Slagter wins Paris-nice stage 7

Dutch rider Tom-Jelte Slagter of the Garmin team won the seventh and penultimate stage of the Paris-Nice cycling race on Saturday.

Slagter won a sprint finish uphill ahead of world champion Rui Costa of Portugal and yellow jersey holder Carlos Betancur of Colombia.

Britain's Geraint Thomas, second overall at the start from Mougins, lost ground after a fall 5km from the finish line after the 195.5km stage at Biot.

Slagter, 24, also won Wednesday's stage at Belleville.

AG2R La Mondiale rider Betancur leads Costa by 14sec before the tough final stage over 128km which includes five climbs in Provence before arriving in Nice.

STAGE 7 RESULTS

1. Tom-Jelte Slagter (Netherlands / Garmin) 5:00:05"
2. Rui Costa (Portugal / Lampre) ST
3. Carlos Betancur (Colombia / AG2R)
4. Jose Joaquin Rojas (Spain / Movistar)
5. Arthur Vichot (France / FDJ.fr)
6. Tony Gallopin (France / Lotto)
7. Stefan Denifl (Austria / IAM Cycling)
8. Zdenek Stybar (Czech Republic / Omega Pharma - Quick-Step)
9. Jakob Fuglsang (Denmark / Astana)
10. Peter Velits (Slovakia / BMC Racing)

OVERALL STANDINGS

1. Carlos Betancur (Colombia / AG2R) 32:04:49"
2. Rui Costa (Portugal / Lampre) +14"
3. Zdenek Stybar (Czech Republic / Omega Pharma - Quick-Step) +26"
4. Jose Joaquin Rojas (Spain / Movistar) +27"
5. Jakob Fuglsang (Denmark / Astana) +29"
6. Arthur Vichot (France / FDJ.fr) +31"
7. Cyril Gautier (France / Europcar) +35"
8. Stefan Denifl (Austria / IAM Cycling)
9. Peter Velits (Slovakia / BMC Racing) +39"
10. Simon Spilak (Slovenia / Katusha)