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 5, Cusset - Firminy, 187 kms:

Vichy and Cusset were seeing weak spring sun, as the riders set off on there road to Firminy - with some mountains in between. 16 riders took flight early from the peloton on their way up the gorge. Lamour, Dekker, Commesso, Van Hyfte, Aus, G. Augur, Andreu, Pascual Llorente, White, Fornaciari, Rault, McEwen, Vogels, Moncassin and Schnider. The pedalled frenetically and quickly built up a 45 second gap by the 13 kms mark. Then 1.10 at km 30 and 3.50 at km 45. The first hour was covered in 37.9 kmh.

At km 50, the group had built the lead to 8.20 and by the summit of Col de Toutee it stood at 7.15. The Polti and Cofidis team decided to take the break seriously and they started to ring the warning bells. The leading group went through the first bonification sprint with a lead of 5.35 - Moncassin won in front of Van Hyfte and Vogels.

Little by little, the peloton eroded the lead. The front group lost Augur and then Matt White gave up the push. At the summit of Col des Pradeaux (km 113) the going was getting tough. But 10 riders - Lamour, Commesso, Van Hyfte, Aus, Pascual Llorente, Fornaciari, Rault, Vogels, Moncassin and Schnider - resisted the efforts of the peloton. At St Antheme (km 110) the gap was down to 40 seconds. Aus, then attacked alone with the others giving up the move. Cabello then went but both of these moves failed.

The last major difficulty came at the cote de St Just Malmont (km 173) only 15 kms before the end. At the foot of the climb, Salmon decided to attack. Vandenbroucke was vigilant. But then finally Botero and Boogerd counter-attacked to take the bonifications in front of Figueras. The two of them surprised the peloton. Only Merckx resisted a little. At the finish in Firminy, it was Botero who won over Boogerd in the sprint. They had a gap of 29 seconds. Australian Stuart O'Grady had a terrible day in the mountains and finished in 27th place at 3.39. Goodbye Paris-Nice for the Australian. Dutchman Michael Boogerd is now leading the race from Andre Tchmil at 16 seconds. Fellow Belgian Marc Wauters is 3rd overall at 24 seconds.

