Paris-Nice podium history.

Route map | Prologue | Stage 1 | Stage 2 | Stage 3 | Stage 4 | Stage 5 | Stage 6 | Stage 7

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Sunday, March 14: 7th and Final Stage, Nice - Nice, 119 km.

Rated Climbs:

1. Km 51.0 - Col de la Porte - 7.2 km @ 7.2% - Category 1
2. Km 88.5 - La Turbie - 7.6 km @ 4.8% - Category 1
3. Km 103.0 - Col d'Eze - 4.2 km @ 6.8% - Category 1

The Race: Thomas Voeckler and Amael Moinard escaped on the Col de la Porte. Voeckler led the sprint out from too far back and Moinard was able to go around the usually canny Voeckler. Alberto Contador had to withstand a series of attacks from Valverde and the others who were close to him in GC. Contador is in superb form and couldn't be dislodged from the lead. The result is an all Spanish GC podium.

As the photo below shows, Moinard was ecstatic: "I was already super happy with my polka-dot jersey and the stage win on top of it is just extraordinary. It was a difficult day with Thomas for we did not have a huge gap and also he attacked on the Col d’Eze climb. I didn’t worry because I know the climb well and I was confident I could make it back. I played it by ear. In the finale he put a little bit of pressure on me two kilometres from the line, but I never panicked. I let him go because there was headwind and I waited for the line to pip him. I was right for I won."

Contador offered this assessment after the race: "It’s very difficult to win a race when you’re the favourite. When everybody is after you and you win, it’s a liberation. Today its was short but intense as I had to reply to every attack. It was a great emotion on the podium as it would have been a pity to lose a big race like Paris-Nice on sprint bonuses.

"The first thing to do is not to get carried away and to analyse things calmly without losing sight of your priorities. As the years go by, I’ve progressed in terms of experience and maturity. My legs are fine, my head is too, I hope the team will be even stronger in July to help me win the Tour.There are about seven or eight riders who can win the Tour because of their individual or their collective strength. I’m one of them."

Results:

1. Amael Moinard (Cofidis) 2hr 52min 9sec
2. Thomas Voeckler (Bouygues Telecom) s.t.
3. Alejandro Valverde (Caisse d'Epargne) @ 3sec
4. Nicolas Roche (Ag2r) s.t.
5. Reine Taaramae (Cofidis) s.t.
6. Joaquim Rodriguez (Katusha) s.t.
7. Jens Voigt (Saxo) s.t.
8. Christopher Horner (Radio Shack) s.t.
9. Janez Brajkovic (Radio Shack) s.t.
10. Alberto Contador (Astana) s.t.
11. Luis Leon Sanchez (Caisse d'Epargne) s.t.
12. Jean-Christophe Peraud (Omega Pharma-Lotto) s.t.
13. Samuel Sanchez (Euskaltel) s.t.
14. Roman Kreuziger (Liquigas) s.t.
15. Jerome Coppel (Saur-Sojasun) s.t.
16. Xavier Tondo (Cervelo) s.t.
17. Tadej Valjavec (Ag2r) @ 12sec
18. Cyril Gautier (Bouygues Telecom) @ 59sec
19. Sylvain Chavanel (Quick Step) s.t.
20. Simon Gerrans (Sky) s.t.
21. Levi Leipheimer (Radio Shack) s.t.
22. Romain Sicard (Euskaltel) s.t.
23. David Millar (Garmin-Transitions) s.t.
24. Frank Schleck (Saxo) s.t.
25. Daniel Navarro (Astana) s.t.
26. Maxime Monfort (HTC-Columbia) s.t.
27. Leonardo Duque (Cofidis) @ 1min 43sec
28. Eduard Vorganov (Katusha) s.t.
29. Daniele Righi (Lampre) s.t.
30. Christophe Riblon (Ag2r) s.t.

Final GC after stage 7:

Alejandro Valverde was disqualified for his involvement in the Puerto affair.

1. Alberto Contador (Astana) 28hr 35min 35sec
2. Alejandro Valverde (Caisse d'Epargne) @ 11sec
3. Luis Leon Sanchez (Caisse d'Epargne) @ 25sec
4. Roman Kreuziger (Liquigas) @ 26sec
5. Samuel Sanchez (Euskaltel) @ 30sec
6. Jens Voigt (Saxo) @ 35sec
7. Joaquim Rodriguez (Katusha) @ 37sec
8. Reine Taaramae (Cofidis) @ 1min 7sec
9. Jean-Christophe Peraud (Omega Pharma-Lotto) @ 1min 16sec
10. Jerome Coppel (Saur-Sojasun) @ 1min 17sec
11. Nicolas Roche (Ag2r) @ 1min 23sec
12. Janez Bracjovic (Radio Shack) @ 1min 57sec
13. David Millar (Garmin-Transitions) @ 1min 59sec
14. Sylvain Chavanel (Quick Step) @ 2min 18sec
15. Simon Gerrans (Sky) @ 2min 27sec
16. Frank Schleck (Saxo) @ 3min 2sec
17. Peter Sagan (Liquigas) @ 3min 21sec
18. Cyril Gautier (Bouygues Telecom) @ 3min 27sec
19. Thomas Voeckler (Bouygues Telecom) @ 3min 28sec
20. Xavier Tondo (Cervelo) @ 3min 33sec
21. Christophe Riblon (Ag2r) @ 3min 39sec
22. Maxime Bouet (Ag2r) @ 4min 48sec
23. Levi Leipheimer (Radio Shack) @ 4min 54sec
24. Leonardo Duque (Cofidis) @ 4min 59sec
25. Francis De Greef (Omega Pharma-Lotto) @ 5min 3sec
26. Sebastien Minard (Cofidis) @ 5min 8sec
27. Maxime Monfort (HTC-Solumbia) @ 5min 32sec
28. Eduard Vorganov (Katusha) @ 5min 33sec
29. Ivan Santaromita (Liquigas) @ 6min 5sec
30. Daniele Righi (Lampre) @ 6min 32sec

