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 7, Sisteron - Valberg, 198 kms

Paris-Nice left Sisteron with good memories - there is always a warm greeting for the race in that city. But the other destination for today - the summit of Valberg - was waiting for the 112 riders still in the race. While the race has often visited Sisteron it is the first time the race has gone to Valberg. At the start today there was a certain tension or bad-feeling in the peloton. The attack of Rabobank on day 1, taking advantage of the bad luck that Franck VDB experienced, and the aggressive controlling that the team has been engaged in all week, has not been appreciated by the other teams. There was a clear feeling that today would see a series of attacks from many of the leading riders in the other teams. Rabobank would have their work cut out for them.

From the start, the attacks came with Aus then Agnolutto then O'Grady then Brasi working to build a narrow 13 second lead on the peloton at the 13 kms mark. At one, Boogerd went to the front of the peloton. Ludovic Auger and Direnzo then attacked at the 16 kms mark. But Boogerd was assisted by his teammates and again the move was negated. Virenque attacked at km 43 but was soon brought back also. The control by Rabobank was evident. The pace of the first hour was scintillating - 46.3 km/h!

Then there were some serious events. Boscardin and Teyssier decided to try a coup from the front. They made the break, worked hard together and quickly built a 15 second lead. Gaumont also broke from the peloton in an attempt to join them. But he gave up the attempt around the 59 kms mark and waited for the peloton. The courageous break was now looking like it was going to do something - 0.45 at km 61, 2.50 at km 67, 3.35 at km 72. At the end of the second hour the average speed had dropped to 37.6 km/h.

At the summit of Col D'Ayen (km 85), there were three groups. The two leaders, Perraudeau who was trying to get across to the break, and a chasing peloton. Perraudeau was 4.20 down and the peloton was 4.45. Soon after at Castellane, Perraudeau was 4.15 and the peloton was at 5.30 and under the control of Rabobank.

But Teyssier was now suffering badly and he abandoned the break leaving Boscardin alone in the mountains. At the summit of Col de Toutes Aures, Boscardin was 4.40 ahead of the peloton. Teyssier was caught by the peloton at km 140. Dacruz tried to get away but he never got more than a minute ahead. The average speed for the 4th hour was 43.5 km/h. The riders were now facing the final problem - the climb to Valberg. Dacruz was caught near to Entrevaux.

With 23 kms to go, Boscardin was now showing the fatigue of his efforts in the mountain. The peloton was bearing down on him and his chances were gone. Cabello attacked from the peloton but that was enough to provoke an acceleration. The Colombian gained 15 seconds then 0.30 with 14 kms to go - up the mountain to Valberg. Botero, Boogerd, Figueras were at 20 seconds and the peloton at 30. With 10 kms to go, Cabello was absorbed by the chasers and then VDB and Virenque gave it a tilt without getting very far. The race finish was finally decided by several attacks by VDB and also Virenque. VDB took the sprint in front of thousands of fans from the Frenchman. Boogerd was nearby (0.04) and retained the leaders jersey.

After the stage, Richard Virenque spoke to the press: "This second place is unexpected for me. This morning I told (Polti manager Gianluigi) Stanga it would be good if I finished among the first 10. I'm happy with my comeback. I know a bit better where I am now and I'm going to line up in the Milan-San Remo next week."

