66th Paris-Nice, Hors Category

France, March 7-14, 1999


The Stages

  • Stage 1 - Boulogne-Billancourt - Paris, ITT 9 kms:
  • Stage 2 - Nangis - Sens, 184 kms:
  • Stage 3 - Sens - Nevers, 214 kms:
  • Stage 4 - Nevers - Vichy, 194.5 kms:
  • Stage 5 - Cusset - Firminy, 187 kms:
  • Stage 6 - Romans - Sisteron, 211 kms:
  • Stage 7 - Sisteron - Valberg, 198 kms:
  • Stage 8 - Nice - Nice, 157 kms:

Stage 3, Sens - Nevers, 214 kms:

After yesterday there was some bad feeling in the race with respect to Rabobank. Belgian Franck Vandenbroucke had punctured around 12 kms to go and was left stranded without his car for some time. His two teammates who were in the break dominated by Rabobank were also not to be seen. At that point, Jan Raas ordered the Rabobank to drive the break even harder and this resulted in VDB losing some time. There were mutterings afterwards about sporting behaviour.

Anyway, today was another day and after the rain and cold of yesterday the riders left Sens in light rain and some wind in the early part of the stage. Australian Matt White mounted a timid attack but was quickly hauled back by the peloton who were taking it very easy indeed.

At km 63, the sprint for bonifications saw Stuart O'Grady take 3 precious seconds in front of De Waele (2) and Erik Dekker (1) and this put the Australian into the leader's white jersey "on the road".

Then 6 riders included Gaumon and Dacruz tried in vain. The second hour passed with an average of 30.7 kms. Nothing was happening at all. After the sprint victory by O'Grady at Taconnay (km 128) in front of Perraudeau and Henk Vogels the race took some shape. The clouds cleared a bit and the rain stopped. Any attempts at attacks were being stopped by the peloton. 8 riders went away at km 136 with Richard Virenque and Jaan Kirsipuu forming a small break by themselves and the other 6 being caught by the peloton very quickly. Virenque drove the break and by 138 kms he had a 10 second gap. He didn't have the heart though and quickly abandoned the attempt. A good move!

Another attack went with Dacruz taking a rapid 20 second gap at km 148 building this to 0.40 at km 152. He was very courageous and held off the peloton for more than 45 kms. The 5th hour was now up and his tiredness showed. He was doomed because the teams with the sprinters now took over the race. After 50 kms of solo riding on the front, Dacruz was caught by a rapidly accelerating peloton.

The final sprint at Nevers was contested in front of a huge crowd. Kirsipuu won from his teammate Barthe. The leadership was transferred from Tchmil to O'Grady on account of the intermediate sprint bonifications. The race to the sun was also finally seeing some sun.