Stage Results 

   1. Santiago Botero Echeverry (Col) Kelme-Costa Blanca    4.43.58 (40.146 km/h)
   2. Michael Boogerd (Ned) Rabobank
   3. Marc Wauters (Bel) Rabobank                              0.29
   4. Maarten Den Bakker (Ned) Rabobank                        0.29
   5. Giuliano Figueras (Ita) Mapei-Quick Step                 0.29
   6. Axel Merckx (Bel) Mapei-Quick Step                       0.29
   7. Anthony Morin (Fra) La Française des Jeux                0.41
   8. Dario Frigo (Ita) Saeco-Cannondale                       0.41
   9. Paolo Savoldelli (Ita) Saeco-Cannondale                  0.41
  10. Steve De Wolf (Bel) Cofidis                              0.41
  11. Wladimir Belli (Ita) Festina                             0.41
  12. Andrei Kivilev (Kaz) Festina                             0.41
  13. Guido Trentin (Ita) Vini Caldirola                       0.41
  14. Stéphane Heulot (Fra) La Française des Jeux              0.41
  15. Laurent Roux (Fra) Casino                                0.41
  16. Richard Virenque (Fra) Polti                             0.41
  17. Franck Vandenbroucke (Bel) Cofidis                       0.41
  18. Markus Zberg (Swi) Rabobank                              0.41
  19. Jean-Cyril Robin (Fra) La Française des Jeux             0.41
  20. Tobias Steinhauser (Ger) Mapei-Quick Step                0.41
  21. Andrei Tchmil (Bel) Lotto-Mobistar                       0.41
  22. Jens Voigt (Ger) Crédit Agricole                         0.41
  23. Benoît Salmon (Fra) Casino                               0.41
  24. Gert Verheyen (Bel) Lotto-Mobistar                       0.41
  25. Dominique Rault (Fra) Big Mat-Auber 93                   1.04
  26. Henk Vogels (Aus) Crédit Agricole                        3.39
  27. Stuart O'Grady (Aus) Crédit Agricole                     3.39
  28. Marty Jemison (USA) US Postal Service                    3.45
  29. Rolf Huser (Swi) Festina                                 3.45
  30. Chann McRae (USA) Mapei-Quick Step                       3.45
  31. Sven Montgomery (Swi) Post Swiss Team                    3.45
  32. Stéphane Barthe (Fra) Casino                             3.45
  33. Mario Aerts (Bel) Lotto-Mobistar                         3.45
  34. Emmanuel Magnien (Fra) La Française des Jeux             3.45
  35. Ruggero Borghi (Ita) Vini Caldirola                      3.45
  36. Salvatore Commesso (Ita) Saeco-Cannondale                3.45
  37. Oscar Cavagnis (Ita) Cantina Tollo                       3.45
  38. Marco Antonio Di Renzo (Ita) Cantina Tollo               3.45
  39. Peter Farazijn (Bel) Cofidis                             3.45
  40. Pierre Bourquenoud (Swi) Post Swiss Team                 3.45
  41. Francisco Cabello Luque (Spa) Kelme-Costa Blanca         3.45
  42. Pascal Lino (Fra) Big Mat-Auber 93                       3.45
  43. Thierry Marichal (Bel) Lotto-Mobistar                    3.45
  44. José Luis Rubiera Vigil (Spa) Kelme-Costa Blanca         3.45
  45. Olivier Pereaudeau (Fra) Crédit Agricole                 6.27
  46. George Hincapie (USA) US Postal Service                  6.27
  47. Yvan Haymoz (Swi) Post Swiss Team                        6.27
  48. Bruno Boscardin (Swi) Post Swiss Team                    6.27
  49. Christopher Horner (USA) La Française des Jeux           9.35
  50. Fabien Dewaele (Bel) Lotto-Mobistar                     11.51
  51. Javier Pascual Llorente (Spa) Kelme-Costa Blanca        11.51
  52. Daniel Schnider (Swi) Post Swiss Team                   11.51
  53. Lauri Aus (Est) Casino                                  11.51
  54. Peter Van Hyfte (Bel) Lotto-Mobistar                    11.51
  55. Pascal Deramé (Fra) US Postal Service                   11.51
  56. Daniel Atienza Urendeze (Spa) Polti                     11.51
  57. Frederic Moncassin (Fra) Crédit Agricole                11.51
  58. Christophe Cappelle (Fra) Big Mat-Auber 93              11.51
