Frank Schleck got agonizingly close to his first win since coming back from suspension when he almost held off the chasing group in yesterday's final stage of Paris-Nice. Having been passed by just 5 riders 20m from the line, the Luxembourger was happy to show his team that they can count on him as a leader.

The eighth and final stage in the ‘Race to the Sun’ was not the traditional promenade favoring the sprinters and handing the GC contenders a well-deserved rest. Although the length had been clipped to 128 kilometers, the parcours included five climbs, with the final category one Col d'Eze coming 15-kilometers from the finish.

24 kilometers after the start flag had dropped in Nice 17 riders broke clear, the largest break the race has seen, which included Trek Factory Racing’s Danilo Hondo and Matthew Busche.  With such a large number up the road the peloton feared giving them a long leash, and by the penultimate climb the breakaway had mostly dissolved.  

It would be on the last climb that Fränk Schleck would go on the offensive, attacking furiously until finally breaking clear with Simon Spilak of Katusha. The pair would ride hard down the descent towards the finish, but with Spilak close in GC Movistar and AG2R chased furiously.

Schleck gave one more dig under the flamme rouge, desperately trying to hold off the peloton breathing down his neck, only to be passed in the final meters by five riders.

Arthur Vichot (FDJ.fr) sprinted to the win, with Jose Joaquin Rojas (Movistar) finishing second and Cyril Gautier (Europcar) in third. Vichot also claimed third overall with the time bonus collected at the finish, as Carlos Betancur (AG2R La Mondiale) sealed the top podium step and takes home the Paris-Nice overall classification. Rui Costa (Lampre-Merida), despite being caught up in a brutal crash in the final 100 meters, held onto second place.

Bob Jungels was the top GC finisher for Trek Factory Racing in 18thplace.

“Nobody gives you presents; it’s bloody hard bike racing and everyone works hard to win a stage," Schleck said. "So did I. Today we raced as a team, the boys were present, always around me, and took care of me.

"I felt really good and I knew that if I wanted to try something it had to be in the last climb. It was very fast. I felt good and attacked four times – I would not let it go because I had nothing to lose. So that is what I did until no one followed me. I think I did a good downhill, and everyone knows that is not my favorite or best skill. At the end I really thought I had it. I gave it all I had but they passed me with 20m to go.

"No matter what I come out as a winner here. It was important for myself, for my confidence, and for the team that they can count on me: as a captain and leader, also as a teammate and friend.

“Once in a while you have to show people that you are back. I think I did that this week and I believe that I still have room for improvement over the next couple weeks, and I shoud be in good form for Critérium International and Pays Basque. I am really looking forward to these races!”

Although Andy Schleck struggled during the eight-day race, overall he was content with his feeling on the final day.

“I am feeling fitter after this week, and I am really motivated to get back home to train hard. We have a good plan [for me] and I am really excited and to get back on the level I had before. I have no doubt I will be ready for the Ardennes Classics."