Paris-Nice

Stage 6:  Rognes to Aix-en-Provence, ITT, 27km/16.8mi

By Cathy Mehl

“I should have taken more risks in the descent,” assessed Andreas after the stage.  “It could have saved me some extra seconds.  But it would not have been enough for the victory or to save the yellow jersey.  We have to be honest:  Martin was just better.”

Good weather held during the stage although rain is in the forecast for the remaining two stages.  An early best time on the 27km time trial came from Geraint Thomas of Team Sky.  The course was constantly rolling before the climb of the Côte de la Cride and many riders struggled with the latter part of the course.  Wiggins soon posted the best time and held the fastest time at the midway check point.  When Martin came through the same check point he held seventeen seconds over Wiggins and continued to hold his advantage into the finish line.

Levi on course

Klöden was comfortable and steady on the bike and showed plenty of strength on the climb, but it wasn’t enough to catch Martin who continues to excel in the time trial.  Saturday’s stage 6 has six rated climbs on the longest stage in this year’s race before Sunday’s finale in Nice.

Jani displays good focus in the ITT

1              Tony Martin (Ger) HTC-Highroad              0:33:24  

2              Bradley Wiggins (GBr) Sky Procycling       0:00:20  

3              Richie Porte (Aus) Saxo Bank Sungard    0:00:29  

4              Andreas Klöden (Ger) Team RadioShack     0:00:46  

5              Jean-Christophe Peraud (Fra) AG2R La Mondiale    0:00:55  

6              Lieuwe Westra (Ned) Vacansoleil-DCM Pro Cycling Team    0:00:57  

7              Andrew Talansky (USA) Team Garmin-Cervelo   0:01:05  

8              Rein Taaramae (Est) Cofidis, Le Credit En Ligne   0:01:10  

9              Levi Leipheimer (USA) Team RadioShack                                

10            Tejay Van Garderen (USA) HTC-Highroad             0:01:29

Team RadioShack Results

12           Jani Brajkovic (Slo)  0:01:32         

41           Geoffroy Lequatre (Fra)   0:02:44

54           Sergio Miguel Moreira Paulinho (Por)   0:03:13   

67           Markel Irizar Aranburu (Spa)   0:03:26    

121         Robert Hunter (RSA) 0:04:34

142         Matthew Busche (USA)  0:05:30

General Classification after Stage 6

1              Tony Martin (Ger) HTC-Highroad              24:59:47                

2              Andreas Klöden (Ger) Team RadioShack               0:00:36  

3              Bradley Wiggins (GBr) Sky Procycling       0:00:39  

4              Rein Taaramae (Est) Cofidis, Le Credit En Ligne   0:01:10  

5              Jean-Christophe Peraud (Fra) AG2R La Mondiale              0:01:14  

6              Levi Leipheimer (USA) Team RadioShack               0:01:29  

7              Jani Brajkovic (Slo) Team RadioShack   0:01:32  

8              Samuel Sanchez Gonzalez (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi            0:01:37  

9              Xavier Tondo Volpini (Spa) Movistar Team           0:01:51  

10            Bauke Mollema (Ned) Rabobank Cycling Team   0:01:57

Team RadioShack on General Classification

77           Geoffroy Lequatre (Fra)   0:21:06             

84           Matthew Busche (USA)   0:23:30              

87           Markel Irizar Aranburu (Spa)   0:24:19

97           Sergio Miguel Moreira Paulinho (Por)  0:26:01

122         Robert Hunter (RSA)   0:38:24