Points Competition:

1. Peter Sagan (Liquigas): 112 points
2. Alejandro Valverde (Caisse d'Epargne): 105
3. Jens Voigt (Saxo): 104

Climbers' Competition

1. Amael Moinard (Cofidis): 75 points
2. Thomas Voeckler (Bouygues Telecom): 29
3. Alberto Contador (Astana): 24

Team GC:

1. Ag2r: 85hr 53min 50sec
2. Cofidis @ 14sec
3. Radio Shack @ 1min 1sec

Young Rider

1. Roman Kreuziger (Liquigas) 28hr 36min 1sec
2. Reine Taaramae (Cofidis) @ 41sec
3. Jerome Coppel (Saur-Sojasun) @ 51sec

Frank Schleck leads Alberto Contador and Alejandro Valverde

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Saturday, March 13: Stage 6, Peynie - Tourrettes sur Loup, 220 km

Rated Climbs:

1. Km 33.5 - Côte de Val-Rose - 1.9 km @ 4.3% - Category 3
2. Km 38.0 - Côte de Barjols - 1.7 km @ 4.2% - Category 3
3. Km 85.5 - Côte des Tuillières - 2.2 km @ 8.2% - Category 2
4. Km 101.0 - Côte du Mont Méaulx - 1.7 km @ 5.1% - Category 3
5. Km 131.5 - Côte de Tignet - 2.8 km @ 5.1% - Category 3
6. Km 147.0 - Côte de Plascassier - 3.7 km @ 2.1% - Category 3
7. Km 156.5 - Côte de Châteauneuf (D.3-D.2210) - 1.3 km @ 9.5% - Category 2
8. Km 187.5 - Col de Vence - 9.7 km @ 6.6% - Category 1

The Race: Early on, a 23-man group that included Damiano Cunego, Levi Leipheimer, Sylvain Chavanel and Cervelo recruit Xavier Tondo motored away from the peloton. On the day's final rated climb, the first category Col de Vence, Tondo scooted off the front with Cunego in hot pursuit. Cunego couldn't get up to him and Spaniard managed to claw out a minute's gap. He was able to hold on to 5 seconds by the end of the stage, but that's all he needed for the solo win.

After the stage he said, "Yesterday I had bad luck, I made a big mistake and I had to change a wheel towards the end and I lost 2:30. It gave me a chance to go in the breakaway today and I felt very good on the climb. Cunego is very fast so I could not afford to wait for him. My lead was 15 seconds all the time and it was very difficult. Finally I managed to keep a few seconds on the line. It’s incredible for me, in my first year with Cervelo. It’s my 10th victory as a pro, but in the past I only rode for small teams. It’s one of the biggest races I’ve been in and one of the best victories I can win."

Results

1. Xavier Tondo (Cervelo) 5hr 1min 39sec
2. Alejandro Valverde (Caisse d'Epargne) @ 5sec
3. Peter Sagan (Liquigas) s.t.
4. Samuel Sanchez (Euskaltel) s.t.
5. Joaquim Rodriguez (Katusha) s.t.
6. Leonardo Duque (Cofidis) s.t.
7. Luis Leon Sanchez (Caisse d'Epargne) s.t.
8. Christophe Riblon (Ag2r) s.t.
9. Reine Taaramae (Cofidis) s.t.
10. Daniele Roghi (Lampre) s.t.
11. Jens Voigt (Saxo) s.t.
12. Tadej Valjavec (Ag2r) s.t.
13. Nicolas Roche (Ag2r) s.t.
14. Pierrick Fedrigo (Bouygues Telecom) s.t.
15. Thomas Voeckler (Bouygues Telecom) s.t.
16. Maxime Monfort (HTC-Solumbia) s.t.
17. Alberto Contador (Astana) s.t.
18. Eduard Vorganov (Katusha) s.t.
19. Simon Gerrans (Sky) s.t.
20. Sylvain Chavanel (Quick Step) s.t.
21. Roman Kreuziger (Lquigas) s.t.
22. Jean-Christophe Peraud (Omega Pharma-Lotto) s.t.
23. Christopher Horner (Radio Shack) s.t.
24. Cyril Gautier (Bouygues Telecom) s.t.
25. David Millar (Garmin-Transitions) s.t.
26. Aleksandr Kuschynski (Liquigas) s.t.
27. Sebastien Minard (Cofidis) s.t.
28. Jerome Coppel (Saur-Sojasun) s.t.
29. Frank Schleck (Saxo) s.t.
30. Christophe Le Mevel (FDJ) s.t.