  59. Stéphane Goubert (Fra) Polti                            11.51
  60. Paolo Fornaciari (Ita) Mapei-Quick Step                 11.51
  61. Claude Lamour (Fra) Cofidis                             11.51
  62. Francisco Leon Mane (Spa) Kelme-Costa Blanca            11.51
  63. Kevin Livingston (USA) US Postal Service                11.51
  64. Lance Armstrong (USA) US Postal Service                 11.51
  65. Philippe Gaumont (Fra) Cofidis                          15.30
  66. Chris Boardman (GB) Crédit Agricole                     15.30
  67. Mauro Zanetti (Ita) Vini Caldirola                      16.01
  68. Cédric Fragnière (Swi) Post Swiss Team                  19.35
  69. Ludovic Auger (Fra) Big Mat-Auber 93                    19.35
  70. Leon Van Bon (Ned) Rabobank                             19.35
  71. Jay Sweet (Aus) Big Mat-Auber 93                        19.35
  72. Erik Dekker (Ned) Rabobank                              19.35
  73. Harald Morscher (Aut) Saeco-Cannondale                  19.35
  74. Francisco Andreu (USA) US Postal Service                19.35
  75. Mario Traversoni (Ita) Saeco-Cannondale                 25.39
  76. Carlos Dacruz (Fra) Big Mat-Auber 93                    25.39
  77. Jacky Durand (Fra) Lotto-Mobistar                       25.39
  78. Guillaume Auger (Fra) Big Mat-Auber 93                  25.39
  79. Arnaud Pretot (Fra) Cofidis                             25.39
  80. Anthony Rokia (Fra) Cofidis                             25.39
  81. José Javier Gomez (Spa) Kelme-Costa Blanca              25.39
  82. Gianluca Sironi (Ita) Vini Caldirola                    25.43
  83. Max Van Heeswijk (Ned) Mapei-Quick Step                 25.43
  84. Andrea Brognara (Ita) Cantina Tollo                     25.43
  85. Massimo Apollonio (Ita) Vini Caldirola                  25.43
  86. Jo Planckaert (Bel) Lotto-Mobistar                      25.43
  87. Rossano Brasi (Ita) Polti                               25.43
  88. Mirko Crepaldi (Ita) Polti                              25.43
  89. Massimiliano Mori (Ita) Saeco-Cannondale                25.43
  90. Serguei Gontchar (Ukr) Vini Caldirola                   25.43
  91. Guido Trenti (USA) Cantina Tollo                        25.43
  92. Marcus Ljungqvist (Swe) Cantina Tollo                   25.43
  93. Tom Steels (Bel) Mapei-Quick Step                       25.43
  94. Christophe Agnolutto (Fra) Casino                       25.43
  95. Andrej Hauptmann (Slo) Vini Caldirola                   25.43
  96. Laurent Madouas (Fra) Festina                           25.43
  97. Tyler Hamilton (USA) US Postal Service                  25.43
  98. Rolf Sorensen (Den) Rabobank                            25.43
  99. Robbie McEwen (Aus) Rabobank                            25.43
 100. Glenn Magnusson (Swe) US Postal Service                 25.43
 101. Francisque Teyssier (Fra) Festina                       25.43
 102. Laurent Lefevre (Fra) Festina                           25.43
 103. Denis Lunghi (Ita) Polti                                25.43
 104. Igor Pugaci (Mda) Saeco-Cannondale                      25.43
 105. Frédéric Finot (Fra) Crédit Agricole                    25.43
 106. Eros Poli (Ita) Crédit Agricole                         25.43
 107. Mauro Zinetti (Ita) Polti                               25.43
 108. Frederic Vifian (Swi) Post Swiss Team                   25.43
 109. Thierry Gouvenou (Fra) Big Mat-Auber 93                 25.43
 110. Matthew White (Aus) Vini Caldirola                      25.43
 111. Moreno Di Biase (Ita) Cantina Tollo                     25.43
 112. Christian Charriere (Swi) Post Swiss Team               25.43
 113. Bart Leysen (Bel) Mapei-Quick Step                      25.43
 114. Alexander Moos (Swi) Festina                            25.43
 115. Jean-Patrick Nazon (Fra) La Française des Jeux          43.58

