Lieuwe Westra succeeds during the fifth stage of the Paris-Nice 2012
Lieuwe Westra helped Team Vacansoleil-DCM opened his 2012 winning account at the fifth stage of the Paris-Nice 2012.
The Danish side grabbed its third victory of the season after Marco Marcato and Gustav Larsson helped the team with the victories early on the season.
Marco succeeded during the fourth stage of the race, while Gustav claimed the opening stage of the Paris-Nice.
The Danish team is currently holding the sixth overall position after the team’s classifications while Team Omega Pharma-Quick Step is leading the category.
Team Sky Procycling, Team Movistar, Team Katusha and Team BMC are holding the second, third, fourth and fifth positions in the respective order.
The 29-year-old was delighted after the stage win and thanked his whole team for its efforts during the 178 kilometre chase to Mende.
Westra noted, “I felt good in the last hour and the goal was not to lose time on the final climb, But with one kilometre to go Wiggins attacked and he didn’t get away so I decided to attack myself. I took 100 meters on the group and they didn’t catch me, unbelievable!”
He further added, "The team did a great job and this win is fantastic. Until Sunday I must try not to lose time and then we will see what happens in the time trial".
Lieuwe crossed the finish-line in the fastest time of 4 hours, 52 minutes and 46 seconds and overcame Alejandro Valverde with a lead of 6 seconds.
Bradley Wiggins of Team Sky achieved the third position with Levi Leipheimer and Simon Spilak at the fourth and fifth spots.
Belgian cyclist Frederik Veuchelen claimed the first five mountains of the race, while the stage winner Lieuwe Westra succeeded at the 178.5 kilometre sixth mountain of the race.
Rigoberto Uran Uran, Tejay Van Garderen and Alexandre Geniez were the three best riders on the day.
Westra has now jumped up to the second overall spot. He is 6 seconds behind the stage 4 classifications leader Bradley Wiggins.
Levi Leipheimer, Alejandro Valverde and Simon Spilak are at the third, fourth and fifth positions in the respective order.
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