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, 204.8 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 4, Nevers - Vichy, 204.8 kms:

There was electricity in the air at the start of Stage 4 in Nevers. The race was on and despite the incessant rain there was a feeling that there were going to be some fast riding today. In the first 100 metres the rumours were vindicated. Jacky Durand and Rolf Sorensen attacked and were immediately chased by a group of 7 riders - Dacruz and Capelle amongst others. But by km 7 the adventure was over. The Crédit Agricole team showed clearly that they were going to control the race for O'Grady and prepare him to take the bonification seconds during the stage (see below for details). At km 18 the premie at La Guernche sur L'Aubois went as planned and O'Grady gained 3 valuable seconds with Traversoni (2) and Henk Vogels (1).

At km 21, O'Grady was part of an attack which involved 16 other riders. The other teams quickly closed it down. After 1 hour the average speed was a very quick 46 km/h.

The next hour was a dawdle - average 31 km/h - and the pace didn't pick up. Gouvenou had little trouble in getting away at Le Thiel (km 101). He had 30 seconds immediately and 40 seconds at km 115. The third hour saw and overall average speed of 37.6 km/h. By km 122, Gouvenou had reached his largest gap on the peloton - 2 minutes - and it was all down hill for him after that. He abandoned the move at km 133. A small gesture for his sponsors.

At the 148 kms mark, the move of the day occurred. Roux profitted by some confusion at the front of the peloton and within 6 kms he had a lead of 1.20. He was chased by two other riders - Matt White and Kevin Livingston. The peloton was not about to let them go and the fourth hour saw a spectacular lift in the speed of the stage - 47.2 km/h average over that hour. Three other riders - Lunghi, Salmon and Marichal - linked with the two chasers. Roux at that point had 40 seconds on this group and 1.20 on the peloton.

The move now looked very serious and attacks started coming off the front of the peloton. 16 riders went clear in pursuit of Roux including Capelle, Teyssier, and Wauters. Sensing the danger, Salmon attacked from the first chasing peloton. With 35 kms to go, the situation was: Roux and Salmon at the front with a 40 second lead on 20 riders. At 1.05 Belli, at 1.40 the peloton. The last sprint for the bonifications came at Le Vernet (km 179) and Roux led Salmon over for 3 seconds bonus. The chasing group was splitting - Savoldelli was at 15 seconds now to Roux and Salmon, then Den Bakker, Planckaert, Heulot, and Voigt at 0.25.

With 10 kms to go, there were now 7 riders at the front with only 28 seconds to the peloton. Roux attacked again with 2 kms to go to Vichy. He held off Planckaert, Heulot, Voigt, Savoldelli, Den Bakker and Salmon who finished at 8 seconds. Barthe won the peloton sprint at 15 seconds. O'Grady held the GC. He was very well supported by his teammates.

