51st Grand Prix du Midi Libre Cycliste, Cat 2.1

France, May 18-23, 1999

1998 Results     Past Winners     Teams    

The Stages:

  • Stage 1 - Uzès - Saint-Affrique, 169 kms:
  • Stage 2 - Saint-Affrique - Castelnaudary, 164 kms:
  • Stage 3 - Perpignan - Perpignan, ITT, 28 kms:
  • Stage 4 - Thuir - Béziers, 184 kms:
  • Stage 5 - Béziers - Sète, 190 kms:
  • Stage 6 - Sète - Mende, 214 kms:

Preview:

Swiss rider Laurent Dufaux (Saeco), returned to competition on May 1 after serving 8 months suspension for his part in the Festina drugs scandal. He is starting in the 51st edition of the Grand Prix du Midi Libre cycliste as the defending champion. The race is a traditional preparation for the Tour de France and allows the rouleurs some advantage. The race is very open and this will give Dufaux the chance to regain some tempo and pedalling rythym after his long layoff from racing.

The parcours (6 stages over 956 kms) is according to the organiser, Roger Bène: "more difficult than last year." The race has attracted a number of the up and coming riders who will benefit from the absence of some of the bigger hitters in the peloton who are on duty at the Giro in Italy.

After his 10th place last year, Christophe Rinero (Cofidis) has made the Midi Libre his primary goal for this season. The mountains jersey winner from last year's Tour is in good form and will be the rider to watch.

There are some tough stages though. There is an ITT over 35 kms around Perpignan on Tuesday which will test the riders. On Saturday, there are two stages finishing in Béziers and Sète respectively, with the traditional finish on the summit of Mont Saint-Clair. On Sunday, the stage from Sète to Mende, involves 5 difficult climbs before the riders finish on the summit of the Croix-Neuve.

With all the drugs hype scandalising the sport in France at present, the start of the Midi Libre is a welcome relief. It is a low-key race around the south west of France. The organiser is the Midi Libre, the major newspaper of this region. It always conflicts with the Giro d'Italia and so the race often cannot attract any big riders. But year-in and year-out the GP Midi Libre is held and the riders wind through the most charming countryside around Montpellier, Castelnaudary, and Carcassone.

But the race has not been free of drug scandals itself. Last year, for example, Philippe Gaumont, who is currently under suspension from Cofidis for his role in the recent Paris investigations, tested positive for a banned substance but was allowed to go without penalty due to a technical error.

For the organisers this year the drugs scandal has meant that several foreign teams are staying away from France. They are just not prepared to come to France and face the raids and questioning from police and judges. Teams like ONCE, Banesto and TVM are noticable absentees.

Banesto and ONCE have also voiced said they may boycott the Tour de France in July.

Roger Bène said of TVM's withdrawal: "I am sad but not surprised. Some foreign teams have been avoiding France this year for obvious reasons. 17 teams are still coming including Telekom, Saeco, Lotto and the major French squads. There are also several French, Italian and Belgian second division teams."

Stage 1, Uzès - Saint-Affrique, 169 kms:

Spaniard Alberto Martínez (Euskaltel-Euskadi) easily won Stage 1 of the GP Midi Libre. He deserved the victory as he was the most aggressive rider on the day. He attacked at km 66 and 10 kms later he counted a 3.00 gap on the lethargic peloton. By the time he had reached the first major difficulty for the day - the climb of Alzon (km 98) - the first of three tough climbs, he had 8.15 on the bunch. Festina was the first team to start the chase but they left it too late. Later, in desperation, Marc Streel, Laurent Desbiens, Gilles Maignan and Mickael Kyneb worked hard together to close the Spaniard down. They failed and Martínez did not falter. He said at the end: "The stage has been very tough especially on the final section, I've finished really tired."

Martínez turned professional in 1998 and has won two races in Portugal this season. For now, the Spaniard hoped to remain the leader until Thursday's individual time trial. 