Abandoned:

Pascal Chanteur (Fra) Casino
Jaan Kirsipuu (Est) Casino
Aïtor Gonzalez (Spa) Kelme-Costa Blanca
Valentino China (Ita) Saeco-Cannondale

Outside time limit:

Jean-Patrick Nazon (Fra) La Française des Jeux

Bonification premie 1, Ambert, km 87:

   1. Frederic Moncassin (Fra) Crédit Agricole                    3 secs
   2. Peter Van Hyfte (Bel) Lotto-Mobistar                        2
   3. Henk Vogels (Aus) Crédit Agricole                           1

Bonification premie 2, Malmont, km 73:

   1. Michael Boogerd (Ned) Rabobank                              3 secs
   2. Santiago Botero Echeverry (Col) Kelme-Costa Blanca          2
   3. Giuliano Figueras (Ita) Mapei-Quick Step                    1

Final Bonification premie, Firminy, km 190:

   1. Santiago Botero Echeverry (Col) Kelme-Costa Blanca         10	secs
   2. Michael Boogerd (Ned) Rabobank                              6
   3. Marc Wauters (Bel) Rabobank                                 4

Overall Bonifications for the Stage
 
   1. Santiago Botero Echeverry (Col) Kelme-Costa Blanca         12 secs
   2. Michael Boogerd (Ned) Rabobank                              9
   3. Marc Wauters (Bel) Rabobank                                 4
   4. Frederic Moncassin (Fra) Crédit Agricole                    3
   5. Peter Van Hyfte (Bel) Lotto-Mobistar                        2
   6. Giuliano Figueras (Ita) Mapei-Quick Step                    1
   7. Henk Vogels (Aus) Crédit Agricole                           1