Stage Results 

   1. Laurent Roux (Fra) Casino                             5.04.46 (40.319 km/h)
   2. Jo Planckaert (Bel) Lotto-Mobistar                       0.08
   3. Stéphane Heulot (Fra) La Française des Jeux              0.08
   4. Jens Voigt (Ger) Crédit Agricole                         0.08
   5. Paolo Savoldelli (Ita) Saeco-Cannondale                  0.08
   6. Maarten Den Bakker (Ned) Rabobank                        0.08
   7. Benoît Salmon (Fra) Casino                               0.08
   8. Stéphane Barthe (Fra) Casino                             0.15
   9. Stuart O'Grady (Aus) Crédit Agricole                     0.15
  10. Robbie McEwen (Aus) Rabobank                             0.15
  11. Oscar Cavagnis (Ita) Cantina Tollo                       0.15
  12. Christophe Cappelle (Fra) Big Mat-Auber 93               0.15
  13. Lauri Aus (Est) Casino                                   0.15
  14. Bruno Boscardin (Swi) Post Swiss Team                    0.15
  15. Philippe Gaumont (Fra) Cofidis                           0.15
  16. George Hincapie (USA) US Postal Service                  0.15
  17. Emmanuel Magnien (Fra) La Française des Jeux             0.15
  18. Rolf Huser (Swi) Festina                                 0.15
  19. Olivier Pereaudeau (Fra) Crédit Agricole                 0.15
  20. Andrej Hauptmann (Slo) Vini Caldirola                    0.15
  21. Fabien Dewaele (Bel) Lotto-Mobistar                      0.15
  22. Mauro Zinetti (Ita) Polti                                0.15
  23. Marcus Ljungqvist (Swe) Cantina Tollo                    0.15
  24. Peter Van Hyfte (Bel) Lotto-Mobistar                     0.15
  25. Erik Dekker (Ned) Rabobank                               0.15
  26. Ludovic Auger (Fra) Big Mat-Auber 93                     0.15
  27. Axel Merckx (Bel) Mapei-Quick Step                       0.15
  28. Pascal Lino (Fra) Big Mat-Auber 93                       0.15
  29. Denis Lunghi (Ita) Polti                                 0.15
  30. Rolf Sorensen (Den) Rabobank                             0.15
  31. Markus Zberg (Swi) Rabobank                              0.15
  32. Andrea Brognara (Ita) Cantina Tollo                      0.15
  33. Francisque Teyssier (Fra) Festina                        0.15
  34. Alexander Moos (Swi) Festina                             0.15
  35. Michael Boogerd (Ned) Rabobank                           0.15
  36. Ruggero Borghi (Ita) Vini Caldirola                      0.15
  37. Sven Montgomery (Swi) Post Swiss Team                    0.15
  38. Franck Vandenbroucke (Bel) Cofidis                       0.15
  39. Santiago Botero Echeverry (Col) Kelme-Costa Blanca       0.15
  40. Leon Van Bon (Ned) Rabobank                              0.15
  41. Massimiliano Mori (Ita) Saeco-Cannondale                 0.15
  42. Chann McRae (USA) Mapei-Quick Step                       0.15
  43. José Luis Rubiera Vigil (Spa) Kelme-Costa Blanca         0.15
  44. Max Van Heeswijk (Ned) Mapei-Quick Step                  0.15
  45. Steve De Wolf (Bel) Cofidis                              0.15
  46. Andrei Tchmil (Bel) Lotto-Mobistar                       0.15
  47. Gert Verheyen (Bel) Lotto-Mobistar                       0.15
  48. Dario Frigo (Ita) Saeco-Cannondale                       0.15
  49. Laurent Lefevre (Fra) Festina                            0.15
  50. Guido Trentin (Ita) Vini Caldirola                       0.15
  51. Tyler Hamilton (USA) US Postal Service                   0.15
  52. Anthony Morin (Fra) La Française des Jeux                0.15
  53. Mario Traversoni (Ita) Saeco-Cannondale                  0.15
  54. Giuliano Figueras (Ita) Mapei-Quick Step                 0.15
  55. Jean-Cyril Robin (Fra) La Française des Jeux             0.15
  56. Marc Wauters (Bel) Rabobank                              0.15
  57. Arnaud Pretot (Fra) Cofidis                              0.15
  58. Harald Morscher (Aut) Saeco-Cannondale                   0.15
  59. Pierre Bourquenoud (Swi) Post Swiss Team                 0.15
  60. Andrei Kivilev (Kaz) Festina                             0.15
  61. Pascal Chanteur (Fra) Casino                             0.15
  62. Laurent Madouas (Fra) Festina                            0.15
  63. Richard Virenque (Fra) Polti                             0.15
  64. Javier Pascual Llorente (Spa) Kelme-Costa Blanca         0.15
  65. Stéphane Goubert (Fra) Polti                             0.15
  66. Peter Farazijn (Bel) Cofidis                             0.15
  67. Francisco Cabello Luque (Spa) Kelme-Costa Blanca         0.15
  68. Daniel Atienza Urendeze (Spa) Polti                      0.15
  69. Claude Lamour (Fra) Cofidis                              0.15
  70. Mario Aerts (Bel) Lotto-Mobistar                         0.15
  71. Tobias Steinhauser (Ger) Mapei-Quick Step                0.15
  72. Marty Jemison (USA) US Postal Service                    0.15
  73. Francisco Leon Mane (Spa) Kelme-Costa Blanca             0.15
  74. Thierry Marichal (Bel) Lotto-Mobistar                    0.15
  75. Kevin Livingston (USA) US Postal Service                 0.15
  76. Wladimir Belli (Ita) Festina                             0.15
  77. Salvatore Commesso (Ita) Saeco-Cannondale                0.15
  78. Dominique Rault (Fra) Big Mat-Auber 93                   0.15
  79. Christopher Horner (USA) La Française des Jeux           0.15
  80. Matthew White (Aus) Vini Caldirola                       0.29
  81. Mirko Crepaldi (Ita) Polti                               5.26
  82. Rossano Brasi (Ita) Polti                                5.26
  83. Jay Sweet (Aus) Big Mat-Auber 93                         5.26
  84. Henk Vogels (Aus) Crédit Agricole                        5.26
  85. Jean-Patrick Nazon (Fra) La Française des Jeux           5.26
  86. José Javier Gomez (Spa) Kelme-Costa Blanca               5.26
  87. Daniel Schnider (Swi) Post Swiss Team                    5.26
  88. Aïtor Gonzalez (Spa) Kelme-Costa Blanca                  5.26
  89. Moreno Di Biase (Ita) Cantina Tollo                      5.26
  90. Guido Trenti (USA) Cantina Tollo                         5.26
  91. Carlos Dacruz (Fra) Big Mat-Auber 93                     5.26
  92. Massimo Apollonio (Ita) Vini Caldirola                   5.26
  93. Gianluca Sironi (Ita) Vini Caldirola                     5.26
  94. Yvan Haymoz (Swi) Post Swiss Team                        5.26
  95. Christian Charriere (Swi) Post Swiss Team                5.26
  96. Cédric Fragnière (Swi) Post Swiss Team                   5.26
  97. Marco Antonio Di Renzo (Ita) Cantina Tollo               5.26
  98. Serguei Gontchar (Ukr) Vini Caldirola                    5.26
  99. Tom Steels (Bel) Mapei-Quick Step                        5.26
 100. Paolo Fornaciari (Ita) Mapei-Quick Step                  5.26
 101. Bart Leysen (Bel) Mapei-Quick Step                       5.26
 102. Jacky Durand (Fra) Lotto-Mobistar                        5.26
 103. Christophe Agnolutto (Fra) Casino                        5.26
 104. Valentino China (Ita) Saeco-Cannondale                   5.26
 105. Frédéric Finot (Fra) Crédit Agricole                     5.26
 106. Pascal Deramé (Fra) US Postal Service                    5.26
 107. Lance Armstrong (USA) US Postal Service                  5.26
 108. Igor Pugaci (Mda) Saeco-Cannondale                       5.26
 109. Jaan Kirsipuu (Est) Casino                               5.26
 110. Frederic Moncassin (Fra) Crédit Agricole                 7.25
 111. Anthony Rokia (Fra) Cofidis                              7.25
 112. Guillaume Auger (Fra) Big Mat-Auber 93                   9.48
 113. Glenn Magnusson (Swe) US Postal Service                  9.48
 114. Chris Boardman (GB) Crédit Agricole                      9.48
 115. Frederic Vifian (Swi) Post Swiss Team                    9.48
 116. Thierry Gouvenou (Fra) Big Mat-Auber 93                  9.48
 117. Eros Poli (Ita) Crédit Agricole                          9.48
 118. Francisco Andreu (USA) US Postal Service                 9.48
 119. Mauro Zanetti (Ita) Vini Caldirola                       9.48