 1. Alberto Martínez (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi 	     4.16.09 (39.586 km/h)
 2. Marc Streel (Bel) Team Home-Jack & Jones 		1.48 
 3. Laurent Desbiens (Fra) Cofidis 			1.48 
 4. Gilles Maignan (Fra) Casino 			1.48
 5. Mickael Kyneb (Den) Team Home-Jack & Jones  	1.48
 6. Mario Manzoni (Ita) Mobilvetta-Northwave		2.40
 7. Frédéric Moncassin (Fra) Crédit Agricole		2.40 
 8. Stéphane Barthe (Fra) Casino 			2.40
 9. Arvis Piziks (Lat) Team Home-Jack & Jones 		2.40
10. Tayeb Braikia (Den) Accept Card Pro Cycling		2.40
11. Nicolas Jalabert (Fra) Cofidis 			2.40
12. Marco Giroletti (Ita) Mobilvetta-Northwave		2.40
13. Salvatore Commesso (Ita) Saeco-Cannondale		2.40
14. Stéphane Berges (Fra) Big Mat-Auber 93		2.40
15. Patrice Halgand (Fra) Festina			2.40
16. Daniele Contrini (Ita) Liquigas-Pata		2.40
17. Joona Laukka (Fin) Accept Card Pro Cycling		2.40
18. Wim Vansevenant (Bel) Collstrop			2.40
19. Peter Wuyts (Bel) Lotto-Mobistar			2.40
20. Pascal Chanteur (Fra) Casino			2.40
..
40. Bjarn Riis (Den) Telekom				2.40
42. Laurent Dufaux (Swi) Saeco-Cannondale 		2.40

GC after Stage 1 

 1. Alberto Martínez (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi 	     4.15.56
 2. Marc Streel (Bel) Team Home-Jack & Jones 		1.55
 3. Laurent Desbiens (Fra) Cofidis			1.57
 4. Gilles Maignan (Fra) Casino				2.01 
 5. Mickael Kyneb (Den) Team Home-Jack & Jones		2.01
 6. Stéphane Barthe (Fra) Casino			2.50 
 7. Daniele Contrini (Ita) Liquigas-Pata		2.51
 8. Unai Etxeberria (Ven) Euskaltel-Euskadi		2.51
 9. Michael Blaudzun (Den) Team Home-Jack & Jones	2.52
10. Mario Manzoni (Ita) Mobilvetta-Northwave		2.53
11. Frédéric Moncassin (Fra) Crédit Agricole		2.53
12. Arvis Piziks  (Lat) Team Home-Jack & Jones 		2.53
13. Tayeb Braikia (Den) Accept Card Pro Cycling		2.53
14. Nicolas Jalabert (Fra) Cofidis			2.53
15. Marco Giroletti (Ita) Mobilvetta-Northwave 		2.53
16. Salvatore Commesso (Ita) Saeco-Cannondale		2.53
17. Stéphane Berges (Fra) Big Mat-Auber 93		2.53
18. Patrice Halgand (Fra) Festina			2.53
19. Joona Laukka (Fin) Accept Card Pro Cycling		2.53
20. Wim Vansevenant (Bel) Collstrop			2.53
..
41. Bjarn Riis (Den) Telekom				2.53
43. Laurent Dufaux (Swi) Saeco-Cannondale		2.53

Stage 2, Saint-Affrique - Castelnaudary, 158.5 kms:

Kazak Alexandre Vinokourov (Casino) won the second stage of the Grand Prix du Midi Libre on his own. The stage was raced over 164 kms between Saint-Affrique and Castelnaudray. He finished in front of the Danish rider Mickaël Blaudzun and Switzerland's Laurent Dufaux. Spaniard Alberto Martinez (Euskaltel) retained the overall leader's jersey.

The Casino team played a large part in today's stage. Earlier, it was through Benoît Salmon who attacked after only 35 kms. But finally, it was his teammate Alexandre Vinokourov who stole the show and chalked up the 23rd success for the French team so far this season.