Stage Results 

   1. Franck Vandenbroucke (Bel) Cofidis                    5.10.03 (38.452 km/h)
   2. Richard Virenque (Fra) Polti
   3. Dario Frigo (Ita) Saeco-Cannondale
   4. Giuliano Figueras (Ita) Mapei-Quick Step                 0.02
   5. Gert Verheyen (Bel) Lotto-Mobistar                       0.04
   6. Markus Zberg (Swi) Rabobank                              0.04
   7. Michael Boogerd (Ned) Rabobank                           0.04
   8. Wladimir Belli (Ita) Festina                             0.04
   9. Santiago Botero Echeverry (Col) Kelme-Costa Blanca       0.04
  10. Jens Voigt (Ger) Crédit Agricole                         0.04
  11. Paolo Savoldelli (Ita) Saeco-Cannondale                  0.44
  12. Steve De Wolf (Bel) Cofidis                              1.32
  13. Peter Farazijn (Bel) Cofidis                             1.32
  14. Stéphane Heulot (Fra) La Française des Jeux              1.52
  15. Maarten Den Bakker (Ned) Rabobank                        1.52
  16. Marc Wauters (Bel) Rabobank                              1.52
  17. Andrei Kivilev (Kaz) Festina                             1.52
  18. Francisco Cabello Luque (Spa) Kelme-Costa Blanca         1.52
  19. Mario Aerts (Bel) Lotto-Mobistar                         3.08
  20. Jean-Cyril Robin (Fra) La Française des Jeux             3.08
  21. Axel Merckx (Bel) Mapei-Quick Step                       3.09
  22. Laurent Roux (Fra) Casino                                3.09
  23. Anthony Morin (Fra) La Française des Jeux                5.10
  24. Sven Montgomery (Swi) Post Swiss Team                    6.18
  25. Rolf Huser (Swi) Festina                                 6.18
  26. Tobias Steinhauser (Ger) Mapei-Quick Step                6.18
  27. Stéphane Goubert (Fra) Polti                             6.18
  28. Daniel Atienza Urendeze (Spa) Polti                      6.18
  29. Thierry Marichal (Bel) Lotto-Mobistar                    6.18
  30. Marty Jemison (USA) US Postal Service                    6.18
  31. Andrei Tchmil (Bel) Lotto-Mobistar                       6.18
  32. Chann McRae (USA) Mapei-Quick Step                       6.18
  33. Peter Van Hyfte (Bel) Lotto-Mobistar                     6.18
  34. Oscar Cavagnis (Ita) Cantina Tollo                       6.18
  35. Guido Trentin (Ita) Vini Caldirola                       6.18
  36. Pierre Bourquenoud (Swi) Post Swiss Team                 6.18
  37. Ruggero Borghi (Ita) Vini Caldirola                      6.18
  38. Pascal Lino (Fra) Big Mat-Auber 93                       6.18
  39. Dominique Rault (Fra) Big Mat-Auber 93                   6.18
  40. Benoît Salmon (Fra) Casino                               6.18
  41. Erik Dekker (Ned) Rabobank                               6.18
  42. Stuart O'Grady (Aus) Crédit Agricole                     9.20
  43. Ludovic Auger (Fra) Big Mat-Auber 93                     9.20
  44. George Hincapie (USA) US Postal Service                  9.20
  45. Cédric Fragnière (Swi) Post Swiss Team                   9.20
  46. Thierry Gouvenou (Fra) Big Mat-Auber 93                  9.20
  47. Alexander Moos (Swi) Festina                             9.20
  48. Lauri Aus (Est) Casino                                   9.20
  49. Fabien Dewaele (Bel) Lotto-Mobistar                      9.20
  50. Frederic Vifian (Swi) Post Swiss Team                    9.20
  51. José Luis Rubiera Vigil (Spa) Kelme-Costa Blanca        11.46
  52. Denis Lunghi (Ita) Polti                                12.12
  53. Rolf Sorensen (Den) Rabobank                            12.44
