Davide Rebellin had several podium spots at Paris - Nice but after yesterdays coup, the Italian rider could finally win Paris - Nice. Rebellin launched an attack at the descent of yesterdays final climb and
young gun Robert Gesink lost his yellow jersey to Rebellin.
The fight for the overall is still wide open: Rebellin has a lead of three seconds on Rinaldo Nocentini. In the past there
were a few ´Paris - Nice editions where the time difference between the number two and three was very little. French cycling
legend Raymond Poulidor is holding the record since 1973. Poulidor won that edition of the French stage race with a lead of
only four seconds on Joop Zoetemelk.
Poulidor also won the race in 1972, he had a lead of six seconds on Eddy Merckx.
The smallest time differences of the Paris - Nice General Classification (first rider was the winner):
4 seconds in 1973: Raymond Poulidor (Fra) - Joop Zoetemelk (Ned)
6 seconds in 1972: Raymond Poulidor (Fra) -
Eddy Merckx (Bel)
8 seconds in 1990: Miguel Indurain (Esp) - Stephen Roche (Irl)
9 seconds in 2006: Floyd Landis
(USA) - Patxi Vila (Esp)
10 seconds in 2005: Bobby Julich (USA) - Alejandro Valverde (Esp)