At 35 kms, Salmon attacked with Big Mat-Auber rider Dominique Rault. The 2 riders worked together well. At Mazamet (km 98), they had a gap of 3 minutes on the peloton. On the climb of Martys Rault was dropped. Salmon resisted the inevitable for a long time but slowly lost his advantage. With 10 kms to go, he had a 53 seconds lead. 5 kms later he was caught by a fast finishing peloton. At the front was Laurent Dufaux, Mickaël Blaudzun, Laurent Desbiens and Vinokourov.

Alexander Vinokourov finished a few seconds in front of Blaudzun, and showed that the broken collarbone he incurred at Paris-Nice has healed and his form is back. The 26-year old turned professional in 1997 and has also won the Tour of Valencia this season. He has his eyes set firmly on retaining the overall lead in this race.

On Thursday, the race is a 22 km ITT around Perpignan which will test the capacity of the Kasak given that the Spaniard Alberto Martinez is an excellent time trialler. 

 1. Alexander Vinokourov (Kaz) Casino 		     4.06.41 (38.551 km/h)
 2. Mickaël Blaudzun (Den) Team Home-Jack & Jones	0.02
 3. Laurent Dufaux (Swi) Saeco-Cannondale 		0.03
 4. Laurent Desbiens (Fra) Cofidis			0.03
 5. Stéphane Barthe (Fra) Casino			0.06
 6. Frédéric Moncassin (Fra) Crédit Agricole		0.06
 7. Jakob Piil (Den) Acceptcard				0.06
 8. Giovanni Lombardi (Ita) Telekom			0.06
 9. Salvatore Commesso (Ita) Saeco-Cannondale 		0.06
10. François Simon (Fra) Crédit Agricole		0.06
11. Nicolas Jalabert (Fra) Cofidis			0.06
12. Alberto Martinez (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi		0.06
13. Ellis Rastelli (Ita) Liquigas-Pata 			0.06
14. Mikael Kyneb (Den) Team Home-Jack & Jones		0.06
15. Peter Wuyts (Bel) Lotto-Mobistar 			0.06
16. Gilles Bouvard (Fra) Home Market-Charleroi		0.06
17. Pascal Chanteur (Fra) Casino			0.06
18. Sébastien Demarbaix (Bel) Lotto-Mobistar		0.06
19. Waldimir Belli (Ita) Festina-Lotus 			0.06
20. Unai Etxebarria (Ven) Euskaltel-Euskadi   		0.06

GC after Stage 2 

 1. Alberto Martinez (Spa) Euskaltel 		     8.22.43
 2. Laurent Desbiens (Fra) Cofidis			1.54
 3. Marc Streel (Bel) Team Home-Jack & Jones		1.55
 4. Mikael Kyneb (Den) Team Home-Jack & Jones		2.01
 5. Gilles Maignan (Fra) Casino				2.01
 6. Alexandre Vinokourov (Kaz) Casino			2.37
 7. Mickaël Blaudzun (Dan) Team Home-Jack & Jones	2.42
 8. Laurent Dufaux (Swi) Saeco-Cannondale		2.46
 9. Stéphane Barthe (Fra) Casino			2.47
10. Benoît Salmon (Fra) Casino				2.47
11. Unai Etxebarria (Ven) Euskaltel-Euskadi		2.51
12. Dominique Rault (Fra) Big Mat-Auber 93		2.51
13. François Simon (Fra) Crédit Agricole		2.52
14. Frédéric Moncassin (Fra) Crédit Agricole		2.53
15. Salvatore Commesso (Ita) Saeco-Cannondale		2.53
16. Nicolas Jalabert (Fra) Cofidis			2.53
17. Peter Wuyts (Bel) Lotto-Mobistar			2.53
18. MMario Manzoni (Ita) Mobilvetta-Northwave		2.53
19. Giovanni Lombardi (Ita) Telekom			2.53
20. Pascal Chanteur (Fra) Casino			2.53
..
41. Bjarne Riis (Den) Telekom				2.53

Stage 3, Perpignan - Perpignan, ITT, 22 kms:

Spaniard Alberto Martinez (Euskaltel-Euskadi) maintained his hold on the leader's jersey after the 48 kms ITT in Perpignan. He was second after 22 kms at 7 seconds behind the eventual winners Wladimir Belli (Festina). Belli rode the 22 kms at an average of 48 km/h.

