Wiggins celebrates ‘great honour’ after taking Paris-Nice title

The Team Sky rider had led by six seconds following Saturday’s penultimate stage and he secured the overall title in the 70th staging of the event by winning the 9.6km time-trial to Col d’Eze in 19 minutes, 12 seconds.

The victory saw Belgium-born Wiggins, a three-time Olympic gold medallist for Great Britain, follow in the footsteps of Doncaster’s Tom Simpson, who claimed the Paris-Nice title in 1967.

Wiggins, 31, was pushed hard by Dutchman Lieuwe Westra (Vacansoleil-DCM) who was second at the start of the day and set an imposing time of 19 minutes and 14 seconds in the time-trial – over 30 seconds faster than the previous best time produced.

However, going out last, time-trial specialist Wiggins produced a fine final run to take the stage and the overall win ahead of Westra, who finished eight seconds behind.

Third overall went to Spaniard Alejandro Valverde (Movistar), who was 1:10 adrift of Wiggins after losing 51 seconds in the time-trial.

“It was seriously hard but it was always going to be hard today,” said Wiggins afterwards.

“Whether I was trying to get time back or protecting a lead. It was a 19-minute effort and pacing wise we got it absolutely perfect.

“Then it just depended on what everyone else did and there was one guy in Westra who got very close but it’s job done.”

Wiggins felt the victory was one of the biggest of his career, but he was also keen to share the praise with his team-mates.

He added: “I’m pleased more for everyone else rather than myself after all the hard work the boys have put in this week. Ultimately it fell on my shoulders to finish the job off and I’m just made up that I was able to do that.

“It’s massive to win this race too.

“I really think about things like that but I’ve tried not to think too much about it in the last few days. To follow in Tom Simpson’s footsteps and become the second British rider to win Paris-Nice is something special.

“I’d probably say it’s one of my biggest wins – as was the Dauphine – and to have both those on my palmares is a huge honour.”