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 sur Isere - Sisteron, 211 kms:
  • Stage 7 - Sisteron - Valberg, 198 kms:
  • Stage 8 - Nice - Nice, 157 kms:

Stage 6, Romans sur Isere - Sisteron, 211 kms:

The strength of the wind this morning did not encourage any adventurous riding from the peloton. At Romans-sur-Isere, the sky was a beautiful springtime blue but there were strong winds. In the first hour the average speed was 24 km/h. The only experimentation early came from Jacky Durand and Lefevre who attacked at the 37 kms mark. For some this move looked liked suicide given the conditions. But to Durand, a specialist in this sort of solo attack, it turned out to be a major coup.

The two riders quickly established a gap even though they were riding into a strong headwind. At km 43 it was 1.45, 4.10 at km 52, 5.40 at km 60 at Bourdeaux, 7.30 at the bonification sprint on the summit of the Col la Sausse with Durand first then Lefevre and Boogerd 3rd (back in the peloton) and under Rabobank guard. The second hour saw the average speed rise to 35 km/h and the third hour it had risen to 38.8 km/h. Some serious riding was being done. The race was simple. Durand and Lefevre were riding away from the peloton.

At the summit of the Col D'Ey (km 105) the gap was 11.50 but there were more than a 100 kms to ride. The maximum gap that the pair had reached 14.45 at the 123 kms mark. The tempo of the peloton had up until now been relaxed but the Crédit Agricole team with Boardman and Eros Poli on front now started to up the speed. The diminishing gap reflected this change of mood. 11.45 at km 135, 10.40 at km 137. Soon after, Borghu parted company with the peloton and he was at 7.45 with the peloton at 8.15.

On the difficult climb of the Col de St. Jean, Lefevre attacked Durand and he gained a gap on the climb of abour 50 seconds. But he would later pay the price for these efforts. Durand preferred to ride tempo up the climb and he was able to maintain the short distance from Lefevre on the descent. At this stage, Borghi was 6.35 down and the peloton at 7.45.

With 50 kms to go, Durand was 0.20 down on Lefevre. Lefevre waited for Durand and the pair continued together. With 37 kms to go the peloton was at 6.20 and unlikely to catch the pair. With 30 kms to go, Borghi was caught and the peloton was being driven by the Mapei riders and still 3.50 down. With 17 kms left the gap was still 2.55. At that moment, Durand launched his decisive move. He then rode beautifully to hold off the fast finishing peloton. It was a magnificient athletic display from a French rider who specialises in this sort of "poker". The peloton finished at 0.38 with Boogerd retaining the white leader's jersey.

