) Blanco Pro Cycling Team  3:19
104. Markel Irizar Aranburu (Esp) RadioShack Leopard  3:20
105. Michael Matthews (Aus) Orica-GreenEdge  3:22
106. Imanol Erviti Ollo (Esp) Movistar Team  3:23
107. Romain Lemarchand (Fra) Cofidis, Solutions Credits  3:26
108. Jack Bauer (Nzl) Garmin-Sharp  3:28
109. Matti Breschel (Den) Team Saxo-Tinkoff  3:30
110. Tom Stamsnijder (Ned) Team Argos-Shimano  3:32
111. Samuel Dumoulin (Fra) AG2R La Mondiale  3:33
112. Yann Huguet (Fra) Team Argos-Shimano  3:34
113. Romain Zingle (Bel) Cofidis, Solutions Credits  3:39
114. Grégory Rast (Sui) RadioShack Leopard  3:41
115. Cyril Lemoine (Fra) Sojasun  3:42
116. Leigh Howard (Aus) Orica-GreenEdge
117. Jose Joaquin Rojas Gil (Esp) Movistar Team  3:43
118. Lucas Sebastian Haedo (Arg) Cannondale Pro Cycling  3:49
119. Nikolas Maes (Bel) Omega Pharma-Quick Step  3:50
120. Dirk Bellemakers (Ned) Lotto Belisol  3:51
121. Michael Albasini (Sui) Orica-GreenEdge  3:53
122. Alexander Kristoff (Nor) Katusha  3:54
123. Michael Morkov (Den) Team Saxo-Tinkoff  3:55
124. Jerome Cousin (Fra) Team Europcar  3:56
125. Mauro Da Dalto (Ita) Cannondale Pro Cycling  3:57
126. Dennis Vanendert (Bel) Lotto Belisol  4:00
127. Romain Feillu (Fra) Vacansoleil-DCM Pro Cycling Team  4:01
128. Fumiyuki Beppu (Jpn) Orica-GreenEdge  4:03
129. Gatis Smukulis (Lat) Katusha  4:04
130. Roy Curvers (Ned) Team Argos-Shimano  4:11
131. Yannick Talabardon (Fra) Sojasun  4:15
132. Borut Bozic (Slo) Astana Pro Team  4:18
133. Frederik Willems (Bel) Lotto Belisol  4:19
134. Tom Veelers (Ned) Team Argos-Shimano  4:22
135. Sébastien Turgot (Fra) Team Europcar  4:23
136. Bert De Backer (Bel) Team Argos-Shimano  4:25
137. Danny Pate (USA) Sky Procycling  4:26
138. David Millar (Gbr) Garmin-Sharp  4:35
139. Guillaume Bonnafond (Fra) AG2R La Mondiale  4:36
140. Johan Vansummeren (Bel) Garmin-Sharp  4:38
141. Marcel Kittel (Ger) Team Argos-Shimano
142. Alex Howes (USA) Garmin-Sharp  4:59
143. William Bonnet (Fra) FDJ  5:01
144. Edward King (USA) Cannondale Pro Cycling
145. Baden Cooke (Aus) Orica-GreenEdge  5:22
146. Tom Boonen (Bel) Omega Pharma-Quick Step  5:24
147. David Tanner (Aus) Blanco Pro Cycling Team  5:30
148. Jens Debusschere (Bel) Lotto Belisol
149. Fabian Wegmann (Ger) Garmin-Sharp  5:36
150. Björn Leukemans (Bel) Vacansoleil-DCM Pro Cycling Team  5:54
151. Yauheni Hutarovich (Blr) AG2R La Mondiale  6:10

Final GC

1. Richie Porte (Aus) Sky Procycling  29:59:47
2. Andrew Talansky (USA) Garmin-Sharp  0:55
3. Jean-Christophe Peraud (Fra) AG2R La Mondiale  1:21