GC after Stage 6:

1. Alberto Contador (Astana) 25hr 43min 24sec
2. Alejandro Valverde (Caisse d'Epargne) @ 14sec
3. Roman Kreuziger (Liquigas) @ 25sec
4. Luis Leon Sanchez (Caisse d'Epargne) @ 26sec
5. Samuel Sanchez (Euskaltel) @ 29sec
6. Jens Voigt (Saxo) @ 34sec
7. Joaquim Rodriguez (Katusha) @ 36sec
8. Peter Sagan (Liquigas) @ 38sec
9. David Millar (Garmin-Transitions) @ 1min 2sec
10. Reine Taaramae (Cofidis) @ 1min 6sec
11. Jean-Christophe Peraud (Omega Pharma-Lotto) @ 1min 15sec
12. Jerome Coppel (Saur-Sojasun) @ 1min 16sec
13. Sylvain Chavanel (Quick Step) @ 1min 21sec
14. Nicolas Roche (Ag2r) @ 1min 22sec
15. Simon Gerrans (Sky) @ 1min 30sec
16. Christophe Le Mevel (FDJ) @ 1min 32sec
17. Janez Brajkovic (Radio Shack) @ 1min 56sec
18. Christophe Riblon (Ag2r) @ 1min 58sec
19. Maxime Bouet (Ag2r) @ 2min 2sec
20. Frank Schleck (Saxo) @ 2min 5sec
21. Sebastien Minard (Cofidis) @ 2min 22sec
22. Cyril Gautier (Bouygues Telecom) @ 2min 30sec
23. Leonardo Duque (Cofidis) @ 3min 18sec
24. Ivan Santaromita (Liquigas) @ 3min 19sec
25. Francis De Greef (Omega Pharma-Lotto) @ 3min 22sec
26. Xavier Tondo (Cervelo) @ 3min 32sec
27. Thomas Voeckler (Bouygues Telecom) @ 3min 39sec
28. Eduard Vorganov (Katusha) @ 3min 52sec
29. Levi Leipheimer (Radio Shack) @ 3min 57sec
30. Sandy Casar (FDJ) @ 4min 2sec

Stage 6 elevation guide

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Friday, March 12: Stage 5, Pernes les Fontaines - Aix en Provence, 157 km.

Rated climbs:

1. Km 40.0 - Col de Murs - 10.5 km @ 4.3% - Category 2
2. Km 75.5 - Côte de Lacoste - 2.6 @ 3.8% - Category 3
3. Km 84.5 - Côte de Bonnieux - 2.6 km @ 4.2% - Category 3
4. Km 127.0 - Côte de Saint-Canadet - 4.8 km @ 3.9% - Category 3

The race: A high speed day left lots of riders off the back. Places 59 through 98 finished 2min 36sec back. This group included Levi Leipheimer, Thomas Voeckler and Damiano Cunego, Half the field ended up over 16 minutes down in the final kilometers. Peter Sagan took off and had the power to hold off a fast closing group with Valverde and Voigt. That makes 2 stages in this year's Paris-Nice for the young Sagan.

Alberto Contador was generous in his post-race comments: "It was a terrible stage. We tried to control the breaks for 100 kms but it’s impossible for one team to control a race like Paris-Nice. Sagan is a very strong rider and I’m sure he will very quickly be a rival to watch in future races. Tomorrow is another hard stage with 220 kms. I may be the one in the yellow jersey but I’m not the only one who can do something tomorrow."

Results:

1. Peter Sagan (Liquigas) 3hr 34min 15sec
2. Mirco Lorenzetto (Lampre) @ 2sec
3. Alejandro Valverde (Caisse d'Epargne) s.t.
4. Matthieu Ladagnous (FDJ) s.t.
5. Jens Voigt (Saxo) s.t.
6. Simon Gerrans (Sky) s.t.
7. Koldo Fernandez (Euskaltel) s.t.
8. Nivolas Roche (Ag2r) s.t.
9. Matthew Harley Goss (HTC-Columbia) s.t.
10. Alberto Contador (Astana) s.t.
11. Cyril Gautier (Bouygues Telecom) s.t.
12. Joaquim Rodriguez (Katusha) s.t.
13. Eduard Vorganov (Katusha) s.t.
14. Jerome Coppel (Saur-Sojasun) s.t.
15. Jean-Christophe Peraud (Omega Pharma-Lotto) s.t.
16. Lars Boom (Rabobank) s.t.
17. Sylvain Chavanel (Quick Step) s.t.
18. Christophe Le Mevel (FDJ) s.t.
19. Samuel Sanchez (Euskaltel) s.t.
20. David Millar (Garmin-Transitions) s.t.
21. Roman Kreuziger (Liquigas) s.t.
22. Jerome Pineau (Quick Step) s.t.
23. Reine Taaramae (Cofidis) s.t.
24. Sabastien Minard (Cofidis) s.t.
25. Frank Schleck (Saxo) s.t.
26. Luis Leon Sanchez (Caisse d'Epargne) s.t.
27. Christophe Riblon (Ag2r) @ 25sec
28. Maxime Bouet (Ag2r) s.t.
29. Francis De Greef (Omega Pharma-Lotto) s.t.
30. Joost Posthuma (Rabobank) s.t.