Stage Results 

   1. Jacky Durand (Fra) Lotto-Mobistar                     6.19.20 (33.991 km/h)
   2. Lauri Aus (Est) Casino                                   0.38
   3. Guido Trenti (USA) Cantina Tollo                         0.38
   4. Henk Vogels (Aus) Crédit Agricole                        0.38
   5. Massimiliano Mori (Ita) Saeco-Cannondale                 0.38
   6. Christophe Cappelle (Fra) Big Mat-Auber 93               0.38
   7. Jo Planckaert (Bel) Lotto-Mobistar                       0.38
   8. Massimo Apollonio (Ita) Vini Caldirola                   0.38
   9. Mario Traversoni (Ita) Saeco-Cannondale                  0.38
  10. George Hincapie (USA) US Postal Service                  0.38
  11. Philippe Gaumont (Fra) Cofidis                           0.38
  12. Mario Aerts (Bel) Lotto-Mobistar                         0.38
  13. Glenn Magnusson (Swe) US Postal Service                  0.38
  14. Matthew White (Aus) Vini Caldirola                       0.38
  15. Andrei Kivilev (Kaz) Festina                             0.38
  16. Emmanuel Magnien (Fra) La Française des Jeux             0.38
  17. Tom Steels (Bel) Mapei-Quick Step                        0.38
  18. Olivier Pereaudeau (Fra) Crédit Agricole                 0.38
  19. Rolf Huser (Swi) Festina                                 0.38
  20. Mauro Zinetti (Ita) Polti                                0.38
  21. Jay Sweet (Aus) Big Mat-Auber 93                         0.38
  22. Frederic Moncassin (Fra) Crédit Agricole                 0.38
  23. Giuliano Figueras (Ita) Mapei-Quick Step                 0.38
  24. Stéphane Barthe (Fra) Casino                             0.38
  25. Michael Boogerd (Ned) Rabobank                           0.38
  26. Claude Lamour (Fra) Cofidis                              0.38
  27. Gert Verheyen (Bel) Lotto-Mobistar                       0.38
  28. Steve De Wolf (Bel) Cofidis                              0.38
  29. Markus Zberg (Swi) Rabobank                              0.38
  30. Francisque Teyssier (Fra) Festina                        0.38
  31. Max Van Heeswijk (Ned) Mapei-Quick Step                  0.38
  32. Dario Frigo (Ita) Saeco-Cannondale                       0.38
  33. Laurent Roux (Fra) Casino                                0.38
  34. Peter Van Hyfte (Bel) Lotto-Mobistar                     0.38
  35. Andrei Tchmil (Bel) Lotto-Mobistar                       0.38
  36. Fabien Dewaele (Bel) Lotto-Mobistar                      0.38
  37. Axel Merckx (Bel) Mapei-Quick Step                       0.38
  38. Chann McRae (USA) Mapei-Quick Step                       0.38
  39. Peter Farazijn (Bel) Cofidis                             0.38
  40. Christophe Agnolutto (Fra) Casino                        0.38
  41. Franck Vandenbroucke (Bel) Cofidis                       0.38
  42. Bruno Boscardin (Swi) Post Swiss Team                    0.38
  43. Paolo Savoldelli (Ita) Saeco-Cannondale                  0.38
  44. Kevin Livingston (USA) US Postal Service                 0.38
  45. Jens Voigt (Ger) Crédit Agricole                         0.38
  46. Wladimir Belli (Ita) Festina                             0.38
  47. Rossano Brasi (Ita) Polti                                0.38
  48. Stéphane Goubert (Fra) Polti                             0.38
  49. Stuart O'Grady (Aus) Crédit Agricole                     0.38
  50. Frédéric Finot (Fra) Crédit Agricole                     0.38
  51. Stéphane Heulot (Fra) La Française des Jeux              0.38
  52. Yvan Haymoz (Swi) Post Swiss Team                        0.38
  53. Carlos Dacruz (Fra) Big Mat-Auber 93                     0.38
  54. Pierre Bourquenoud (Swi) Post Swiss Team                 0.38
  55. Ruggero Borghi (Ita) Vini Caldirola                      0.38
  56. Marc Wauters (Bel) Rabobank                              0.38