4. Tejay van Garderen (USA) BMC Racing Team  1:44
5. Sylvain Chavanel (Fra) Omega Pharma-Quick Step  1:47
6. Simon Spilak (Slo) Katusha  1:48
7. Diego Ulissi (Ita) Lampre-Merida  1:54
8. Lieuwe Westra (Ned) Vacansoleil-DCM Pro Cycling Team  2:17
9. Andreas Klöden (Ger) RadioShack Leopard  2:22
10. Peter Velits (Svk) Omega Pharma-Quick Step  2:28
11. Alberto Losada Alguacil (Esp) Katusha  2:38
12. Daniel Navarro Garcia (Esp) Cofidis, Solutions Credits  3:04
13. Arnold Jeannesson (Fra) FDJ  3:06
14. Denis Menchov (Rus) Katusha  3:13
15. Nairo Alexander Quintana Rojas (Col) Movistar Team  3:20
16. Nicolas Roche (Irl) Team Saxo-Tinkoff  3:23
17. Bart De Clercq (Bel) Lotto Belisol  3:28
18. Gorka Izaguirre Insausti (Esp) Euskaltel-Euskadi  3:29
19. Andriy Grivko (Ukr) Astana Pro Team  3:37
20. Robert Kiserlovski (Cro) RadioShack Leopard  3:55
21. David Lopez Garcia (Esp) Sky Procycling  4:36
22. Jonathan Hivert (Fra) Sojasun
23. Davide Malacarne (Ita) Team Europcar  4:42
24. Maxime Bouet (Fra) AG2R La Mondiale  5:17
25. Maxime Monfort (Bel) RadioShack Leopard  5:32
26. Eduard Vorganov (Rus) Katusha  6:02
27. Romain Bardet (Fra) AG2R La Mondiale  7:08
28. Nicki Sörensen (Den) Team Saxo-Tinkoff  7:31
29. Stefan Denifl (Aut) IAM Cycling  8:34
30. Michele Scarponi (Ita) Lampre-Merida  0:10:37
31. Ivan Santaromita (Ita) BMC Racing Team  0:11:01
32. Christophe Le Mevel (Fra) Cofidis, Solutions Credits  0:11:07
33. Mathias Frank (Sui) BMC Racing Team  0:11:49
34. Enrico Gasparotto (Ita) Astana Pro Team  0:12:25
35. Philippe Gilbert (Bel) BMC Racing Team  0:12:31
36. Jérôme Pineau (Fra) Omega Pharma-Quick Step  0:13:33
37. Amaël Moinard (Fra) BMC Racing Team  0:13:53
38. Dominik Nerz (Ger) BMC Racing Team  0:14:28
39. Egor Silin (Rus) Astana Pro Team  0:14:37
40. Hubert Dupont (Fra) AG2R La Mondiale  0:15:11
41. Tony Gallopin (Fra) RadioShack Leopard  0:16:43
42. Luis Angel Mate Mardones (Esp) Cofidis, Solutions Credits  0:17:24
43. Maxim Iglinskiy (Kaz) Astana Pro Team  0:17:42
44. Thomas Lövkvist (Swe) IAM Cycling  0:17:48
45. Xavier Florencio Cabre (Esp) Katusha  0:18:16
46. Kevin De Weert (Bel) Omega Pharma-Quick Step  0:19:01
47. Daniele Ratto (Ita) Cannondale Pro Cycling  0:19:08
48. Ivan Basso (Ita) Cannondale Pro Cycling  0:19:22
49. Mikel Astarloza Chaurreau (Esp) Euskaltel-Euskadi  0:19:31
50. Thomas Voeckler (Fra) Team Europcar  0:21:04
51. Evgeny Petrov (Rus) Team Saxo-Tinkoff  0:21:51
52. Michael Albasini (Sui) Orica-GreenEdge  0:22:07
53. Alessandro De Marchi (Ita) Cannondale Pro Cycling  0:22:21