Stage Results

   1. Jaan Kirsipuu (Est) Casino                            5.45.23 (37.176 km/h)
   2. Stéphane Barthe (Fra) Casino
   3. Henk Vogels (Aus) Crédit Agricole
   4. Robbie McEwen (Aus) Rabobank
   5. Andrej Hauptmann (Slo) Vini Caldirola
   6. Jo Planckaert (Bel) Lotto-Mobistar
   7. Stuart O'Grady (Aus) Crédit Agricole
   8. Rolf Sorensen (Den) Rabobank
   9. Salvatore Commesso (Ita) Saeco-Cannondale
  10. Frédéric Finot (Fra) Crédit Agricole
  11. Christophe Cappelle (Fra) Big Mat-Auber 93
  12. Guido Trenti (USA) Cantina Tollo
  13. George Hincapie (USA) US Postal Service
  14. Fabien Dewaele (Bel) Lotto-Mobistar
  15. Oscar Cavagnis (Ita) Cantina Tollo
  16. Marco Antonio Di Renzo (Ita) Cantina Tollo
  17. Mario Traversoni (Ita) Saeco-Cannondale
  18. Jean-Patrick Nazon (Fra) La Française des Jeux
  19. Jay Sweet (Aus) Big Mat-Auber 93
  20. Glenn Magnusson (Swe) US Postal Service
  21. Bruno Boscardin (Swi) Post Swiss Team
  22. Gert Verheyen (Bel) Lotto-Mobistar
  23. Peter Van Hyfte (Bel) Lotto-Mobistar
  24. Frédéric Moncassin (Fra) Crédit Agricole
  25. Dario Frigo (Ita) Saeco-Cannondale
  26. Markus Zberg (Swi) Rabobank
  27. Ludovic Auger (Fra) Big Mat-Auber 93
  28. Andrei Tchmil (Bel) Lotto-Mobistar
  29. Stéphane Heulot (Fra) La Française des Jeux
  30. Franck Vandenbroucke (Bel) Cofidis
  31. Emmanuel Magnien (Fra) La Française des Jeux
  32. Michael Boogerd (Ned) Rabobank
  33. Carlos Dacruz (Fra) Big Mat-Auber 93
  34. Axel Merckx (Bel) Mapei-Quick Step
  35. Andrei Kivilev (Kaz) Festina
  36. Guillaume Auger (Fra) Big Mat-Auber 93
  37. Wladimir Belli (Ita) Festina
  38. Rolf Huser (Swi) Festina
  39. Max Van Heeswijk (Ned) Mapei-Quick Step
  40. Tyler Hamilton (USA) US Postal Service
  41. Jacky Durand (Fra) Lotto-Mobistar
  42. Mario Aerts (Bel) Lotto-Mobistar
  43. Marcus Ljungqvist (Swe) Cantina Tollo
  44. Philippe Gaumont (Fra) Cofidis
  45. Santiago Botero Echeverry (Col) Kelme-Costa Blanca
  46. Giuliano Figueras (Ita) Mapei-Quick Step
  47. Maarten Den Bakker (Ned) Rabobank
  48. Mauro Zinetti (Ita) Polti
  49. Harald Morscher (Aut) Saeco-Cannondale
  50. Erik Dekker (Ned) Rabobank
  51. Ruggero Borghi (Ita) Vini Caldirola
  52. Moreno Di Biase (Ita) Cantina Tollo
  53. Anthony Morin (Fra) La Française des Jeux
  54. Benoît Salmon (Fra) Casino
  55. Christian Charriere (Swi) Post Swiss Team
  56. Laurent Madouas (Fra) Festina
  57. Paolo Savoldelli (Ita) Saeco-Cannondale
  58. Pascal Chanteur (Fra) Casino
  59. Stéphane Goubert (Fra) Polti
  60. Richard Virenque (Fra) Polti
  61. Eduardo Hernandez Bailo (Spa) Kelme-Costa Blanca
  62. Jens Voigt (Ger) Crédit Agricole