Abandoned:

Eduardo Hernandez (Spa) Kelme-Costa Blanca
Massimo Giunti (Ita) Cantina Tollo-Alexia

Bonificiation premie 1, La Guernche/L'Aubois, km 18:

   1. Stuart O'Grady (Aus) Crédit Agricole                        3 secs
   2. Mario Traversoni (Ita) Saeco-Cannondale                     2
   3. Henk Vogels (Aus) Crédit Agricole                           1
 
Bonification premie 2, Le Vernet, km 179:
 
   1. Laurent Roux (Fra) Casino                                   3 secs
   2. Benoît Salmon (Fra) Casino                                  2
   3. Mario Aerts (Bel) Lotto-Mobistar                            1
 
Final Bonification sprint, Vichy, km 204.8:
 
   1. Laurent Roux (Fra) Casino                                  10 secs
   2. Jo Planckaert (Bel) Lotto-Mobistar                          6
   3. Stéphane Heulot (Fra) La Française des Jeux                 4
 
Total Bonifications for Stage:

   1. Laurent Roux (Fra) Casino                                  13
   2. Jo Planckaert (Bel) Lotto-Mobistar                          6
   3. Stéphane Heulot (Fra) La Française des Jeux                 4
   4. Stuart O'Grady (Aus) Crédit Agricole                        3
   5. Benoît Salmon (Fra) Casino                                  2
   6. Mario Traversoni (Ita) Saeco-Cannondale                     2
   7. Henk Vogels (Aus) Crédit Agricole                           1
   8. Mario Aerts (Bel) Lotto-Mobistar                            1

