 Julich is back to his best seven years after finishing third in the Tour de France |
Bobby Julich became the first American to win the Paris-Nice race on Sunday. Despite three first-category climbs on the seventh and final day, Julich's CSC team controlled proceedings to help him score his biggest victory to date.
Julich, 33, won with a 10-second lead over Spain's Alejandro Valverde, who had to be content with taking the last stage on Nice's Promenade des Anglais.
"I'm like wine - age makes me better. I've been based in Nice for eight years and could not be happier," Julich said.
Another Spaniard, Constantino Zaballa, was third - 19 seconds behind Julich.
Julich, once seen as the future of American cycling before Lance Armstrong returned after cancer to become the most successful Tour de France rider in history, dedicated his victory to his team.
 |  I really want to tell everybody how important the team is to me |
"Only at CSC did I have the impression that people trusted me and the pleasure returned," he said.
"I really want to tell everybody how important the team is to me. We train and work together and it's a great motivation to be in a race knowing everybody around you has the same goals."
Julich seized the overall lead on Friday in Toulon after the decisive climb to Mount Faron overlooking the Mediterranean port.
His team did the rest throughout the weekend, quashing attacks and controlling breakaways.
Sunday's final stage featured a long breakaway by seven riders but they were caught on the last climb on the Col d'Eze when the race favourites took over.
Valverde twice attacked in the final hill, but was each time caught by Julich's CSC team-mate Jens Voigt, the prologue winner a week ago.
But the Spaniard finally broke to the front in the final sprint.
Results of Paris-Nice seventh stage, 135km (Sun):
1. Alejandro Valverde (Spain) Iles Baleares, three hours 28 minutes and 29 seconds
All the same time: 2. Franco Pellizotti (Italy) Liquigas-Bianchi
3. Kim Kirchen (Luxembourg) Fassa Bortolo
4. Jaroslav Popovych (Ukraine) Discovery Channel
5. Alexandre Vinokourov (Kazakhstan) T-Mobile
6. Jens Voigt (Germany) CSC
7. Alberto Contador (Spain) Liberty Seguros
8. Davide Rebellin (Italy) Gerolsteiner
9. Thomas Dekker (Netherlands) Rabobank
10. Constantino Zaballa (Spain) Saunier Duval
Final overall standings:
1. Bobby Julich (U.S.) CSC 22 hours 32 minutes and 18 seconds
2. Alejandro Valverde (Spain) Iles Baleares 10 seconds behind
3. Constantino Zaballa (Spain) Saunier Duval 19
4. Jens Voigt (Germany) CSC 44
5. Jorg Jaksche (Germany) Liberty Seguros 45
6. Franco Pellizotti (Italy) Liquigas-Bianchi 49
7. Franck Schleck (Luxembourg) CSC 58
8. Cadel Evans (Australia) Davitamon-Lotto 58
9. Jos�-Angel Gomez-Marchante (Spain) Saunier Duval 1:20
10. Davide Rebellin (Italy) Gerolsteiner 1:21
MMIX
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