  57. Maarten Den Bakker (Ned) Rabobank                        0.38
  58. Anthony Morin (Fra) La Française des Jeux                0.38
  59. Rolf Sorensen (Den) Rabobank                             0.38
  60. Harald Morscher (Aut) Saeco-Cannondale                   0.38
  61. Salvatore Commesso (Ita) Saeco-Cannondale                0.38
  62. Erik Dekker (Ned) Rabobank                               0.38
  63. Santiago Botero Echeverry (Col) Kelme-Costa Blanca       0.38
  64. Javier Pascual Llorente (Spa) Kelme-Costa Blanca         0.38
  65. Marty Jemison (USA) US Postal Service                    0.38
  66. Pascal Lino (Fra) Big Mat-Auber 93                       0.38
  67. Cédric Fragnière (Swi) Post Swiss Team                   0.38
  68. Jean-Cyril Robin (Fra) La Française des Jeux             0.38
  69. Sven Montgomery (Swi) Post Swiss Team                    0.38
  70. Francisco Cabello Luque (Spa) Kelme-Costa Blanca         0.38
  71. Benoît Salmon (Fra) Casino                               0.38
  72. Daniel Atienza Urendeze (Spa) Polti                      0.38
  73. Richard Virenque (Fra) Polti                             0.38
  74. Thierry Marichal (Bel) Lotto-Mobistar                    0.38
  75. Guido Trentin (Ita) Vini Caldirola                       0.38
  76. Dominique Rault (Fra) Big Mat-Auber 93                   0.38
  77. Lance Armstrong (USA) US Postal Service                  0.38
  78. Francisco Leon Mane (Spa) Kelme-Costa Blanca             0.38
  79. José Luis Rubiera Vigil (Spa) Kelme-Costa Blanca         0.38
  80. Mirko Crepaldi (Ita) Polti                               0.38
  81. Arnaud Pretot (Fra) Cofidis                              0.38
  82. José Javier Gomez (Spa) Kelme-Costa Blanca               0.38
  83. Denis Lunghi (Ita) Polti                                 0.38
  84. Gianluca Sironi (Ita) Vini Caldirola                     0.38
  85. Tobias Steinhauser (Ger) Mapei-Quick Step                0.38
  86. Serguei Gontchar (Ukr) Vini Caldirola                    0.38
  87. Oscar Cavagnis (Ita) Cantina Tollo                       0.38
  88. Christian Charriere (Swi) Post Swiss Team                3.11
  89. Laurent Lefevre (Fra) Festina                            4.10
  90. Guillaume Auger (Fra) Big Mat-Auber 93                   6.19
  91. Thierry Gouvenou (Fra) Big Mat-Auber 93                  6.19
  92. Ludovic Auger (Fra) Big Mat-Auber 93                     6.19
  93. Laurent Madouas (Fra) Festina                            6.19
  94. Moreno Di Biase (Ita) Cantina Tollo                      8.42
  95. Chris Boardman (GB) Crédit Agricole                      8.42
  96. Andrea Brognara (Ita) Cantina Tollo                      8.42
  97. Daniel Schnider (Swi) Post Swiss Team                    8.42
  98. Frederic Vifian (Swi) Post Swiss Team                    8.42
  99. Andrej Hauptmann (Slo) Vini Caldirola                    8.42
 100. Igor Pugaci (Mda) Saeco-Cannondale                       8.42
 101. Paolo Fornaciari (Ita) Mapei-Quick Step                  8.42
 102. Alexander Moos (Swi) Festina                             8.42
 103. Bart Leysen (Bel) Mapei-Quick Step                       8.42
 104. Robbie McEwen (Aus) Rabobank                            10.16
 105. Leon Van Bon (Ned) Rabobank                             10.16
 106. Christopher Horner (USA) La Française des Jeux          10.16
 107. Eros Poli (Ita) Crédit Agricole                         10.16
 108. Tyler Hamilton (USA) US Postal Service                  10.16
 109. Francisco Andreu (USA) US Postal Service                10.16
 110. Marco Antonio Di Renzo (Ita) Cantina Tollo              10.16
 111. Anthony Rokia (Fra) Cofidis                             11.38
 112. Marcus Ljungqvist (Swe) Cantina Tollo                   11.38