  54. Philippe Gaumont (Fra) Cofidis                          12.56
  55. Laurent Madouas (Fra) Festina                           12.56
  56. Daniel Schnider (Swi) Post Swiss Team                   14.39
  57. Christian Charriere (Swi) Post Swiss Team               14.39
  58. Serguei Gontchar (Ukr) Vini Caldirola                   14.39
  59. Olivier Pereaudeau (Fra) Crédit Agricole                15.53
  60. Massimo Apollonio (Ita) Vini Caldirola                  19.37
  61. Andrej Hauptmann (Slo) Vini Caldirola                   19.37
  62. Arnaud Pretot (Fra) Cofidis                             19.37
  63. Tyler Hamilton (USA) US Postal Service                  19.37
  64. Bruno Boscardin (Swi) Post Swiss Team                   20.23
  65. Guido Trenti (USA) Cantina Tollo                        23.51
  66. Max Van Heeswijk (Ned) Mapei-Quick Step                 24.46
  67. Paolo Fornaciari (Ita) Mapei-Quick Step                 24.46
  68. Tom Steels (Bel) Mapei-Quick Step                       24.46
  69. Francisco Leon Mane (Spa) Kelme-Costa Blanca            24.46
  70. Gianluca Sironi (Ita) Vini Caldirola                    24.46
  71. Christophe Cappelle (Fra) Big Mat-Auber 93              24.46
  72. Claude Lamour (Fra) Cofidis                             24.46
  73. Salvatore Commesso (Ita) Saeco-Cannondale               24.46
  74. Jay Sweet (Aus) Big Mat-Auber 93                        28.08
  75. Chris Boardman (GB) Crédit Agricole                     28.08
  76. Mirko Crepaldi (Ita) Polti                              28.08
  77. Henk Vogels (Aus) Crédit Agricole                       28.08
  78. Carlos Dacruz (Fra) Big Mat-Auber 93                    28.08
  79. Guillaume Auger (Fra) Big Mat-Auber 93                  28.08
  80. Marcus Ljungqvist (Swe) Cantina Tollo                   28.08
  81. Eros Poli (Ita) Crédit Agricole                         28.08
  82. Javier Pascual Llorente (Spa) Kelme-Costa Blanca        28.08
  83. Mauro Zinetti (Ita) Polti                               28.08
  84. José Javier Gomez (Spa) Kelme-Costa Blanca              28.08
  85. Christopher Horner (USA) La Française des Jeux          28.08
  86. Harald Morscher (Aut) Saeco-Cannondale                  28.08
  87. Rossano Brasi (Ita) Polti                               28.08
  88. Massimiliano Mori (Ita) Saeco-Cannondale                28.08
  89. Stéphane Barthe (Fra) Casino                            28.08
  90. Francisque Teyssier (Fra) Festina                       28.08
  91. Lance Armstrong (USA) US Postal Service                 28.08
  92. Bart Leysen (Bel) Mapei-Quick Step                      28.08
  93. Glenn Magnusson (Swe) US Postal Service                 28.08
  94. Matthew White (Aus) Vini Caldirola                      28.08
  95. Kevin Livingston (USA) US Postal Service                28.08
  96. Frédéric Finot (Fra) Crédit Agricole                    28.08
  97. Emmanuel Magnien (Fra) La Française des Jeux            28.08
  98. Laurent Lefevre (Fra) Festina                           28.08
  99. Christophe Agnolutto (Fra) Casino                       28.08
 100. Andrea Brognara (Ita) Cantina Tollo                     28.08
 101. Marco Antonio Di Renzo (Ita) Cantina Tollo              28.08
 102. Leon Van Bon (Ned) Rabobank                             28.08
 103. Moreno Di Biase (Ita) Cantina Tollo                     28.08
 104. Jo Planckaert (Bel) Lotto-Mobistar                      28.08
 105. Igor Pugaci (Mda) Saeco-Cannondale                      28.08