81. Levi Leipheimer (Radio Shack) @ 2min 36sec

GC after Stage 5:

1. Alberto Contador (Astana) 20hr 41min 40sec
2. Alejandro Valverde (Caisse d'Epargne) @ 20sec
3. Roman Kreuziger (Liquigas) @ 25sec
4. Luis Leon Sanchez (Caisse d'Epargne) @ 26sec
5. Samuel Sanchez (Euskaltel) @ 29sec
6. Jens Voigt (Saxo) @ 34sec
7. Joaquim Rodriguez (Katusha) @ 36sec
8. Peter Sagan (Liquigas) @ 42sec
9. David Millar (Garmin-Transitions) @ 1min 2sec
10. Reine Taaramae (Cofidis) @ 1min 6sec
11. Jean-Christophe Peraud (Omega Pharma-Lotto) @ 1min 15sec
12. Jerome Coppel (Saur-Sojasun) @ 1min 16sec
13. Nicolas Roche (Ag2r) @ 1min 22sec
14. Sylvain Chavanel (Quick Step) @ 1min 27sec
15. Simon Gerrans (Sky) @ 1min 30sec
16. Christophe Le Mevel (FDJ) @ 1min 32sec
17. Janez Brajkovic (Radio Shack) @ 1min 56sec
18. Christophe Riblon (Ag2r) @ 1min 58sec
19. Maxime Bouet (Ag2r) @ 2min 2sec
20. Frank Schleck (Saxo) @ 2min 5sec
21. Sebastien Minard (Cofidis) @ 2min 22sec
22. Cyril Gautier (Bouygues Telecom) @ 2min 30sec
23. Kevin Seeldrayers (Quick Step) @ 2min 59sec
24. Leonardo Duque (Cofidis) @ 3min 18sec
25. Ivan Santaromita (Liquigas) @ 3min 19sec
26. Francis De Greef (Omega Pharma-Lotto) @ 3min 22sec
27. Thomas Voeckler (Bouygues Telecom) @ 3min 39sxec
28. Xavier Tondo (Cervelo) @ 3min 48sec
29. Eduard Vorganov (Katusha) @ 3min 52sec
30. Levi Leipheimer (Radio Shack) @ 3min 57sec

Stage 5 elevation guide

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Thursday, March 11: Stage 4, Maurs - Mende, 173.5 km. Hilltop finish.

Rated climbs:

1. Km 40.0 - Côte de Montsalvy - 4.2 km @ 6% - Category 2
2. Km 94.5 - Côte de Lassouts - 7.5 km @ 3.6% - Category 3
3. Km 113.5 - Côte de la Crouzette - 3.9 km @ 3.6% - Category 3
4. Km 166.0 - Côte de Chabrits - 2.4 km @ 6.8% - Category 2
5. Km 173.5 - MENDE (La Croix Neuve - montée Laurent Jalabert) - 3.1 @ 10.1% - Category 1

The Race: The climb to Mende in today's stage will also be the hilltop finish in stage 14 of this year's Tour de France.

Astana made sure the day's escapes were controlled. A couple of kilometers from the top of the Mende climb, Alberto Contador set an incendiary pace that no one could match. Race leader Jens Voigt did all he could to keep his lead but no one in the world can match Contador on a tough climb.

After the race Contador said, "I maybe attacked a little bit early but it’s always difficult to tell the right time to strike. I struggled in the first half of this Paris-Nice with my crash but a new race begins today. Yet there are still three hard days ahead of us."

Results:

1. Alberto Contador (Astana) 4hr 26min 47sec
2. Alejandro Valverde (Caisse d'Epargne) @ 10sec
3. Samuel Sanchez (Euskaltel) s.t.
4. Joaquim Rodriguez (Katusha) @ 18sec
5. Thomas Voeckler (Bouygues Telecom) @ 20sec
6. Damiano Cunego (Lampre) @ 21sec
7. Roman Kreuziger (Liquigas) s.t.
8. Christophe Le Mevel (FDJ) @ 29sec
9. Luis Leon Sanchez (Caisse d'Epargne) s.t.
10. Reine Taaramae (Cofidis) @ 31sec
11. Jerome Coppel (Saur-Sojasun) @ 37sec
12. Jens Voigt (Saxo) @ 44sec
13. Sylvain Chavanel (Quick Step) s.t.
14. Jean-Christophe Peraud (Omega Pharma-Lotto) s.t.
15. Sandy Casar (FDJ) s.t.
16. Volodymir Gustov (Cervelo) s.t.
17. Nicolas Roche (Ag2r) @ 48sec
18. Simon Gerrans (Sky) @ 53sec
19. Xavier Tondo (Cervelo) @ 56sec
20. Peter Sagan (Liquigas) @ 58sec
21. Christophe Riblon (Ag2r) @ 1min 1sec
22. David Lopez Garcia (Caisse d'EPargne) s.t.
23. Tiago Machado (Radio Shack) s.t.
24. Romain Sicard (Euskaltel) s.t.
25. David Millar (Garmin-Transitions) s.t.
26. Maxime Bouet (Ag2r) s.t.
27. Remy Di Gregorio (FDJ) @ 1min 5sec
28. Benat Intxausti (Euskaltel) @ 1min 6sec
29. Levi Leipheimer (Radio Shack) @ 1min 9sec
30. Frank Schleck (Saxo) s.t.

GC after stage 4:

1. Alberto Contador (Astana) 17hr 7min 23sec
2. Alejandro Valverde (Caisse d'Epargne) @ 24sec
3. Roman Kreuziger (Liquigas) @ 25sec
4. Luis Leon Sanchez (Caisse d'Epargne) @ 28sec
5. Samuel Sanchez (Euskaltel) @ 29sec
6. Jens Voigt (Saxo) @ 34sec
7. Joaquim Rodriguez (Katusha) @ 36sec
8. Peter Sagan (Liquigas) @ 54sec
9. David Millar (Garmin-Transitions) @ 1min 3sec
10. Reine Taaramae (Cofidis) @ 1min 6sec
11. Thomas Voeckler (Bouygues Telecom) @ 1min 8sec
12. Xavier Tondo (Cervelo) @ 1min 14sec
13. Jean-Christophe Peraud (Omega Pharma-Lotto) @ 1min 15sec
14. Jerome Coppel (Saur-Sojasun) @ 1min 16sec
15. Nicolas Roche (Ag2r) @ 1min 22sec
16. Levi Leipheimer (Radio Shack) @ 1min 23sec
17. Sylvain Chavanel (Quick Step) @ 1min 27sec
18. Sandy Casar (FDJ) @ 1min 29sec
19. Simon Gerrans (Sky) @ 1min 30sec
20. Christophe Le Mevel (FDJ) @ 1min 32sec
21. Janez Brajkovic (Radio Shack) @ 1min 33sec
22. Christophe Riblon (Ag2r) @ 1min 35sec
23. Maxime Bouet (Ag2r) @ 1min 39sec
24. Romain Sicard (Euskaltel) @ 1min 45sec
25. Volodymir Gustov (Cervelo) @ 1min 50sec
26. Remi Pauriol (Cofidis) @ 1min 54sec
27. Maxime Monfort (HTC-Columbia) @ 2min 1sec
28. Frank Schleck (Saxo) @ 2min 5sec
29. David Lopez Garzia (Caisse d'Epargne) @ 2min 13sec
30. Sebastien Minard (Cofidis) @ 2min 22sec

Jens Voigt fought hard to keep his Yellow Jersey, but Contador was not to be denied on his own turf, the high mountains.

Stage 4 elevation guide

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Wednesday, March 10: Stage 3, St Junien - Aurillac, 208 km.

Rated Climbs (first 2 weren't used in the shortened stage):

1. Km 31.5 - Côte des Cars - 2.4 km @ 5.9% - Category 3
2. Km 50.5 - Côte de la Croix de Teulet - 3.5 km @ 3.9% - Category 3
3. Km 70.0 - Côte de la Grande Renaudie - 1.7 km @ 4.6% - Category 3
4. Km 128.0 - Côte de Sainte Fortunade - 5.3 km @ 4.5% - Category 2
5. Km 165.0 - Côte de Sexcles - 4.8 km @6.4% - Category 2
6. Km 205.0 - Côte de la Martinie - 1.1 km @ 7.2 % - Category 2

The race: Snow forced the organizers to shorten the stage by 53 km. On the final climb (Côte de la Martinie) 3 km from the finish a 6-man group got a slight gap. That was enough for Jens Voigt to capitalize upon his good prologue time trial and take the lead.

After the stage Voigt said, "Paris-Nice is a big race and after I had a good prologue, I told myself that with a little bit of luck I could sneak into the yellow jersey. I’m more than happy and now we have to try to hold on to it. Tomorrow is is very tricky and we’ll see how the team goes and if it’s possible to take it all the way to Nice. I feel better than I did last year at the same time.
The young guns keep pushing and say, hey, old man, go away! It’s not getting easier with the years. But I still train hard, I still have the dedication and I’m still determined to get a few results."