  63. Laurent Roux (Fra) Casino
  64. José Luis Rubiera Vigil (Spa) Kelme-Costa Blanca
  65. Serguei Gontchar (Ukr) Vini Caldirola
  66. Steve De Wolf (Bel) Cofidis
  67. Yvan Haymoz (Swi) Post Swiss Team
  68. Marty Jemison (USA) US Postal Service
  69. Marc Wauters (Bel) Rabobank
  70. Jean-Cyril Robin (Fra) La Française des Jeux
  71. Massimo Apollonio (Ita) Vini Caldirola
  72. Javier Pascual Llorente (Spa) Kelme-Costa Blanca
  73. Chris Boardman (GB) Crédit Agricole
  74. Peter Farazijn (Bel) Cofidis
  75. Daniel Schnider (Swi) Post Swiss Team
  76. Pascal Lino (Fra) Big Mat-Auber 93
  77. Paolo Fornaciari (Ita) Mapei-Quick Step
  78. Sven Montgomery (Swi) Post Swiss Team
  79. Cédric Fragnière (Swi) Post Swiss Team
  80. Massimo Giunti (Ita) Cantina Tollo
  81. Massimiliano Mori (Ita) Saeco-Cannondale
  82. Tom Steels (Bel) Mapei-Quick Step
  83. Francisco Leon Mane (Spa) Kelme-Costa Blanca
  84. Chann McRae (USA) Mapei-Quick Step
  85. Laurent Lefevre (Fra) Festina
  86. Olivier Pereaudeau (Fra) Crédit Agricole
  87. Alexander Moos (Swi) Festina
  88. Mirko Crepaldi (Ita) Polti
  89. Francisco Cabello Luque (Spa) Kelme-Costa Blanca
  90. Dominique Rault (Fra) Big Mat-Auber 93
  91. Gianluca Sironi (Ita) Vini Caldirola
  92. Lance Armstrong (USA) US Postal Service
  93. Thierry Marichal (Bel) Lotto-Mobistar
  94. Pierre Bourquenoud (Swi) Post Swiss Team
  95. Igor Pugaci (Mda) Saeco-Cannondale
  96. Kevin Livingston (USA) US Postal Service
  97. Daniel Atienza Urendeze (Spa) Polti
  98. Rossano Brasi (Ita) Polti
  99. José Javier Gomez (Spa) Kelme-Costa Blanca
 100. Claude Lamour (Fra) Cofidis
 101. Arnaud Pretot (Fra) Cofidis
 102. Thierry Gouvenou (Fra) Big Mat-Auber 93
 103. Christophe Agnolutto (Fra) Casino
 104. Anthony Rokia (Fra) Cofidis
 105. Guido Trentin (Ita) Vini Caldirola
 106. Frederic Vifian (Swi) Post Swiss Team
 107. Tobias Steinhauser (Ger) Mapei-Quick Step
 108. Bart Leysen (Bel) Mapei-Quick Step
 109. Andrea Brognara (Ita) Cantina Tollo
 110. Pascal Deramé (Fra) US Postal Service
 111. Christopher Horner (USA) La Française des Jeux
 112. Valentino China (Ita) Saeco-Cannondale
 113. Lauri Aus (Est) Casino
 114. Denis Lunghi (Ita) Polti
 115. Matthew White (Aus) Vini Caldirola
 116. Eros Poli (Ita) Crédit Agricole                          0.18
 117. Leon Van Bon (Ned) Rabobank                              0.20
 118. Francisco Andreu (USA) US Postal Service                 0.44
 119. Aïtor Gonzalez (Spa) Kelme-Costa Blanca                  0.50
 120. Francisque Teyssier (Fra) Festina                        1.06
 121. Mauro Zanetti (Ita) Vini Caldirola                       2.15

