Carlos Betancur became the first Colombian to win the Paris-Nice race when he finished eighth on the final stage of the 72nd edition of the race to the sun.
The AG2R rider had a lead of fourteen seconds going into the final stage which was a 128km stage with five climbs which started and finished in Nice.
After his crash yesterday, Geraint Thomas of Team Sky was one of those who did not sign on and more riders abandoned as the stage got underway.
John Degenkolb was first to attack taking the opening sprint after nineteen kilometres, ahead of Boonen and Stybar.
Riders were massing up behind them and when the sprint was over and done, seventeen riders in Van Avermaet, Coppel, Pineau, Delaplace, Marcato, Keukeleire, Gavazzi, Busche, Koch, Hofland, Favilli, Erviti, Kristoff, Cousin, Zandio, Hondo and Von Hoff took control.
Gavazzi was first over the first climb of the day as the gap went out to a minute.
Boonen, Steegmans and Engoulvent abandoned. As did Voeckler and Petit when Hondo took the second climb.
Into the final sixty kilometres and Hofland dropped off this leading group of riders who were 2.25 ahead.
Sebastien Chavanel, Bol and Wynants joined the list of abandonments as Pineau crested the third climb.
With 43 kilometres of racing left, Van Avermaet, Coppel, Busche, Cousin and Zandio, attacked but were now being persued by a group which included Vincenzo Nibali.
The Astana rider took second place on the fourth climb behind Gavazzi and stayed clear until everyone was back together for the final nineteen kilometres.
On the final climb of the Col d'Eze, Frank Schleck (Trek Factory Racing), stormed off to be followed by Simon Spilak of Katusha.
The pair quickly built up a forty second lead but it was not enough, so Schleck tried again in the final kilometre but the sprinters were not to be denied and Arthur Vichot of FDJ won in 3.06.56 beating Rojas, Gautier, Caruso, Kelderman, Frank Schleck, Slagter, Betancur, Bennett and Sepulveda.
That eighth place for Carlos Betancur ensured that he won the race overall out of 124 finishers by fourteen seconds from Rui Costa.
Simon Yates of Orica Green Edge was the highest finishing British rider in 44th.
Carlo Betancur also won the Young Riders Competition with Movistar taking the team award. Lotto Belisol's Pim Ligthart won the King Of The Mountains Competition with 44 points with John Degenkolb taking the points competition.
Degenkolb said about his points win: "Winning the green jersey is a nice success for the team and a reward for all the hard work here at Paris - Nice. The guys controlled it well before the first sprint and those three points were very important.
"I'm happy with my form ahead of the classics and the team have done a really good job in selecting the best race program to get us in the best possible shape for the classics."