Results:

1. Peter Sagan (Liquigas) 3hr 44min 28sec
2. Joaquim Rodriguez (Katusha) s.t.
3. Nicolas Roche (Ag2r) s.t.
4. Jens Voigt (Saxo) @ 2sec
5. Tony Martin (HTC-Sloumbia) s.t.
6. Alberto Contador (Astana) s.t.
7. Mirco Lorenzetto (Lampre) @ 6sec
8. Sanmuel Dumoulin (Cofidis) s.t.
9. Xavier Florencio (Cervelo) s.t.
10. Marco Marcato (Vacansoleil) s.t.
11. Alexandr Kolobnev (Katusha) s.t.
12. Simon Geschke (Skil-Shimano) s.t.
13. Eduard Vorganov (Katusha) s.t.
14. Alexandre Botcharov (Katusha) s.t.
15. Thierry Hupond (Skil-Shimano) s.t.
16. Alejandro Valverde (Caisse d'Epargne) s.t.
17. Christophe Le Mevel (FDJ) s.t.
18. Sylvain Chavanel (Quick Step) s.t.
19. Roman Kreuziger (Liquigas) s.t.
20. ASamuel Sanchez (Euskaltel) s.t.
21. Thomas Voeckler (Bouygues Telecom) s.t.
22. Simon Gerrans (Sky) s.t.
23. Evgeni Petrov (Katusha) s.t.
24. Christophe Riblon (Ag2r) s.t.
25. Reine Taaramae (Cofidis) s.t.
26. Luis-Leon Sanchez (Caisse d'Epargne) s.t.
27. Jeremy Galland (Saur-Sojasun) s.t.
28. David Millar (Garmin-Transitions) s.t.
29. Yannick Talabardon (Saur-Sojasun) s.t.
30. Andriy Grivko (Astana) s.t.

38. Levi Leipheimer (Radio Shack) s.t.

GC after Stage 3:

1. Jens Voigt (Saxo) 12hr 40min 26sec
2. Peter Sagan (Liquigas) @ 6sec
3. Luis Leon Sanchez (Caisse d'Epargne) @ 9sec
4. David Millar (Garmin-Transitions) @ 12sec
5. Roman Kreuziger (Liquigas) @ 14sec
6. Lars Boom (Rabobank) @ 20sec
7. Alberto Contador (Astana) s.t.
8. Levi Leipheimer (Radio Shack) @ 24sec
9. Joaquim Rodriguez (Katusha) @ 28sec
10. Xavier Tondo (Cervelo) s.t.
11. Alejandro Valverde (Caisse d'Epargne) @ 30sec
12. Samuel Sanchez (Euskaltel) @ 33sec
13. Janez Brajkovic (Radio Shack) @ 34sec
14. Andriy Grivko (Astana) s.t.
15. Remi Pauriol (Cofidis) @ 37sec
16. Tony Martin (HTC-Columbia) @ 38sec
17. Serguei Ivanov (Kastusha) @ 41sec
18. Jean-Christophe Peraud (Omega Pharma-Lotto) s.t.
19. Alexandr Kolobnev (Katusha) s.t.
20. Christophe Riblon (Ag2r) @ 44sec
21. Nicolas Roche (Ag2r) s.t.
22. Reine Taaramae (Cofidis) @ 45sec
23. Laurent Mangel (Saur-Sojasun) @ 46sec
24. Simon Gerrans (Sky) @ 47sec
25. Maxime Bouet (Ag2r) @ 48sec
26. Jerome Coppel (Saur-Sojasun) @ 49sec
27. Maxime Monfort (HTC-Columbia) @ 52sec
28. Sylvain Chavanel (Quick Step) @ 53sec
29. Mirco Lorenzetto (Lampre) s.t.
30. Romain Sicard (Euskaltel) @ 54sec

Stage 3 elevation guide

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Tuesday, March 9: Stage 2, Contres - Limoges. 201 km.

Rated Climbs:

1. Km 15.0 - Côte de Saint-Aignan - 2.0 km @ 3 % - Category 3
2. Km 156.0 - Côte de Maison Neuve - 1.1 km @ 6.1 % - Category 3
3. Km 190.0 - Côte de Nieul - 2.8 km @ 3.9 % - Category 3

The race: Another windy day. The day's break was caught, allowing the sprinters another day to play. A half kilometer from the line there was another big crash. Peter Sagan was leading the rush to the line but William Bonnet of Bouygues Telecom had enough suds to overtake him.

Bonnet was ecstatic about the win, saying, "It’s the most beautiful win in my career. I used to work a lot for Thor Hushovd when I was with Credit Agricole. I have more freedom to play my own cards since I joined Bbox. I hope it’s the first great win but that more will follow. There were only two days for sprinters in this Paris-Nice so I think that’s it but I have other goals in the early season – to do well in Milan-San Remo and in the Spring classics, and above all Paris-Roubaix".