The major difficulty facing the riders was the humid weather and strong winds.

Belli said afterwards: "It was very difficult today in the wind. But I am in good physical condition. I was well placed in the race leading into the ITT and now I have done even better. At 29-years of age, it is a good time for me to take the responsibility for the team."

Martinez said afterwards: "I preserved the leader's jersey and I only lost a little time. I know that the next stages will be very difficult for me. It is going to be hard to control the race. With all the hills to come it is true that I do not have major illusions of being on the top of the podium at the end." 

 1. Wladimir Belli (Ita) Festina-Lotus  		     26.25.40 (48.593 km/h)
 2. Alberto Martinez (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi 			 7.54
 3. Gilles Maignan (Fra) Casino 				13.54
 4. Alexandre Vinokourov (Kaz) Casino 				17.00
 5. Marc Streel (Bel) Team Home-Jack & Jones 			21.74
 6. Michael Blaudzun (Dan) Team Home-Jack & Jones 		28.96
 7. Christophe Moreau (Fra) Festina-Lotus 			29.20
 8. Laurent Dufaux (Swi) Saeco-Cannondale 			44.30
 9. Paul Van Hyfte (Bel) Lotto-Mobistar 			44.30
10. Anthony Langella (Fra) Crédit Agricole			47.26
11. Cédric Vasseur (Fra) Crédit Agricole 			48.66
12. Fransisque Teyssier (Fra) Festina-Lotus            		55.77
13. Mikael Holst Kyneb (Den) Team Home-Jack & Jones 	      1.00.04
14. Laurent Desbiens (Fra) Cofidis 			      1.04.28
15. Jacky Durant (Fra) Lotto-Mobistar			      1.06.10
16. Fabrice Gougot (Fra) Casino				      1.10.44
17. Benoit Salmon (Fra) Casino				      1.12.15
18. Stéphane Berges (Fra) Big Mat-Auber 93      	      1.15.98
19. Georg Totsching (Aut) Telekom			      1.16.42
20. Daniele Contrini (Ita) Liquigas-Pata		      1.19.48

GC after Stage 3 

 1. Alberto Martinez (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi		     8.49.15
 2. Gilles Maignan (Fra) Casino 				2.07
 3. Marc Streel (Bel) Team Home-Jack & Jones 			2.10
 4. Wladimir Belli (Ita) Festina-Lotus				2.46
 5. Alexandre Vinokourov (Kaz) Casino				2.47
 6. Laurent Desbiens (Fra) Cofidis				2.51
 7. Mikael Kyneb (Den) Team Home-Jack & Jones			2.54
 8. Michael Blaudzun (Den) Team Home-Jack & Jones		3.04
 9. Christophe Moreau (Fra) Festina-Lotus			3.15
10. Laurent Dufaux (Swi) Saeco-Cannondale			3.23
11. Paul Van Hyfte (Bel) Lotto-Mobistar				3.31
12. Anthony Langella (Fra) Crédit Agricole			3.33
13. Cédric Vasseur (Fra) Crédit Agricole			3.35
14. Benoit Salmon (Fra) Casino					3.52
15. Fabrice Gougot (Fra) Casino					3.96
16. Stéphane Berges (Fra) Big Mat-Auber 93			4.02
17. Georg Totschnig (Aut) Telekom				4.02
18. François Simon (Fra) Crédit Agricole			4.07
19. Jacob Still (Den)						4.08
20. Haimar Zubeldia Aguirre (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi		4.09

Stage 4, Thuir - Béziers, 184 kms:

French rider Benoît Salmon was rewarded for his efforts in today's solo win in the 184 kms stage between Thuir and Béziers. The Casino rider took 1.11 out of Spaniard Alberto Martinez, who maintained his lead of the overall GC.