Did not start:
 
Alexandre Vinokourov (Kaz) Casino
Christophe Bassons (Fra) La Française des Jeux
Massimiliano Gentili (Ita) Cantina Tollo
 
Abandoned:
 
Christophe Rinero (Fra) Cofidis
Yvon Ledanois (Fra) La Française des Jeux

GC after Stage 3

   1. Stuart O'Grady (Aus) Crédit Agricole                 10.38.00
   2. Andrei Tchmil (Bel) Lotto-Mobistar                       0.04
   3. Rolf Sorensen (Den) Rabobank                             0.21
   4. Marc Wauters (Bel) Rabobank                              0.28
   5. Axel Merckx (Bel) Mapei-Quick Step                       0.29
   6. Maarten Den Bakker (Ned) Rabobank                        0.32
   7. Erik Dekker (Ned) Rabobank                               0.32
   8. Michael Boogerd (Ned) Rabobank                           0.38
   9. Markus Zberg (Swi) Rabobank                              0.44
  10. Leon Van Bon (Ned) Rabobank                              1.09
  11. Chris Boardman (GB) Crédit Agricole                      1.59
  12. Franck Vandenbroucke (Bel) Cofidis                       2.04
  13. Philippe Gaumont (Fra) Cofidis                           2.09
  14. Frédéric Moncassin (Fra) Crédit Agricole                 2.10
  15. Stéphane Barthe (Fra) Casino                             2.11
  16. Serguei Gontchar (Ukr) Vini Caldirola                    2.14
  17. Santiago Botero Echeverry (Col) Kelme-Costa Blanca       2.18
  18. Wladimir Belli (Ita) Festina                             2.19
  19. Jacky Durand (Fra) Lotto-Mobistar                        2.20
  20. Dario Frigo (Ita) Saeco-Cannondale                       2.21
  21. George Hincapie (USA) US Postal Service                  2.23
  22. Tyler Hamilton (USA) US Postal Service                   2.27
  23. Laurent Lefevre (Fra) Festina                            2.27
  24. Bruno Boscardin (Swi) Post Swiss Team                    2.28
  25. Thierry Marichal (Bel) Lotto-Mobistar                    2.29
  26. Andrej Hauptmann (Slo) Vini Caldirola                    2.29
  27. Jens Voigt (Ger) Crédit Agricole                         2.31
  28. Emmanuel Magnien (Fra) La Française des Jeux             2.33
  29. Pascal Lino (Fra) Big Mat-Auber 93                       2.33
  30. Salvatore Commesso (Ita) Saeco-Cannondale                2.35
  31. Paolo Savoldelli (Ita) Saeco-Cannondale                  2.36
  32. Laurent Madouas (Fra) Festina                            2.36
  33. Jo Planckaert (Bel) Lotto-Mobistar                       2.37
  34. José Luis Rubiera Vigil (Spa) Kelme-Costa Blanca         2.37
  35. Tom Steels (Bel) Mapei-Quick Step                        2.38
  36. Peter Farazijn (Bel) Cofidis                             2.38
  37. Mario Aerts (Bel) Lotto-Mobistar                         2.38
  38. Pascal Chanteur (Fra) Casino                             2.39
  39. Jean-Patrick Nazon (Fra) La Française des Jeux           2.39
  40. Peter Van Hyfte (Bel) Lotto-Mobistar                     2.39
  41. Anthony Morin (Fra) La Française des Jeux                2.40
  42. Mauro Zinetti (Ita) Polti                                2.43
  43. Massimo Apollonio (Ita) Vini Caldirola                   2.43
  44. Marty Jemison (USA) US Postal Service                    2.43
  45. Gert Verheyen (Bel) Lotto-Mobistar                       2.45
  46. Olivier Pereaudeau (Fra) Crédit Agricole                 2.45
  47. Arnaud Pretot (Fra) Cofidis                              2.47
  48. Stéphane Heulot (Fra) La Française des Jeux              2.51
  49. Jean-Cyril Robin (Fra) La Française des Jeux             2.54
  50. Ludovic Auger (Fra) Big Mat-Auber 93                     2.55
  51. Andrei Kivilev (Kaz) Festina                             2.55
  52. Robbie McEwen (Aus) Rabobank                             2.56
  53. Jaan Kirsipuu (Est) Casino                               2.59
  54. Rolf Huser (Swi) Festina                                 3.00
  55. Steve De Wolf (Bel) Cofidis                              3.01
  56. Massimiliano Mori (Ita) Saeco-Cannondale                 3.01
  57. Alexander Moos (Swi) Festina                             3.01
  58. Chann McRae (USA) Mapei-Quick Step                       3.02
  59. Fabien Dewaele (Bel) Lotto-Mobistar                      3.07