Results:

1. William Bonnet (Bouygues Telecom) 4hr 22min 40sec
2. Peter Sagan (Liquigas) s.t.
3. Luis-Leon Sanchez (Caisse d'Epargne) s.t.
4. Mirco Lorenzetto (Lampre) s.t.
5. Juan Jose Haedo (Saxo) s.t.
6. Samuel Dumoulin (Cofidis) s.t.
7. Tom Veelers (Skil-Shimano) s.t.
8. Eduard Vorganov (Katusha) s.t.
9. Borut Bozic (Vacansoleil) s.t.
10. Francesco Chicchi (Liquigas) s.t.
11. Koldo Fernandez (Euskaltel) s.t.
12. Jeremy Galland (Saur-Sojasun) s.t.
13. Christophe Le Mevel (FDJ) s.t.
14. Serguei Ivanov (Katusha) s.t.
15. Heinrich Haussler (Cervelo) s.t.
16. Dimitri Champion (Ag2r) s.t.
17. Alberto Contador (Astana) s.t.
18. David Millar (Garmin-Transitions) s.t.
19. Leonardo Duque (Cofidis) s.t.
20. Jens Voigt (Saxo) s.t.
21. Carlos Barredo (Quick Step) s.t.
22. Daniele Righi (Lampre) s.t.
23. Alexandre Pichot (Bouygues Telecom) s.t.
24. Jimmy Engoulvent (Saur-Sojasun) s.t.
25. Gregory Henderson (Sky) s.t.
26. Roman Kreuziger (Liquigas) s.t.
27. Simon Gerrans (Sky) s.t.
28. Samuel Sanchez (Euskaltel) s.t.
29. Thomas Peterson (Garmin-Transistions) st.
30. Jurgen Roelandts (Omega Pharma-Ltoot) s.t.

GC after Stage 2:

1. Lars Boom (Rabobank) 8hr 55min 51sec
2. Jens Voigt (Saxo) @ 5sec
3. Luis Leon Sanchez (Caisse d'Epargne) @ 10sec
4. David Millar (Garmin-Transitions) @ 13sec
5. Roman Kreuziger (Liquigas) @ 15sec
6. Gregory Henderson (Sky) @ 20sec
7. Peter Sagan (Liquigas) @ 23sec
8. Levi Leipheimer (Radio Shack) @ 25sec
9. Alberto Contador (Astana) s.t.
10. Xavier Tondo (Cervelo) @ 29sec
11. Alejandro Valverde (Caisse d'Epargne) @ 31sec
12. Laurent Mangel (Saur-Sojasun) s.t.
13. Grega Bole (Lampre) @ 32sec
14. Samuel Sanchez (Euskaltel) @ 34sec
15. Cyril Lemoine (Saur-Sojasun) @ 35sec
16. Janez Brajkovic (Radio Shack) s.t.
17. Andriy Grivko (Astana) s.t.
18. Remi Pauriol (Cofidis) @ 38sec
19. Geraint Thomas (Sky) @ 39sec
20. Joaquim Rodriguez (Katusha) @ 41sec
21. Serguei Ivanov (Katusha) @ 42sec
22. Jean-Christophe Peraud (Omega Pharma-Lotto) s.t.
23. Alexandr Kolobnev (Katusha) s.t.
24. Tony Martin (HTC-Columbia) @ 43sec
25. William Bonnet (Bouygues Telecom) @ 44sec
26. Christophe Riblon (Ag2r) @ 45sec
27. Reine Taaramae (Cofidis) @ 46sec
28. Jose Ivan Gutierrez (Caisse d'Epargne) @ 46sec
29. Bram Tankink (Rabobank) @ 47sec
30. Koos Moerenhout (Rabobank) s.t.

Stage 2 elevation guide

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Monday, March 8: Stage 1, St Arnoult en Yvelines - Contres, 201.5 km.

The Race: On a windy day high speeds, driven first by Rabobank and then later in the stage by Caisse d'Epargne, broke up the peloton. A group of 15 finished 17 seconds ahead of the main field. Race favorites Levi Leipheimer and Alberto Contador failed to make the front group. Both riders crashed (Contador just 3 km from the finish) as the winds lashed the race. Bernard Hinault said that if Caisse d'Epargne had hammered the pack harder and earlier they might have caused a 3- or 4-minute gap. He also noted that on days when the race is driven into the gutters by high winds, Alberto Contador is not comfortable and Astana has to learn to protect him better.

1. Gregory Henderson (Sky) 4hr 22min 17sec
2. Grega Bole (Lampre) s.t.
3. Jeremy Galland (Saur-Sojasun) s.t.
4. Alexandr Kolobnev (Katusha) s.t.
5. Alejandro Valverde (Caisse d'Epargne) s.t.
6. Nicolas Roche (Ag2r) s.t.
7. Jens Voigt (Saxo) s.t.
8. Marco Marcato (Vacansoleil) s.t.
9. Tony Martin (HTC-Columbia) s.t.
10. Roman Kreuziger (Liquigas) s.t.
11. David Millar (Garmin-Transitions) s.t.
12. Lars Boom (Rabobank) s.t.
13. Serguei Ivanov (Katusha) s.t.
14. Luis-Leon Sanchez (Caisse d'Epargne) s.t.
15. Cyril Lemoine (Saur-Sojasun) s.t.
16. Francesco Chicchi (Liquigas) @ 17sec
17. Mirco Lorezetto (Lampre) s.t.
18. Koldo Fernandez (Euskaltel) s.t.
19. Tom Leezer (Rabobank) s.t.
20. Jimmy Casper (Saur-Sojasun) s.t.
21. Leonardo Duque (Cofidis) s.t.
22. Sylvain Chavanel (Quick Step) s.t.
23. Aleksandr Kuschynski (Liquigas) s.t.
24. Eduard Vorganov (Katusha) s.t.
25. Andre Greipel (HTC-Solumbia) s.t.
26. Jos Van Emden (Rabobank) s.t.
27. Jurgen Roelandts (Omega Pharma-Lotto) s.t.
28. Romain Feillu (Vacansoleil) s.t.
29. William Bonnet (Bouygues Telecom) s.t.
30. Koen De Kort (Skil-Shimano) s.t