Salmon was in the first attack that formed at km 36 and then attacked again on his own at km 40. The rider from Brittany quickly built up a lead on the chasing bunch. While Alberto Martinez has a 2.26 lead on Salmon's teammate Alexandre Vinokourov and 2.31 on Salmon, he will be hoping that there are no surprises on the climb of Saint-Clair à Sète on Saturday.

Benoît Salmon said afterwards: "It is a great day for me because I have really wanted to win a stage in this GP. As to the final podium, well it is all to play for still. It is possible to take the lead of Martinez."

For his part, Martinez said: "I have to stay vigilant for 2 more days. It will be hard when you look at the difficulties to come. Tomorrow we have to climb Saint Clair à Sète twice. I am not tired and I plan to fight for my leader's jersey until the end. It is possible for me to retain it as long as I don't find myself alone on the climbs like I did today." 

 1. Benoît Salmon (Fra) Casino				     4.30.02 (40.328 km/h)
 2. Alexandre Vinkourov (Kaz) Casino  				0.56
 3. Stéphane Heulot (Fra) La Française des Jeux 		0.56
 4. François Simon (Fra) Crédit Agricole			0.56
 5. Mikael Kyneb (Den) Team Home-Jack & Jones			0.57
 6. Michael Blaudzun (Den) Team Home-Jack & Jones		0.57
 7. Cédric Vasseur (Fra) Crédit Agricole			1.11
 8. Armin Meier (Swi) Saeco-Cannondale 				1.11 
 9. Gilles Bouvard (Fra) Home Market-Charleroi 			1.11 
10. René Jörgensen (Den) Team Home-Jack & Jones 		1.11
11. David Moncoutié (Fra) Cofidis				1.11
12. Alberto Martinez (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi 			1.11
13. Sébastien Demarbaix (Bel) Home Market-Charleroi 		1.11
14. Dominique Rault (Fra) Big Mat-Auber 93 			1.11
15. Joona Laukka (Fin) Accept Card Pro Cycling 			1.11
16. Laurent Dufaux (Swi) Saeco-Cannondale			1.11
17. Frédéric Gabriel (Fra) Home Market-Charleroi 		1.11
18. Charles Guilbert (Fra) Home Market-Charleroi 		1.11
19. Xavier Jan (Fra) La Française des Jeux 			1.15
20. Udo Bölts (Ger) Telekom 					1.15

GC after Stage 4 

 1. Alberto Martinez (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi     	    13.20.28
 2. Alexandre Vinkourov (Kaz) Casino  				2.25
 3. Benoît Salmon (Fra) Casino					2.31
 4. Mikael Kyneb (Den) Team Home-Jack & Jones			2.40
 5. Michael Blaudzun (Den) Team Home-Jack & Jones		2.50
 6. Laurent Dufaux (Swi) Saeco-Cannondale			3.23
 7. Cédric Vasseur (Fra) Crédit Agricole			3.30
 8. François Simon (Fra) Crédit Agricole			3.47
 9. Georg Totschnig (Aut) Telekom				4.06
10. David Moncoutié (Fra) Cofidis 				4.12
11. Stéphane Heulot (Fra) La Française des Jeux  		4.19
12. Armin Meier (Swi) Saeco-Cannondale 				4.22
13. Gilles Bouvard (Fra) Home Market-Charleroi 			4.26
14. Udo Bölts (Ger) Telekom  					4.29
15. Joona Laukka (Fin) Accept Card Pro Cycling 			4.52
16. Sébastien Demarbaix (Bel)  Home Market-Charleroi 		5.02
17. René Jörgensen (Den) Team Home-Jack & Jones 		5.14
18. Frédéric Gabriel (Fra) Home Market-Charleroi		5.37
19. Xavier Jan (Fra) La Française des Jeux 			5.45
20. Dominique Rault (Fra) Big Mat-Auber 93 			6.06