54. Yury Trofimov (Rus) Katusha  0:23:27
55. Jon Izaguirre Insausti (Esp) Euskaltel-Euskadi  0:23:36
56. Heinrich Haussler (Aus) IAM Cycling  0:25:14
57. Jose Joaquin Rojas Gil (Esp) Movistar Team  0:26:15
58. Simon Clarke (Aus) Orica-GreenEdge  0:26:47
59. Rein Taaramae (Est) Cofidis, Solutions Credits  0:27:58
60. Kanstantsin Siutsou (Blr) Sky Procycling  0:28:15
61. Julien Simon (Fra) Sojasun  0:28:16
62. Paolo Longo Borghini (Ita) Cannondale Pro Cycling  0:28:35
63. Ruben Plaza Molina (Esp) Movistar Team  0:28:40
64. Grégory Rast (Sui) RadioShack Leopard  0:30
65. Jerome Coppel (Fra) Cofidis, Solutions Credits  0:30:24
66. Martin Elmiger (Sui) IAM Cycling  0:32:15
67. Lars Ytting Bak (Den) Lotto Belisol  0:33:04
68. Johann Tschopp (Sui) IAM Cycling  0:33:06
69. Julien El Fares (Fra) Sojasun
70. Thierry Hupond (Fra) Team Argos-Shimano  0:33:09
71. Bertjan Lindeman (Ned) Vacansoleil-DCM Pro Cycling Team  0:33:27
72. Warren Barguil (Fra) Team Argos-Shimano  0:34:01
73. Borut Bozic (Slo) Astana Pro Team  0:34:55
74. Vasil Kiryienka (Blr) Sky Procycling  0:35:30
75. Rémi Pauriol (Fra) Sojasun  0:36:13
76. Steven Kruijswijk (Ned) Blanco Pro Cycling Team  0:36:19
77. Javier Moreno Bazan (Esp) Movistar Team  0:36:37
78. Samuel Dumoulin (Fra) AG2R La Mondiale  0:37:33
79. Stijn Vandenbergh (Bel) Omega Pharma-Quick Step  0:37:52
80. Kristijan Durasek (Cro) Lampre-Merida  0:38:01
81. Vincent Jerome (Fra) Team Europcar  0:38:11
82. Gustav Larsson (Swe) IAM Cycling  0:38:51
83. Daniel Oss (Ita) BMC Racing Team  0:40:27
84. Mattia Cattaneo (Ita) Lampre-Merida  0:40:54
85. Mikel Nieve Ituralde (Esp) Euskaltel-Euskadi  0:41:11
86. Yannick Talabardon (Fra) Sojasun  0:41:26
87. Jens Voigt (Ger) RadioShack Leopard  0:41:42
88. Manuele Mori (Ita) Lampre-Merida  0:42:15
89. Rory Sutherland (Aus) Team Saxo-Tinkoff  0:44:37
90. Gatis Smukulis (Lat) Katusha  0:45:18
91. Michael Matthews (Aus) Orica-GreenEdge  0:46:17
92. Frederik Willems (Bel) Lotto Belisol  0:46:41
93. Jens Keukeleire (Bel) Orica-GreenEdge  0:46:57
94. Ruben Perez Moreno (Esp) Euskaltel-Euskadi  0:47:41
95. Jesus Herrada Lopez (Esp) Movistar Team  0:48:04
96. Alessandro Petacchi (Ita) Lampre-Merida  0:50:54
97. Frederik Veuchelen (Bel) Vacansoleil-DCM Pro Cycling Team  0:50:58
98. Sébastien Minard (Fra) AG2R La Mondiale  0:51:17
99. Dirk Bellemakers (Ned) Lotto Belisol  0:53:46
100. Brent Bookwalter (USA) BMC Racing Team  0:53:47
101. Anders Lund (Den) Team Saxo-Tinkoff  0:55:39
102. Cyril Lemoine (Fra) Sojasun  0:55:50