Abandoned:

Anthony Rokia (Fra) Cofidis
Robbie McEwen (Aus) Rabobank
Frederic Moncassin (Fra) Crédit Agricole
Francisco Andreu (USA) US Postal Service
Jacky Durand (Fra) Lotto-Mobistar
Mario Traversoni (Ita) Saeco-Cannondale
Yvan Haymoz (Swi) Post Swiss Team

GC after Stage 7 

   1. Michael Boogerd (Ned) Rabobank                       31.57.32
   2. Markus Zberg (Swi) Rabobank                              0.57
   3. Santiago Botero Echeverry (Col) Kelme-Costa Blanca       1.38
   4. Marc Wauters (Bel) Rabobank                              2.13
   5. Franck Vandenbroucke (Bel) Cofidis                       2.13
   6. Maarten Den Bakker (Ned) Rabobank                        2.14
   7. Dario Frigo (Ita) Saeco-Cannondale                       2.30
   8. Wladimir Belli (Ita) Festina                             2.32
   9. Jens Voigt (Ger) Crédit Agricole                         2.37
  10. Gert Verheyen (Bel) Lotto-Mobistar                       2.58
  11. Paolo Savoldelli (Ita) Saeco-Cannondale                  3.22
  12. Giuliano Figueras (Ita) Mapei-Quick Step                 3.32
  13. Axel Merckx (Bel) Mapei-Quick Step                       3.35
  14. Richard Virenque (Fra) Polti                             3.45
  15. Stéphane Heulot (Fra) La Française des Jeux              4.41
  16. Steve De Wolf (Bel) Cofidis                              4.42
  17. Andrei Kivilev (Kaz) Festina                             4.56
  18. Jean-Cyril Robin (Fra) La Française des Jeux             6.11
  19. Andrei Tchmil (Bel) Lotto-Mobistar                       6.31
  20. Laurent Roux (Fra) Casino                                6.48
  21. Peter Farazijn (Bel) Cofidis                             7.23
  22. Anthony Morin (Fra) La Française des Jeux                7.59
  23. Mario Aerts (Bel) Lotto-Mobistar                         8.58
  24. Benoît Salmon (Fra) Casino                               9.53
  25. Tobias Steinhauser (Ger) Mapei-Quick Step               10.08
  26. Thierry Marichal (Bel) Lotto-Mobistar                   12.00
  27. Pascal Lino (Fra) Big Mat-Auber 93                      12.04
  28. Marty Jemison (USA) US Postal Service                   12.14
  29. Stuart O'Grady (Aus) Crédit Agricole                    12.24
  30. Rolf Huser (Swi) Festina                                12.31
  31. Chann McRae (USA) Mapei-Quick Step                      12.33
  32. Oscar Cavagnis (Ita) Cantina Tollo                      12.39
  33. Pierre Bourquenoud (Swi) Post Swiss Team                12.43
  34. José Luis Rubiera Vigil (Spa) Kelme-Costa Blanca        17.36
  35. George Hincapie (USA) US Postal Service                 17.38
  36. Guido Trentin (Ita) Vini Caldirola                      18.45
  37. Peter Van Hyfte (Bel) Lotto-Mobistar                    20.14
  38. Ruggero Borghi (Ita) Vini Caldirola                     21.59
  39. Francisco Cabello Luque (Spa) Kelme-Costa Blanca        23.13
  40. Fabien Dewaele (Bel) Lotto-Mobistar                     23.46
  41. Olivier Pereaudeau (Fra) Crédit Agricole                24.33
  42. Lauri Aus (Est) Casino                                  24.37
  43. Dominique Rault (Fra) Big Mat-Auber 93                  25.39
  44. Erik Dekker (Ned) Rabobank                              25.53
  45. Sven Montgomery (Swi) Post Swiss Team                   28.14
  46. Bruno Boscardin (Swi) Post Swiss Team                   28.46
  47. Stéphane Goubert (Fra) Polti                            29.46
  48. Philippe Gaumont (Fra) Cofidis                          30.03
  49. Daniel Atienza Urendeze (Spa) Polti                     30.25
  50. Salvatore Commesso (Ita) Saeco-Cannondale               30.34