GC after Stage 4 

   1. Stuart O'Grady (Aus) Crédit Agricole                 15.42.58
   2. Andre Tchmil (Bel) Lotto-Mobistar                        0.07
   3. Rolf Sorensen (Den) Rabobank                             0.24
   4. Maarten Den Bakker (Ned) Rabobank                        0.28
   5. Marc Wauters (Bel) Rabobank                              0.31
   6. Axel Merckx (Bel) Mapei-Quick Step                       0.32
   7. Erik Dekker (Ned) Rabobank                               0.35
   8. Michael Boogerd (Ned) Rabobank                           0.41
   9. Markus Zberg (Swi) Rabobank                              0.47
  10. Leon Van Bon (Ned) Rabobank                              1.12
  11. Franck Vandenbroucke (Bel) Cofidis                       2.07
  12. Philippe Gaumont (Fra) Cofidis                           2.12
  13. Stéphane Barthe (Fra) Casino                             2.14
  14. Santiago Botero Echeverry (Col) Kelme-Costa Blanca       2.21
  15. Wladimir Belli (Ita) Festina                             2.22
  16. Dario Frigo (Ita) Saeco-Cannondale                       2.24
  17. George Hincapie (USA) US Postal Service                  2.26
  18. Jo Planckaert (Bel) Lotto-Mobistar                       2.27
  19. Jens Voigt (Ger) Crédit Agricole                         2.27
  20. Tyler Hamilton (USA) US Postal Service                   2.30
  21. Laurent Lefevre (Fra) Festina                            2.30
  22. Bruno Boscardin (Swi) Post Swiss Team                    2.31
  23. Paolo Savoldelli (Ita) Saeco-Cannondale                  2.32
  24. Thierry Marichal (Bel) Lotto-Mobistar                    2.32
  25. Andrej Hauptmann (Slo) Vini Caldirola                    2.32
  26. Emmanuel Magnien (Fra) La Française des Jeux             2.36
  27. Pascal Lino (Fra) Big Mat-Auber 93                       2.36
  28. Salvatore Commesso (Ita) Saeco-Cannondale                2.38
  29. Laurent Madouas (Fra) Festina                            2.39
  30. José Luis Rubiera Vigil (Spa) Kelme-Costa Blanca         2.40
  31. Mario Aerts (Bel) Lotto-Mobistar                         2.40
  32. Peter Farazijn (Bel) Cofidis                             2.41
  33. Pascal Chanteur (Fra) Casino                             2.42
  34. Peter Van Hyfte (Bel) Lotto-Mobistar                     2.42
  35. Anthony Morin (Fra) La Française des Jeux                2.43
  36. Stéphane Heulot (Fra) La Française des Jeux              2.43
  37. Mauro Zinetti (Ita) Polti                                2.46
  38. Marty Jemison (USA) US Postal Service                    2.46
  39. Gert Verheyen (Bel) Lotto-Mobistar                       2.48
  40. Olivier Pereaudeau (Fra) Crédit Agricole                 2.48
  41. Arnaud Pretot (Fra) Cofidis                              2.50
  42. Jean-Cyril Robin (Fra) La Française des Jeux             2.57
  43. Ludovic Auger (Fra) Big Mat-Auber 93                     2.58
  44. Andrei Kivilev (Kaz) Festina                             2.58
  45. Robbie McEwen (Aus) Rabobank                             2.59
  46. Rolf Huser (Swi) Festina                                 3.03
  47. Steve De Wolf (Bel) Cofidis                              3.04
  48. Massimiliano Mori (Ita) Saeco-Cannondale                 3.04
  49. Alexander Moos (Swi) Festina                             3.04
  50. Chann McRae (USA) Mapei-Quick Step                       3.05
  51. Fabien Dewaele (Bel) Lotto-Mobistar                      3.10
  52. Oscar Cavagnis (Ita) Cantina Tollo                       3.11
  53. Pierre Bourquenoud (Swi) Post Swiss Team                 3.15
  54. Christopher Horner (USA) La Française des Jeux           3.25
  55. Max Van Heeswijk (Ned) Mapei-Quick Step                  3.28
  56. Benoît Salmon (Fra) Casino                               3.29
  57. Richard Virenque (Fra) Polti                             3.29
  58. Laurent Roux (Fra) Casino                                3.33
  59. Giuliano Figueras (Ita) Mapei-Quick Step                 3.37
  60. Tobias Steinhauser (Ger) Mapei-Quick Step                3.44
  61. Claude Lamour (Fra) Cofidis                              4.02
  62. Harald Morscher (Aut) Saeco-Cannondale                   4.03
  63. Lauri Aus (Est) Casino                                   4.07
  64. Mario Traversoni (Ita) Saeco-Cannondale                  4.14
  65. Serguei Gontchar (Ukr) Vini Caldirola                    7.28
  66. Jacky Durand (Fra) Lotto-Mobistar                        7.34
  67. Tom Steels (Bel) Mapei-Quick Step                        7.52