GC after Stage 5 

   1. Michael Boogerd (Ned) Rabobank                       20.27.28
   2. Andrei Tchmil (Bel) Lotto-Mobistar                       0.16
   3. Marc Wauters (Bel) Rabobank                              0.24
   4. Maarten Den Bakker (Ned) Rabobank                        0.25
   5. Axel Merckx (Bel) Mapei-Quick Step                       0.29
   6. Markus Zberg (Swi) Rabobank                              0.56
   7. Santiago Botero Echeverry (Col) Kelme-Costa Blanca       1.37
   8. Franck Vandenbroucke (Bel) Cofidis                       2.16
   9. Wladimir Belli (Ita) Festina                             2.31
  10. Dario Frigo (Ita) Saeco-Cannondale                       2.33
  11. Jens Voigt (Ger) Crédit Agricole                         2.36
  12. Paolo Savoldelli (Ita) Saeco-Cannondale                  2.41
  13. Anthony Morin (Fra) La Française des Jeux                2.52
  14. Stéphane Heulot (Fra) La Française des Jeux              2.52
  15. Gert Verheyen (Bel) Lotto-Mobistar                       2.57
  16. Jean-Cyril Robin (Fra) La Française des Jeux             3.06
  17. Stuart O'Grady (Aus) Crédit Agricole                     3.07
  18. Andrei Kivilev (Kaz) Festina                             3.07
  19. Steve De Wolf (Bel) Cofidis                              3.13
  20. Giuliano Figueras (Ita) Mapei-Quick Step                 3.33
  21. Benoît Salmon (Fra) Casino                               3.38
  22. Laurent Roux (Fra) Casino                                3.42
  23. Richard Virenque (Fra) Polti                             3.48
  24. Tobias Steinhauser (Ger) Mapei-Quick Step                3.53
  25. Stéphane Barthe (Fra) Casino                             5.27
  26. Thierry Marichal (Bel) Lotto-Mobistar                    5.45
  27. Emmanuel Magnien (Fra) La Française des Jeux             5.49
  28. Pascal Lino (Fra) Big Mat-Auber 93                       5.49
  29. Salvatore Commesso (Ita) Saeco-Cannondale                5.51
  30. José Luis Rubiera Vigil (Spa) Kelme-Costa Blanca         5.53
  31. Mario Aerts (Bel) Lotto-Mobistar                         5.53
  32. Peter Farazijn (Bel) Cofidis                             5.54
  33. Marty Jemison (USA) US Postal Service                    5.59
  34. Rolf Huser (Swi) Festina                                 6.16
  35. Chann McRae (USA) Mapei-Quick Step                       6.18
  36. Oscar Cavagnis (Ita) Cantina Tollo                       6.24
  37. Pierre Bourquenoud (Swi) Post Swiss Team                 6.28
  38. George Hincapie (USA) US Postal Service                  8.21
  39. Bruno Boscardin (Swi) Post Swiss Team                    8.26
  40. Olivier Pereaudeau (Fra) Crédit Agricole                 8.43
  41. Christopher Horner (USA) La Française des Jeux          12.28
  42. Guido Trentin (Ita) Vini Caldirola                      12.30
  43. Peter Van Hyfte (Bel) Lotto-Mobistar                    13.59
  44. Fabien Dewaele (Bel) Lotto-Mobistar                     14.29
  45. Claude Lamour (Fra) Cofidis                             15.21
  46. Lauri Aus (Est) Casino                                  15.26
  47. Ruggero Borghi (Ita) Vini Caldirola                     16.45
  48. Philippe Gaumont (Fra) Cofidis                          17.10
  49. Dominique Rault (Fra) Big Mat-Auber 93                  19.24
  50. Erik Dekker (Ned) Rabobank                              19.38
  51. Lance Armstrong (USA) US Postal Service                 19.44
  52. Henk Vogels (Aus) Crédit Agricole                       19.49
  53. Leon Van Bon (Ned) Rabobank                             20.15
  54. Marco Antonio Di Renzo (Ita) Cantina Tollo              20.36
  55. Frederic Moncassin (Fra) Crédit Agricole                20.39
  56. Pascal Deramé (Fra) US Postal Service                   21.04
  57. Francisco Cabello Luque (Spa) Kelme-Costa Blanca        21.24
  58. Sven Montgomery (Swi) Post Swiss Team                   21.59
  59. Ludovic Auger (Fra) Big Mat-Auber 93                    22.01
  60. Harald Morscher (Aut) Saeco-Cannondale                  23.06
  61. Stéphane Goubert (Fra) Polti                            23.31
  62. Christophe Cappelle (Fra) Big Mat-Auber 93              23.41
  63. Daniel Atienza Urendeze (Spa) Polti                     24.11
  64. Rolf Sorensen (Den) Rabobank                            25.35
  65. Chris Boardman (GB) Crédit Agricole                     26.33
  66. Tyler Hamilton (USA) US Postal Service                  27.41
  67. Laurent Lefevre (Fra) Festina                           27.41
  68. Andrej Hauptmann (Slo) Vini Caldirola                   27.43
  69. Jo Planckaert (Bel) Lotto-Mobistar                      27.48
  70. Laurent Madouas (Fra) Festina                           27.50
  71. Arnaud Pretot (Fra) Cofidis                             27.52
  72. Mauro Zinetti (Ita) Polti                               27.57
  73. Robbie McEwen (Aus) Rabobank                            28.10
  74. Massimiliano Mori (Ita) Saeco-Cannondale                28.15
  75. Alexander Moos (Swi) Festina                            28.15
  76. Max Van Heeswijk (Ned) Mapei-Quick Step                 28.39
  77. Mario Traversoni (Ita) Saeco-Cannondale                 29.21
  78. Javier Pascual Llorente (Spa) Kelme-Costa Blanca        29.38
  79. Kevin Livingston (USA) US Postal Service                30.05
  80. Yvan Haymoz (Swi) Post Swiss Team                       32.05
  81. Serguei Gontchar (Ukr) Vini Caldirola                   32.39
  82. Jacky Durand (Fra) Lotto-Mobistar                       32.41
  83. Tom Steels (Bel) Mapei-Quick Step                       33.03
  84. Massimo Apollonio (Ita) Vini Caldirola                  33.08
  85. Francisco Andreu (USA) US Postal Service                33.31
  86. Bart Leysen (Bel) Mapei-Quick Step                      33.36
  87. Guido Trenti (USA) Cantina Tollo                        33.42
  88. Daniel Schnider (Swi) Post Swiss Team                   35.05
  89. Paolo Fornaciari (Ita) Mapei-Quick Step                 35.21
  90. Denis Lunghi (Ita) Polti                                37.19
  91. Francisco Leon Mane (Spa) Kelme-Costa Blanca            37.21
  92. Thierry Gouvenou (Fra) Big Mat-Auber 93                 38.39
  93. Frédéric Finot (Fra) Crédit Agricole                    42.00
  94. Rossano Brasi (Ita) Polti                               42.08
  95. Gianluca Sironi (Ita) Vini Caldirola                    42.27
  96. Mirko Crepaldi (Ita) Polti                              42.34
  97. Christophe Agnolutto (Fra) Casino                       42.44
  98. Christian Charriere (Swi) Post Swiss Team               42.53
  99. Jay Sweet (Aus) Big Mat-Auber 93                        42.57
 100. Cédric Fragnière (Swi) Post Swiss Team                  43.29
 101. Marcus Ljungqvist (Swe) Cantina Tollo                   44.02
 102. Matthew White (Aus) Vini Caldirola                      44.07
 103. Francisque Teyssier (Fra) Festina                       44.16
 104. Andrea Brognara (Ita) Cantina Tollo                     44.44
 105. Mauro Zanetti (Ita) Vini Caldirola                      46.08
 106. Guillaume Auger (Fra) Big Mat-Auber 93                  46.32
 107. Glenn Magnusson (Swe) US Postal Service                 47.00
 108. Eros Poli (Ita) Crédit Agricole                         47.19
 109. Carlos Dacruz (Fra) Big Mat-Auber 93                    49.02
 110. José Javier Gomez (Spa) Kelme-Costa Blanca              49.14
 111. Igor Pugaci (Mda) Saeco-Cannondale                      49.21
 112. Moreno Di Biase (Ita) Cantina Tollo                     50.11
 113. Anthony Rokia (Fra) Cofidis                             51.21
 114. Frederic Vifian (Swi) Post Swiss Team                   53.44