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Sanchez takes over at Paris-Nice

Published: Mar. 14, 2009
Paris-Nice 2009 - Stage 7: Sanchez goes it alone
Paris-Nice 2009 - Stage 7: Sanchez goes it alone
Photo: Graham Watson

Spain's Luis Leon Sanchez (Caisse d'Epargne) won the seventh and penultimate stage of Paris-Nice on Saturday to take the leader's yellow jersey.

Overnight leader Alberto Contador (Astana) suffered over the final four kilometers, losing almost three minutes. He later admitted that he had forgotten to eat and drink properly.

Sanchez broke away 15km from the finish line and eventually came home 50 seconds ahead of Antonio Colom (Katusha), Frank Schleck (Saxo Bank) and French rider Sylvain Chavanel (Quick Step).

Sanchez said afterwards that everything had gone as expected.

2009 Paris-Nice
Stage 7: Manosque – Fayence, 191km

GC Leader: Luis Leon Sanchez (Caisse d’Epargne
Stage winner: Sanchez in 4:43:34
Stage winner's average speed: 40.4 kph (25.12 mph)
Up next: Stage 8 is 119km from Nice to Nice. The route includes three category 1 climbs on a hilly circuit starting and ending in Nice.
2009 Stage winners:
Stage 1: Alberto Contador (Astana)
Stage 2: Heinrich Haussler (Cervelo TestTeam)
Stage 3: Sylvain Chavanel (Quick Step)
Stage 4: Christian Vande Velde (Garmin-Slipstream)
Stage 5: Jeremy Roy (Française des Jeux)
Stage 6: Alberto Contador (Astana)
Stage 7: Luis Leon Sanchez (Caisse d’Epargne)

"We had planned to attack and everything went smoothly," he said. "I know the course well, as the same roads are used as in the Tour of the Mediterranean and the Tour du Haut-Var, and it suits me well."

A 10-rider breakaway had built up a three-and-a-half minute lead after splitting from the peloton at the 60km mark of the 191km stage.

The final one of this group, Slovakia's Martin Velits, was hauled back 30km from the end by the Spanish trio of Contador, Colom and Sanchez, the latter biding his time before pulling clear.

Sanchez, 25, now stands 1:09min clear of Chavanel in the overall standings, with Contador, last year's Giro d'Italia and Vuelta a España winner, at 1:50min.

Paris-Nice 2009 - Stage 7: Astana works to protect Contador's lead.
Paris-Nice 2009 - Stage 7: Astana works to protect Contador's lead.
Photo: Graham Watson

In sunny conditions, the stage was marked by a large number of riders pulling out, including reigning Olympic champion Samuel Sanchez of Spain.

The new race leader said he was surprised that Contador was unable to maintain the pace on the way to the finish line.

“Contador? I don't know what happened to him,” said Sanchez. “When we were riding together in the final climb he didn't tell me anything which indicated a problem.

"We get on well but we are also adversaries. It's good to have the leader's jersey but the race is not over yet."

Paris-Nice 2009 - Stage 7: Contador was spent by the time he reached the line.
Paris-Nice 2009 - Stage 7: Contador was spent by the time he reached the line.
Photo: Graham Watson

Contador cleared up the question mark over his lack of power in the closing kilometers, blaming a misjudged dietary approach.

"It wasn't an easy race to control and I had put a lot of effort in early on," Contador said. "The pace was very fast right from the start and I forgot to eat and drink correctly. My body just had nothing left and my sole aim was to get across the line."

Sunday will likely see riders attacking the 8th and final stage, a 119km run which starts in the mountains north of Nice.

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