  51. Stéphane Barthe (Fra) Casino                            33.32
  52. Emmanuel Magnien (Fra) La Française des Jeux            33.54
  53. Ludovic Auger (Fra) Big Mat-Auber 93                    36.59
  54. Rolf Sorensen (Den) Rabobank                            38.16
  55. Claude Lamour (Fra) Cofidis                             40.04
  56. Alexander Moos (Swi) Festina                            45.36
  57. Laurent Madouas (Fra) Festina                           46.24
  58. Serguei Gontchar (Ukr) Vini Caldirola                   47.15
  59. Arnaud Pretot (Fra) Cofidis                             47.31
  60. Lance Armstrong (USA) US Postal Service                 47.49
  61. Henk Vogels (Aus) Crédit Agricole                       47.54
  62. Christophe Cappelle (Fra) Big Mat-Auber 93              48.24
  63. Denis Lunghi (Ita) Polti                                49.28
  64. Christopher Horner (USA) La Française des Jeux          50.11
  65. Harald Morscher (Aut) Saeco-Cannondale                  51.11
  66. Massimo Apollonio (Ita) Vini Caldirola                  52.42
  67. Cédric Fragnière (Swi) Post Swiss Team                  52.46
  68. Max Van Heeswijk (Ned) Mapei-Quick Step                 53.22
  69. Thierry Gouvenou (Fra) Big Mat-Auber 93                 53.31
  70. Andrej Hauptmann (Slo) Vini Caldirola                   55.21
  71. Jo Planckaert (Bel) Lotto-Mobistar                      55.53
  72. Mauro Zinetti (Ita) Polti                               56.02
  73. Massimiliano Mori (Ita) Saeco-Cannondale                56.20
  74. Tyler Hamilton (USA) US Postal Service                  56.53
  75. Guido Trenti (USA) Cantina Tollo                        57.26
  76. Javier Pascual Llorente (Spa) Kelme-Costa Blanca        57.43
  77. Daniel Schnider (Swi) Post Swiss Team                   57.45
  78. Tom Steels (Bel) Mapei-Quick Step                       57.46
  79. Leon Van Bon (Ned) Rabobank                             57.58
  80. Kevin Livingston (USA) US Postal Service                58.10
  81. Marco Antonio Di Renzo (Ita) Cantina Tollo              58.19
  82. Laurent Lefevre (Fra) Festina                           59.23
  83. Christian Charriere (Swi) Post Swiss Team             1.00.02
  84. Francisco Leon Mane (Spa) Kelme-Costa Blanca          1.02.04
  85. Chris Boardman (GB) Crédit Agricole                   1.02.42
  86. Gianluca Sironi (Ita) Vini Caldirola                  1.07.10
  87. Paolo Fornaciari (Ita) Mapei-Quick Step               1.08.08
  88. Bart Leysen (Bel) Mapei-Quick Step                    1.09.45
  89. Frédéric Finot (Fra) Crédit Agricole                  1.10.05
  90. Rossano Brasi (Ita) Polti                             1.10.13
  91. Mirko Crepaldi (Ita) Polti                            1.10.39
  92. Christophe Agnolutto (Fra) Casino                     1.10.49
  93. Jay Sweet (Aus) Big Mat-Auber 93                      1.11.02
  94. Frederic Vifian (Swi) Post Swiss Team                 1.11.05
  95. Matthew White (Aus) Vini Caldirola                    1.12.12
  96. Francisque Teyssier (Fra) Festina                     1.12.21
  97. Glenn Magnusson (Swe) US Postal Service               1.15.05
  98. Carlos Dacruz (Fra) Big Mat-Auber 93                  1.17.07
  99. José Javier Gomez (Spa) Kelme-Costa Blanca            1.17.19
 100. Guillaume Auger (Fra) Big Mat-Auber 93                1.20.18
 101. Andrea Brognara (Ita) Cantina Tollo                   1.20.53
 102. Marcus Ljungqvist (Swe) Cantina Tollo                 1.23.27
 103. Eros Poli (Ita) Crédit Agricole                       1.25.02
 104. Igor Pugaci (Mda) Saeco-Cannondale                    1.25.30
 105. Moreno Di Biase (Ita) Cantina Tollo                   1.26.20