  68. Jean-Patrick Nazon (Fra) La Française des Jeux           7.53
  69. Massimo Apollonio (Ita) Vini Caldirola                   7.57
  70. Jaan Kirsipuu (Est) Casino                               8.13
  71. Lance Armstrong (USA) US Postal Service                  8.25
  72. Bart Leysen (Bel) Mapei-Quick Step                       8.25
  73. Guido Trenti (USA) Cantina Tollo                         8.31
  74. Frederic Moncassin (Fra) Crédit Agricole                 9.23
  75. Pascal Deramé (Fra) US Postal Service                    9.45
  76. Chris Boardman (GB) Crédit Agricole                     11.35
  77. Denis Lunghi (Ita) Polti                                12.08
  78. Stéphane Goubert (Fra) Polti                            12.12
  79. Guido Trentin (Ita) Vini Caldirola                      12.21
  80. Christophe Cappelle (Fra) Big Mat-Auber 93              12.22
  81. Ruggero Borghi (Ita) Vini Caldirola                     12.32
  82. Daniel Atienza Urendeze (Spa) Polti                     12.52
  83. Thierry Gouvenou (Fra) Big Mat-Auber 93                 13.22
  84. Francisco Andreu (USA) US Postal Service                14.28
  85. Henk Vogels (Aus) Crédit Agricole                       16.43
  86. Frédéric Finot (Fra) Crédit Agricole                    16.49
  87. Rossano Brasi (Ita) Polti                               16.57
  88. Gianluca Sironi (Ita) Vini Caldirola                    17.16
  89. Marco Antonio Di Renzo (Ita) Cantina Tollo              17.23
  90. Mirko Crepaldi (Ita) Polti                              17.23
  91. Christophe Agnolutto (Fra) Casino                       17.33
  92. Christian Charriere (Swi) Post Swiss Team               17.42
  93. Francisco Cabello Luque (Spa) Kelme-Costa Blanca        18.11
  94. Javier Pascual Llorente (Spa) Kelme-Costa Blanca        18.19
  95. Sven Montgomery (Swi) Post Swiss Team                   18.36
  96. Kevin Livingston (USA) US Postal Service                18.46
  97. Marcus Ljungqvist (Swe) Cantina Tollo                   18.51
  98. Dominique Rault (Fra) Big Mat-Auber 93                  18.52
  99. Matthew White (Aus) Vini Caldirola                      18.56
 100. Francisque Teyssier (Fra) Festina                       19.05
 101. Andrea Brognara (Ita) Cantina Tollo                     19.33
 102. Guillaume Auger (Fra) Big Mat-Auber 93                  21.25
 103. Glenn Magnusson (Swe) US Postal Service                 21.49
 104. Eros Poli (Ita) Crédit Agricole                         22.08
 105. Daniel Schnider (Swi) Post Swiss Team                   23.46
 106. Jay Sweet (Aus) Big Mat-Auber 93                        23.54
 107. Carlos Dacruz (Fra) Mat-Auber 93                        23.55
 108. Valentino China (Ita) Saeco-Cannondale                  24.02
 109. Paolo Fornaciari (Ita) Mapei-Quick Step                 24.02
 110. José Javier Gomez (Spa) Kelme-Costa Blanca              24.07
 111. Igor Pugaci (Mda) Saeco-Cannondale                      24.10
 112. Cédric Fragnière (Swi) Post Swiss Team                  24.26
 113. Moreno Di Biase (Ita) Cantina Tollo                     25.00
 114. Francisco Leon Mane (Spa) Kelme-Costa Blanca            26.02
 115. Yvan Haymoz (Swi) Post Swiss Team                       26.10
 116. Anthony Rokia (Fra) Cofidis                             26.14
 117. Frederic Vifian (Swi) Post Swiss Team                   28.33
 118. Mauro Zanetti (Ita) Vini Caldirola                      30.37
 119. Aïtor Gonzalez (Spa) Kelme-Costa Blanca                 38.32

Teams:

   1. Rabobank                                             47.10.08
   2. Credit Agricole                                      47.13.14
   3. Lotto-Mobistar                                       47.13.59
   4. Mapei-Quick Step                                     47.14.35
   5. Cofidis                                              47.15.55
   6. Festina-Lotus                                        47.16.02
   7. US Postal Service                                    47.16.05
   8. Casino                                               47.16.24
   9. La Francaise des Jeux                                47.16.24
  10. Saeco-Cannondale                                     47.16.28
  11. Vini Caldirola                                       47.16.29
  12. Big Mat-Auber 93                                     47.18.00
  13. Post Swiss Team                                      47.26.24
  14. Team Polti                                           47.26.43
  15. Cantina Tollo-Alexia                                 47.27.25
  16. Kelme-Costa Blanca                                   47.32.02