67. Alberto Contador (Astana) s.t.

93. Levi Leipheimer (Radio Shack) s.t.

GC after Stage 1:

1. Lars Boom (Rabobank) 4hr 33min 11sec
2. Jens Voigt (Saxo) @ 5sec
3. David Millar (Garmin-Transitions) @ 13sec
4. Luis-Leon Sanchez (Caisse d'Epargne) @ 14sec
5. Roman Kreuziger (Liquigas) @ 15sec
6. Gregory Henderson (Sky) @ 20sec
7. Levi Leipheimer (Radio Shack) @ 25sec
8. Alberto Contador (Astana) s.t.
9. Peter Sagan (Liquigas) @ 29sec
10. Xavier Tondo (Cervelo) s.t.
11. Alejandro Valverde (Caisse d'Epargne) @ 31sec
12. Grega Bole (Lampre) @ 32sec
13. Samuel Sanchez (Euskaltel) @ 34sec
14. Cyril Lemoine (Saur-Sojasun) @ 35sec
15. Janez Brajkovic (Radio Shack) s.t.
16. Andriy Grivko (Astana) s.t.
17. Laurent Mangel (Saur-Sojasun) @ 36sec
18. Remi Pauriol (Cofidis) @ 38sec
19. Geraint Thomas (Sky) @ 39sec
20. Joaquim Rodriguez (Katusha) @ 41sec
21. Serguei Ivanov (Katusha) @ 42sec
22. Jean-Chirstophe Peraud (Omega Pharma-Lotto) s.t.
23. Alexandr Kolobnev (Katusha) s.t.
24. Tony Martin (HTC-Columbia) @ 43sec
25. Christophe Riblon (Ag2r) @ 45sec
26. Reine Taaramae (Cofidis) @ 46sec
27. Jose Ivan Gutierrez (Caisse d'Epargne) s.t.
28. Bram Tankink (Rabobank) @ 47sec
29. Koos Moerenhout (Rabobank) s.t.
30. Simon Gerrans (Sky) @ 48sec

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Sunday, March 7: Prologue, Montfort l'Amaury 8 km Individual time Trial

1 climb, at Km 1.5 - Côte de Boursouffle, category 3

Stage winner Lars Boom

Results:

1. Lars Boom (Rabobank) 10min 56sec
2. Jens Voigt (Saxo) @ 3sec
3. Levi Leipheimer (Radio shack) @ 6sec
4. Alberto Contador (Astana) s.t.
5. Peter Sagan (Liquigas) @ 10sec
6. Xavier Tondo (Cervelo) s.t.
7. David Millar (Garmin-Transitions) @ 11sec
8. Luis Leon Sanchez (Caisse d'Epargne) @ 12sec
9. Roman Kreuziger (Liquigas) @ 13sec
10. Samuel Sanchez (Euskaltel) @ 15sec
11. Janez Brajkovic (Radio Shack) @ 16sec
12. Andriy Grivko (Astana) s.t.
13. Laurent Mangel (Saur-Sojasun) @ 17sec
14. Remi Pauriol (Cofidis) @ 19sec
15. Geraint Thomas (Sky) @ 20sec
16. Christopher Horner (Radio Shack) s.t.
17. Svein Tuft (Garmin-Tranistions) s.t.
18. Richie Porte (Saxo) @ 22sec
19. Joaquim Rodriguez (Katusha) s.t.
20. Jean-Christophe Peraud (Omega Pharma-Lotto) @ 23sec
21. Jens Mouris (Vacansoleil) s.t.
22. Christophe Riblon (Ag2r) @ 26sec
23. Tiago Machado (Radio Shack) s.t.
24. Tom Danielson (Garmin-Transitions) @ 27sec
25. Nenat Intxausti (Euskaltel) s.t.
26. Reine Taaramae (Cofidis) s.t.
27. Jose Ivan Gutierrez (Caisse d'Epargne) s.t.
28. Gregory Henderson (Sky) @ 28sec
29. Bram Tankink (Rabobank) s.t.
30. Koos Moerenhout (Rabobank) s.t.

GC after Stage 1: Same as stage standings

Jens Voigt rides to second place.

Levi Leipheimer

Alberto Contador

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2010 Paris-Nice route map

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