Carlos Betancur (Ag2r-La Mondiale) sealed the first overall WorldTour race win of his career as Arthur Vichot (FDJ.fr) won the final stage of Paris-Nice.
Betancur, who won consecutive stages on Thursday and Friday to move into the overall lead, finished safely in the bunch to secure his second overall victory of the season, having also won at the Tour du Haut-Var.
Geraint Thomas (Team Sky), who had himself worn the maillot jaune for two stages, abandoned overnight however following his heavy crash in stage seven.
Earlier in the day, Giant-Shimano kept the bunch together in the opening section to ensure John Degenkolb could strengthen his hold on the green jersey by winning the first intermediate sprint.
Once the German had secured three more points – which were to prove crucial as he narrowly topped the points classification ahead of Betancur – 17 riders went clear including stage two winner Moreno Hofland (Belkin) and Sky Xabier Zondio (Team Sky).
The large leading group stayed clear through the early climbs, but never earned enough of a gap to be a serious threat to the peloton, led by Ag2r-La Mondiale.
Hofland was one of 15 riders to abandon during the stage however, with Tom Boonen (Omega Pharma-Quickstep) and Thomas Voeckler (Team Europcar) also calling it quits.
The break fell apart on the slopes of the Cote de Peille, with only Zandio, Greg van Avermaet (BMC Racing), Jerome Coppel (Cofidis), Jerome Cousin (Team Europcar) and Matthew Busche (Trek Factory Racing) staying clear.
Vincenzo Nibali (Astana) launched a counter-attack just short of the summit, as the ever-active Italian gave himself another test of his legs alongside team-mate Francesco Gavazzi, Katusha’s Simon Spilak and Wilco Kelderman (Belkin).
With Ag2r-La Mondiale continuing to lead the chase for Betancur however, they were all swept up shortly after cresting the climb.
As with many of the earlier stages, the counter-attacking started immediately with Yury Trofimov (Katusha) earning a gap after a pacey descent but he was caught as the climb of the Col d’Eze began.
David Lopez (Team Sky) and Frank Schleck (Trek Factory Racing) were then among the rider to have a go off the front on the stage’s signature climb, with Spilak joining Schleck to earn a small advantage which lasted until the flamme rouge.
As the bunch upped the pace with stage honours in mind however, the two were caught and the frantic pace caused a big crash which brought down Rui Costa (Lampre-Merida) among others.
It did not affect Costa’s charge for second place overall however, but left the Portuguese rider unable to compete for stage honours.
Vichot, instead, seized advantage at the front, launching a stinging sprint for the line which saw him out-sprint perennial contender Jose Joaquin Rojas (Movistar) and Cyril Gauthier (FDJ.fr).
The result was enough to lift Vichot onto the final step of the overall podium, one second ahead of Rojas, but with Betancur finishing eighth the prized maillot jaune went his way to cap a fine week.
Paris-Nice 2014: stage eight – result
1) Arthur Vichot (FRA) – FDJ.fr – 3.06.56hrs
2) Jose Joaquin Rojas (ESP) – Movistar – ST
3) Cyril Gauthier (FRA) – Team Europcar
4) Damiano Carruso (ITA) – Cannondale
5) Wilco Kelderman (NED) – Belkin Pro Cycling
6) Frank Schleck (LUX) – Trek Factory Racing
7) Tom-Jelte Slagter (NED) – Garmin-Sharp
8) Carlos Betancur (COL) – Ag2r-La Mondiale
9) George Bennett (NZL) – Cannondale
10) Eduardo Sepulveda (ARG) – Bretagne-Seche Environnement
General classification
1) Carlos Betancur (COL) – Ag2r-La Mondiale – 35.11.45hrs
2) Rui Costa (POR) – Lampre-Merida +14”
3) Arthur Vichot (FRA) – FDJ.fr +20”
4) Jose Joaquin Rojas (ESP) – Movistar +21”
5) Jakob Fuglsang (DEN) – Astana +29”
6) Cyril Gautier (FRA) – Team Europcar +31”
7) Stephan Denifl (AUT) – IAM Cycling +35”
8) Simon Spilak (SVN) – Katusha +36”
9) Peter Velits (SVK) – BMC Racing +39”
10) Tony Gallopin (FRA) – Lotto-Belisol +41”