103. Markel Irizar Aranburu (Esp) RadioShack Leopard  0:56:35
104. Imanol Erviti Ollo (Esp) Movistar Team  0:57:20
105. Bert De Backer (Bel) Team Argos-Shimano  0:57:34
106. Jens Debusschere (Bel) Lotto Belisol
107. Laurent Didier (Lux) RadioShack Leopard  0:57:35
108. Sébastien Turgot (Fra) Team Europcar  0:57:59
109. Björn Leukemans (Bel) Vacansoleil-DCM Pro Cycling Team  0:58:23
110. Nikolas Maes (Bel) Omega Pharma-Quick Step  0:58:43
111. Dennis Vanendert (Bel) Lotto Belisol  0:58:51
112. Fumiyuki Beppu (Jpn) Orica-GreenEdge  0:58:52
113. Danny Pate (USA) Sky Procycling  1:02
114. Fabian Wegmann (Ger) Garmin-Sharp  1:00:31
115. Marco Bandiera (Ita) IAM Cycling  1:00:55
116. Maarten Tjallingii (Ned) Blanco Pro Cycling Team  1:01:38
117. Matti Breschel (Den) Team Saxo-Tinkoff  1:01:49
118. Mads Christensen (Den) Team Saxo-Tinkoff  1:02:06
119. Roy Curvers (Ned) Team Argos-Shimano  1:02:26
120. Romain Lemarchand (Fra) Cofidis, Solutions Credits  1:02:42
121. Martijn Keizer (Ned) Vacansoleil-DCM Pro Cycling Team  1:03:27
122. Guillaume Bonnafond (Fra) AG2R La Mondiale  1:03:40
123. Romain Zingle (Bel) Cofidis, Solutions Credits  1:05:11
124. Leigh Howard (Aus) Orica-GreenEdge  1:05:15
125. Baden Cooke (Aus) Orica-GreenEdge  1:05:16
126. Geoffrey Soupe (Fra) FDJ  1:05:28
127. Elia Viviani (Ita) Cannondale Pro Cycling  1:06:10
128. Alexander Kristoff (Nor) Katusha  1:06:18
129. Michael Morkov (Den) Team Saxo-Tinkoff  1:08:38
130. Lucas Sebastian Haedo (Arg) Cannondale Pro Cycling  1:08:47
131. William Bonnet (Fra) FDJ  1:09:13
132. Jérémy Roy (Fra) FDJ  1:09:40
133. Romain Sicard (Fra) Euskaltel-Euskadi  1:09:44
134. Romain Feillu (Fra) Vacansoleil-DCM Pro Cycling Team  1:13
135. Jerome Cousin (Fra) Team Europcar  1:10:37
136. Mauro Da Dalto (Ita) Cannondale Pro Cycling
137. David Tanner (Aus) Blanco Pro Cycling Team  1:10:58
138. Marcel Kittel (Ger) Team Argos-Shimano  1:11:17
139. Jack Bauer (Nzl) Garmin-Sharp  1:12:32
140. Damien Gaudin (Fra) Team Europcar  1:13:00
141. Evaldas Siskevicius (Ltu) Sojasun  1:13:26
142. Tom Veelers (Ned) Team Argos-Shimano  1:15:21
143. Edward King (USA) Cannondale Pro Cycling  1:15:27
144. Yauheni Hutarovich (Blr) AG2R La Mondiale  1:16:26
145. Tom Stamsnijder (Ned) Team Argos-Shimano  1:16:43
146. Tom Boonen (Bel) Omega Pharma-Quick Step  1:18:30
147. Johan Vansummeren (Bel) Garmin-Sharp  1:19:06
148. Alex Howes (USA) Garmin-Sharp  1:19:34
149. Yann Huguet (Fra) Team Argos-Shimano  1:20:18
150. Rick Flens (Ned) Blanco Pro Cycling Team  1:23:28
151. David Millar (Gbr) Garmin-Sharp  1:23:50