Henderson lucky to claim Team Sky's first major victory in Europe

GREG Henderson insists it was more by luck than judgement that he secured Team Sky's first major win in Europe on stage one of the Paris-Nice race.

 
FIRST MAJOR WIN: Greg Henderson gave Team Sky their first main victory in Europe,
winning stage one of the Paris-Nice race (Getty Images)

The New Zealander overcame difficult blustery conditions in France to see him regain contact with the final breakaway group before a late surge saw Henderson just take Slovenia's Grega Bola at the finish.

Frenchman Jeremy Galland finished third while Britain's David Millar was in contention in the final stages before coming home in 11th for Garmin-Transitions.

Henderson, who secured Team Sky's first ever victory winning a criterium event in Adelaide before the Tour Down Under, knows he was lucky to even make it across the finish line on a day where the riders struggled to stay on their bikes.

"It was a headwind finish and it was like a slow-motion sprint," said Henderson.

"I was lucky to get it on the line, but it's beautiful to win such a beautiful race, it's a real honour.

"We spent our time accelerating, braking, then accelerating again. I was lucky to find myself out in front.

"This year I picked up Sky's first victory but it's great to win this time after such a nerve-wracking day.

"It's a credit to the management that put the whole team together.

"They selected a great group of guys and we wanted to say we're not just here for the show, we want to win bike races."

Two-time Tour De France winner Alberto Contador fell foul of the difficult weather conditions taking a tumble with 3km remaining but climbed on a teammate's bike to finish the race and is eighth in the overall standings.

Following the weekend's prologue stage, Dutchman Lars Boom retains the overall lead for Rabobank from Jens Voigt in second, with Millar 13 seconds back  in third and Henderson in sixth.

The eight-stage, an 800-mile event ,ends in Nice on Sunday with the second stage taking place over a 201km route from Contres to Limoges on Tuesday.