Abandoned:

Mauro Zanetti (Ita) Vini Caldirola
Pascal Deramé (Fra) US Postal Service

Bonification premie 1, Col de la Sausse, km 76:
 
   1. Jacky Durand (Fra) Lotto-Mobistar                           3
   2. Laurent Lefevre (Fra) Festina                               2
   3. Michael Boogerd (Ned) Rabobank                              1

Bonification premie 2, Col de Perty, km 141:

   1. Laurent Lefevre (Fra) Festina                               3
   2. Jacky Durand (Fra) Lotto-Mobistar                           2
   3. Ruggero Borghi (Ita) Vini Caldirola                         1

Final Bonification premie, Sisteron, km 214:

   1. Jacky Durand (Fra) Lotto-Mobistar                          10
   2. Lauri Aus (Est) Casino                                      6
   3. Guido Trenti (USA) Cantina Tollo                            4

Total Bonifications for the Stage:

   1. Jacky Durand (Fra) Lotto-Mobistar                          15
   2. Lauri Aus (Est) Casino                                      6
   3. Laurent Lefevre (Fra) Festina                               5
   4. Guido Trenti (USA) Cantina Tollo                            4
   5. Michael Boogerd (Ned) Rabobank                              1
   6. Ruggero Borghi (Ita) Vini Caldirola                         1