Progession in GC during Stage 7:                 Previous   New    Progress

Cédric Fragnière (Swi) Post Swiss Team               97      67      30
Thierry Gouvenou (Fra) Big Mat-Auber 93              99      69      30
Alexander Moos (Swi) Festina                         82      56      26
Laurent Madouas (Fra) Festina                        78      57      21
Denis Lunghi (Ita) Polti                             84      63      21
Daniel Schnider (Swi) Post Swiss Team                95      77      18
Christian Charriere (Swi) Post Swiss Team           101      83      18
Serguei Gontchar (Ukr) Vini Caldirola                75      58      17
Frederic Vifian (Swi) Post Swiss Team               111      94      17
Francisco Cabello Luque (Spa) Kelme-Costa Blanca     53      39      14
Peter Farazijn (Bel) Cofidis                         32      21      11
Massimo Apollonio (Ita) Vini Caldirola               77      66      11
Andrej Hauptmann (Slo) Vini Caldirola                81      70      11
Stéphane Goubert (Fra) Polti                         57      47      10
Daniel Atienza Urendeze (Spa) Polti                  59      49      10
Richard Virenque (Fra) Polti                         23      14       9
Sven Montgomery (Swi) Post Swiss Team                54      45       9
Tyler Hamilton (USA) US Postal Service               83      74       9
Paolo Fornaciari (Ita) Mapei-Quick Step              96      87       9
Giuliano Figueras (Ita) Mapei-Quick Step             20      12       8
Mario Aerts (Bel) Lotto-Mobistar                     31      23       8
Ruggero Borghi (Ita) Vini Caldirola                  46      38       8
Ludovic Auger (Fra) Big Mat-Auber 93                 61      53       8
Rolf Sorensen (Den) Rabobank                         60      54       6
Gert Verheyen (Bel) Lotto-Mobistar                   15      10       5
Marty Jemison (USA) US Postal Service                33      28       5
Guido Trentin (Ita) Vini Caldirola                   41      36       5
Peter Van Hyfte (Bel) Lotto-Mobistar                 42      37       5
Dominique Rault (Fra) Big Mat-Auber 93               48      43       5
Erik Dekker (Ned) Rabobank                           49      44       5
Glenn Magnusson (Swe) US Postal Service             102      97       5
Carlos Dacruz (Fra) Big Mat-Auber 93                103      98       5
José Javier Gomez (Spa) Kelme-Costa Blanca          104      99       5
Guillaume Auger (Fra) Big Mat-Auber 93              105     100       5
Andrea Brognara (Ita) Cantina Tollo                 106     101       5
Marcus Ljungqvist (Swe) Cantina Tollo               107     102       5
Eros Poli (Ita) Crédit Agricole                     108     103       5
Igor Pugaci (Mda) Saeco-Cannondale                  109     104       5
Moreno Di Biase (Ita) Cantina Tollo                 110     105       5
Markus Zberg (Swi) Rabobank                           6       2       4
Santiago Botero Echeverry (Col) Kelme-Costa Blanca    7       3       4
Rolf Huser (Swi) Festina                             34      30       4
Chann McRae (USA) Mapei-Quick Step                   35      31       4
Oscar Cavagnis (Ita) Cantina Tollo                   36      32       4
Pierre Bourquenoud (Swi) Post Swiss Team             37      33       4
Arnaud Pretot (Fra) Cofidis                          63      59       4
Guido Trenti (USA) Cantina Tollo                     79      75       4
Gianluca Sironi (Ita) Vini Caldirola                 90      86       4
Francisque Teyssier (Fra) Festina                   100      96       4
Franck Vandenbroucke (Bel) Cofidis                    8       5       3
Dario Frigo (Ita) Saeco-Cannondale                   10       7       3
Steve De Wolf (Bel) Cofidis                          19      16       3
George Hincapie (USA) US Postal Service              38      35       3
Fabien Dewaele (Bel) Lotto-Mobistar                  43      40       3
Matthew White (Aus) Vini Caldirola                   98      95       3
Jens Voigt (Ger) Crédit Agricole                     11       9       2
Laurent Roux (Fra) Casino                            22      20       2
Lauri Aus (Est) Casino                               44      42       2
Wladimir Belli (Ita) Festina                          9       8       1
Paolo Savoldelli (Ita) Saeco-Cannondale              12      11       1
Andrei Kivilev (Kaz) Festina                         18      17       1
Pascal Lino (Fra) Big Mat-Auber 93                   28      27       1
Francisco Leon Mane (Spa) Kelme-Costa Blanca         85      84       1