Cycling: Paris-Nice: Sanchez extends overall lead

The Spanish professional cyclist Luis Leon Sanchez (34) has confirmed his claim to overall victory in the Paris-Nice long-distance race. The experienced rider from Team Astana finished fourth after 198 km on the hilly sixth leg from Sisteron to Vence and extended his lead in the overall standings to 22 seconds. The victory in Vence, high above the Cote d’ Azur, went to the Frenchman Rudy Molard.

Sanchez’s worst rival in the overall standings is Molard’s compatriot Julian Alaphilippe from Team Quick-Step Floors. The Dutchman Wout Poels (Sky) dropped out of the race in second place overall.

The preliminary decision for the overall victory of the 76. The fifth edition of the long-distance trip is scheduled to take place on Saturday, when over 175 km from Nice to Valdeblore La Colmiane at an altitude of 1500 metres.