Page 18 - ATODAY

A18
SPORTSMonday 14 March 2016
Phoenix
win
Continued from Page17
Harvick built a lead ap-
proaching 3 seconds be-
fore Kasey Kahne hit the
wall with six laps left to
bring out the caution. Har-
vick had enough fuel for
the extra two laps — and
just barely enough to hold
off Edwards.
“If we had one more lap,
I could have passed him
clean,” Edwards said. “But
it just wasn’t going to work
without bumping him. So I
decided to hit him as hard
as I did. I really didn’t want from the pole and led the
Gearing Thomas of Great Britain celebrates on the podium in
Nice, southeastern France, Sunday, March 13, 2016.
NICE, France (AP) — British
rider Geraint Thomas with-
stood a strong challenge
from two-time Tour de
France champion Alberto
Contador on the moun-
to wreck him. I thought I Kevin Harvick celebrates in victory lane after winning a NASCAR first 77 laps before ending
moved him enough to get Sprint Cup Series auto race at Phoenix International Raceway, up fourth.
by, but it’s just racing.” Sunday, March 13, 2016, in Avondale, Ariz. Dale Earnhardt Jr, who
It gave NASCAR another ended Harvick’s four-race
thrilling finish with its new Associated Press winning streak at Phoenix
downforce and aerody- with a rain-shortened vic-
namic packages. Used tory in November, was fifth.
for the first time on a mile- Two days after a scary
track, the package helped crash in which he pulled off
produce plenty of passing his steering wheel in quali-
and only a handful of tire fying, Jimmie Johnson fin-
issues after long green-flag ished 11th.
runs. Harvick has won five of the
Harvick and Edwards each past six races and six of
showed off their driving eight at Phoenix.
skills as the cars banged “I just like racing here,” Har-
and wobbled through the vick said. “It’s just one of
final turn. those places where I feel
Hamlin recovered from an like I’ve been here enough
early pit penalty to finish times to where I can move
third. Kyle Busch started around and find something
to make our car work.”q
Thomas wins Paris-Nice race
despite Contador’s attacks
in second place overnight Despite finishing the stage d’Eze, before a downhill
and trailed Thomas by in 11th, Thomas had done finish to Nice.
15 seconds. The veteran enough. Contador had chances to
Associated Press Spanish rider attacked re- “It’s definitely the greatest launch his trademark at-
peatedly on the last two win in my career so far,” tacks in the high climbs.
tainous seventh and final climbs only to finish four the 29-year-old Welshman “When Alberto went, we
stage to win the Paris-Nice seconds behind Thomas said. took it calmly at first but
race for the first time on overall. “To win ahead of Alberto, then on Col d’Eze, I must
Sunday. “I came there obviously who is one of the great- admit my legs gave way,”
Contador, who has also wanting to do my best but est stage racers ever, and Thomas said. “I really
won Paris-Nice twice, was to actually do it . I’m over Richie, who won almost thought it was over even
the moon,” Thomas said. every race he entered last for the podium.”
Contador crossed the line year, I can hardly believe Although Thomas held on,
just behind stage winner it.” Contador felt he could
Tim Wellens of Belgium, Porte, also a two-time Paris- have won the race.
with defending champion Nice winner, placed third “I don’t like second places.
Richie Porte of Australia overall and was 12 sec- I did everything I could to
finishing the stage in third onds behind Thomas, his make up for lost time and
place. former Sky teammate. The in the end I nearly won,”
two men have been key the 33-year-old Contador
support riders on both of said.
British star Chris Froome’s
Tour wins — last year and in “At least I’m confident
2013 — but Porte left Sky to I made the show even if
become No. 1 rider at BMC I didn’t succeed. In any
racing. case, Geraint Thomas
Stage 7 featured four mod- played it well. He has
est climbs before finishing a very strong Team Sky
with back-to-back Cat- around him, but he could
egory 1 climbs — the sec- be beaten.”
ond-toughest category — Wellens, meanwhile, won
up Cote de Peille and Col the stage in 3 hours, 16
minutes.q