  60. Oscar Cavagnis (Ita) Cantina Tollo                       3.08
  61. Lance Armstrong (USA) US Postal Service                  3.11
  62. Bart Leysen (Bel) Mapei-Quick Step                       3.11
  63. Pierre Bourquenoud (Swi) Post Swiss Team                 3.12
  64. Guido Trenti (USA) Cantina Tollo                         3.17
  65. Christopher Horner (USA) La Française des Jeux           3.22
  66. Max Van Heeswijk (Ned) Mapei-Quick Step                  3.25
  67. Richard Virenque (Fra) Polti                             3.26
  68. Giuliano Figueras (Ita) Mapei-Quick Step                 3.34
  69. Benoît Salmon (Fra) Casino                               3.35
  70. Tobias Steinhauser (Ger) Mapei-Quick Step                3.41
  71. Thierry Gouvenou (Fra) Big Mat-Auber 93                  3.46
  72. Laurent Roux (Fra) Casino                                3.58
  73. Claude Lamour (Fra) Cofidis                              3.59
  74. Harald Morscher (Aut) Saeco-Cannondale                   4.00
  75. Lauri Aus (Est) Casino                                   4.04
  76. Mario Traversoni (Ita) Saeco-Cannondale                  4.13
  77. Pascal Deramé (Fra) US Postal Service                    4.31
  78. Francisco Andreu (USA) US Postal Service                 4.52
  79. Henk Vogels (Aus) Crédit Agricole                       11.30
  80. Frédéric Finot (Fra) Crédit Agricole                    11.35
  81. Rossano Brasi (Ita) Polti                               11.43
  82. Guillaume Auger (Fra) Big Mat-Auber 93                  11.49
  83. Gianluca Sironi (Ita) Vini Caldirola                    12.02
  84. Denis Lunghi (Ita) Polti                                12.05
  85. Stéphane Goubert (Fra) Polti                            12.09
  86. Marco Antonio Di Renzo (Ita) Cantina Tollo              12.09
  87. Mirko Crepaldi (Ita) Polti                              12.09
  88. Glenn Magnusson (Swe) US Postal Service                 12.03
  89. Guido Trentin (Ita) Vini Caldirola                      12.18
  90. Christophe Cappelle (Fra) Big Mat-Auber 93              12.19
  91. Christophe Agnolutto (Fra) Casino                       12.19
  92. Christian Charriere (Swi) Post Swiss Team               12.28
  93. Ruggero Borghi (Ita) Vini Caldirola                     12.29
  94. Eros Poli (Ita) Crédit Agricole                         12.32
  95. Daniel Atienza Urendeze (Spa) Polti                     12.49
  96. Francisco Cabello Luque (Spa) Kelme-Costa Blanca        18.08
  97. Javier Pascual Llorente (Spa) Kelme-Costa Blanca        18.16
  98. Daniel Schnider (Swi) Post Swiss Team                   18.32
  99. Sven Montgomery (Swi) Post Swiss Team                   18.33
 100. Matthew White (Aus) Vini Caldirola                      18.39
 101. Jay Sweet (Aus) Big Mat-Auber 93                        18.40
 102. Carlos Dacruz (Fra) Big Mat-Auber 93                    18.41
 103. Kevin Livingston (USA) US Postal Service                18.43
 104. Valentino China (Ita) Saeco-Cannondale                  18.48
 105. Marcus Ljungqvist (Swe) Cantina Tollo                   18.48
 106. Paolo Fornaciari (Ita) Mapei-Quick Step                 18.48
 107. Dominique Rault (Fra) Big Mat-Auber 93                  18.49
 108. José Javier Gomez (Spa) Kelme-Costa Blanca              18.53
 109. Igor Pugaci (Mda) Saeco-Cannondale                      18.56
 110. Frederic Vifian (Swi) Post Swiss Team                   18.57
 111. Anthony Rokia (Fra) Cofidis                             19.01
 112. Francisque Teyssier (Fra) Festina                       19.02
 113. Massimo Giunti (Ita) Cantina Tollo                      19.10
 114. Cédric Fragnière (Swi) Post Swiss Team                  19.12
 115. Andrea Brognara (Ita) Cantina Tollo                     19.30
 116. Moreno Di Biase (Ita) Cantina Tollo                     19.46
 117. Yvan Haymoz (Swi) Post Swiss Team                       20.56
 118. Mauro Zanetti (Ita) Vini Caldirola                      21.01
 119. Francisco Leon Mane (Spa) Kelme-Costa Blanca            25.59
 120. Eduardo Hernandez Bailo (Spa) Kelme-Costa Blanca        26.02
 121. Aïtor Gonzalez (Spa) Kelme-Costa Blanca                 33.18