GC after Stage 6 

   1. Michael Boogerd (Ned) Rabobank                       26.47.35
   2. Andrei Tchmil (Bel) Lotto-Mobistar                       0.17
   3. Marc Wauters (Bel) Rabobank                              0.25
   4. Maarten Den Bakker (Ned) Rabobank                        0.26
   5. Axel Merckx (Bel) Mapei-Quick Step                       0.30
   6. Markus Zberg (Swi) Rabobank                              0.57
   7. Santiago Botero Echeverry (Col) Kelme-Costa Blanca       1.38
   8. Franck Vandenbroucke (Bel) Cofidis                       2.17
   9. Wladimir Belli (Ita) Festina                             2.32
  10. Dario Frigo (Ita) Saeco-Cannondale                       2.34
  11. Jens Voigt (Ger) Crédit Agricole                         2.37
  12. Paolo Savoldelli (Ita) Saeco-Cannondale                  2.42
  13. Anthony Morin (Fra) La Française des Jeux                2.53
  14. Stéphane Heulot (Fra) La Française des Jeux              2.53
  15. Gert Verheyen (Bel) Lotto-Mobistar                       2.58
  16. Jean-Cyril Robin (Fra) La Française des Jeux             3.07
  17. Stuart O'Grady (Aus) Crédit Agricole                     3.08
  18. Andrei Kivilev (Kaz) Festina                             3.08
  19. Steve De Wolf (Bel) Cofidis                              3.14
  20. Giuliano Figueras (Ita) Mapei-Quick Step                 3.34
  21. Benoît Salmon (Fra) Casino                               3.39
  22. Laurent Roux (Fra) Casino                                3.43
  23. Richard Virenque (Fra) Polti                             3.49
  24. Tobias Steinhauser (Ger) Mapei-Quick Step                3.54
  25. Stéphane Barthe (Fra) Casino                             5.28
  26. Thierry Marichal (Bel) Lotto-Mobistar                    5.46
  27. Emmanuel Magnien (Fra) La Française des Jeux             5.50
  28. Pascal Lino (Fra) Big Mat-Auber 93                       5.50
  29. Salvatore Commesso (Ita) Saeco-Cannondale                5.52
  30. José Luis Rubiera Vigil (Spa) Kelme-Costa Blanca         5.54
  31. Mario Aerts (Bel) Lotto-Mobistar                         5.54
  32. Peter Farazijn (Bel) Cofidis                             5.55
  33. Marty Jemison (USA) US Postal Service                    6.00
  34. Rolf Huser (Swi) Festina                                 6.17
  35. Chann McRae (USA) Mapei-Quick Step                       6.19
  36. Oscar Cavagnis (Ita) Cantina Tollo                       6.25
  37. Pierre Bourquenoud (Swi) Post Swiss Team                 6.29
  38. George Hincapie (USA) US Postal Service                  8.22
  39. Bruno Boscardin (Swi) Post Swiss Team                    8.27
  40. Olivier Pereaudeau (Fra) Crédit Agricole                 8.44
  41. Guido Trentin (Ita) Vini Caldirola                      12.31
  42. Peter Van Hyfte (Bel) Lotto-Mobistar                    14.00
  43. Fabien Dewaele (Bel) Lotto-Mobistar                     14.30
  44. Lauri Aus (Est) Casino                                  15.21
  45. Claude Lamour (Fra) Cofidis                             15.22
  46. Ruggero Borghi (Ita) Vini Caldirola                     15.45
  47. Philippe Gaumont (Fra) Cofidis                          17.11
  48. Dominique Rault (Fra) Big Mat-Auber 93                  19.25
  49. Erik Dekker (Ned) Rabobank                              19.39
  50. Lance Armstrong (USA) US Postal Service                 19.45
  51. Henk Vogels (Aus) Crédit Agricole                       19.50
  52. Frederic Moncassin (Fra) Crédit Agricole                20.40
  53. Francisco Cabello Luque (Spa) Kelme-Costa Blanca        21.25
  54. Sven Montgomery (Swi) Post Swiss Team                   22.00
  55. Christopher Horner (USA) La Française des Jeux          22.07
  56. Harald Morscher (Aut) Saeco-Cannondale                  23.07
  57. Stéphane Goubert (Fra) Polti                            23.32
  58. Christophe Cappelle (Fra) Big Mat-Auber 93              23.42
  59. Daniel Atienza Urendeze (Spa) Polti                     24.12
  60. Rolf Sorensen (Den) Rabobank                            26.36
  61. Ludovic Auger (Fra) Big Mat-Auber 93                    27.43
  62. Jo Planckaert (Bel) Lotto-Mobistar                      27.49
  63. Arnaud Pretot (Fra) Cofidis                             27.58
  64. Mauro Zinetti (Ita) Polti                               27.58
  65. Massimiliano Mori (Ita) Saeco-Cannondale                28.16
  66. Max Van Heeswijk (Ned) Mapei-Quick Step                 28.40
  67. Mario Traversoni (Ita) Saeco-Cannondale                 29.22
  68. Javier Pascual Llorente (Spa) Kelme-Costa Blanca        29.39
  69. Leon Van Bon (Ned) Rabobank                             29.54
  70. Kevin Livingston (USA) US Postal Service                30.06
  71. Marco Antonio Di Renzo (Ita) Cantina Tollo              30.15
  72. Laurent Lefevre (Fra) Festina                           31.19
  73. Jacky Durand (Fra) Lotto-Mobistar                       31.49
  74. Yvan Haymoz (Swi) Post Swiss Team                       32.06
  75. Serguei Gontchar (Ukr) Vini Caldirola                   32.40
  76. Tom Steels (Bel) Mapei-Quick Step                       33.04
  77. Massimo Apollonio (Ita) Vini Caldirola                  33.09
  78. Laurent Madouas (Fra) Festina                           33.32
  79. Guido Trenti (USA) Cantina Tollo                        33.39
  80. Chris Boardman (GB) Crédit Agricole                     34.38
  81. Andrej Hauptmann (Slo) Vini Caldirola                   35.48
  82. Alexander Moos (Swi) Festina                            36.20
  83. Tyler Hamilton (USA) US Postal Service                  37.20
  84. Denis Lunghi (Ita) Polti                                37.20
  85. Francisco Leon Mane (Spa) Kelme-Costa Blanca            37.22
  86. Robbie McEwen (Aus) Rabobank                            37.49
  87. Bart Leysen (Bel) Mapei-Quick Step                      41.41
  88. Frédéric Finot (Fra) Crédit Agricole                    42.01
  89. Rossano Brasi (Ita) Polti                               42.09
  90. Gianluca Sironi (Ita) Vini Caldirola                    42.28
  91. Mirko Crepaldi (Ita) Polti                              42.35
  92. Christophe Agnolutto (Fra) Casino                       42.45
  93. Jay Sweet (Aus) Big Mat-Auber 93                        42.58
  94. Francisco Andreu (USA) US Postal Service                43.10
  95. Daniel Schnider (Swi) Post Swiss Team                   43.10
  96. Paolo Fornaciari (Ita) Mapei-Quick Step                 43.26
  97. Cédric Fragnière (Swi) Post Swiss Team                  43.30
  98. Matthew White (Aus) Vini Caldirola                      44.08
  99. Thierry Gouvenou (Fra) Big Mat-Auber 93                 44.15
 100. Francisque Teyssier (Fra) Festina                       44.17
 101. Christian Charriere (Swi) Post Swiss Team               45.27
 102. Glenn Magnusson (Swe) US Postal Service                 47.01
 103. Carlos Dacruz (Fra) Big Mat-Auber 93                    49.03
 104. José Javier Gomez (Spa) Kelme-Costa Blanca              49.15
 105. Guillaume Auger (Fra) Big Mat-Auber 93                  52.14
 106. Andrea Brognara (Ita) Cantina Tollo                     52.49
 107. Marcus Ljungqvist (Swe) Cantina Tollo                   55.09
 108. Eros Poli (Ita) Crédit Agricole                         56.58
 109. Igor Pugaci (Mda) Saeco-Cannondale                      57.26
 110. Moreno Di Biase (Ita) Cantina Tollo                     58.16
 111. Frederic Vifian (Swi) Post Swiss Team                 1.01.49
 112. Anthony Rokia (Fra) Cofidis                           1.02.22