Stage 5, Béziers - Sète, 190 kms:

French rider Gilles Maignan beat Italian Salvatore Commesso by 8 seconds on the final climb to the Mont Saint-Clair to win the 5th Stage of the GP Midi Libre between Béziers and Sète over 180 kms. Spaniard Alberto Martinez conceded 45 seconds to his principal challenger for the GC, Benoît Salmon, but still maintains a narrow advantage leading into the tough final stage between Sète and Mende. The 214 kms journey involves 5 mountain passes including the difficult climb of the Col de Montmirat and the la Croix-Neuve.

Martinez and Salmon are separated by only 1.46. 3rd at 1.57 is the Kazak rider Alexandre Vinokourov. The two Casino riders are likely to work together to overhaul Martinez.

A strong group of 13 formed early in the race including Thierry Bourguignon, Marc Streel, Nicolas Jalabert and Fabrice Gougot. In the finale, Salvatore Commesso was leading but Gilles Maignan, French ITT Champion, found the form to overall him on the second climb up the Saint-Clair. The peloton, which was 8.30 down at km 128, worked hard to reduce this deficit and lost very little time by the end. 

 1. Gilles Maignan (Fra) Casino 		     	     4.06.26 (41.269 km/h)
 2. Salvadore Commesso (Ita) Saeco-Cannondale			0.08
 3. Fabrice Gougot (Fra) Casino					0.11
 4. Morten Sonne (Den) Acceptcard				0.20
 5. Thierry Bourguignon (Fra) Big Mat-Auber 93			0.30
 6. Marc Streel (Bel) Team Home-Jack & Jones			0.46
 7. Nicolas Jalabert (Fra) Cofidis				1.24
 8. Jana Tombak (Est) Cofidis					1.28
 9. Manu Lhoir (Bel) Lotto-Mobistar				1.44
10. Ellis Rastelli (Ita) Liquigas-Pata				2.06
11. Ludovic Auger (Fra) Big Mat-Auber 93			2.15
12. Christopher Jenner (NZ) Crédit Agricole			2.24
13. Benoît Salmon (Fra) Casino					2.55
14. Giancario Raimondi (Ita) Liquigas-Pata			3.02
15. Alexander Vinokourov (Kaz) Casino				3.12
16. Alberto Martinez (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi			3.40
17. Laurent Dufaux (Swi) Saeco-Cannondale			3.45
18. François Simon (Fra) Crédit Agricole			3.45
19. Armin Meier (Swi) Saeco-Cannondale				3.48
20. Udo Bölts (Ger) Telekom					3.54

GC after Stage 5 

 1. Alberto Martinez (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi		    17.30.34
 2. Benoît Salmon (Fra) Casino					1.46
 3. Alexander Vinkourov (Kaz) Casino				1.57
 4. Mikael Kyneb (Den) Team Home-Jack & Jones			2.56
 5. Laurent Dufaux (Swi) Saeco-Cannondale			3.28
 6. François Simon (Fra) Crédit Agricole			3.52
 7. Michael Blaudzun (Den) Team Home-Jack & Jones		4.09
 8. Armin Meier (Swi) Saeco-Cannondale				4.30
 9. Stéphane Heulot (Fra) La Française des Jeux			4.35
10. Gilles Bouvard (Fra) Home Market-Charleroi			4.41
11. Udo Bölts (Ger) Telekom  					4.43
12. Cédric Vasseur (Fra) Crédit Agricole			4.45
13. David Moncoutié (Fra) Cofidis 				5.37
14. Sébastien Demarbaix (Bel)  Home Market-Charleroi 		6.29
15. Joona Laukka (Fin) Accept Card Pro Cycling 			6.33
16. René Jörgensen (Den) Team Home-Jack & Jones 		6.36
17. Charles Guilbert (Fra) Home Market-Charleroi 		6.51
18. Georg Totschnig (Aut) Telekom				6.59
19. Xavier Jan (Fra) La Française des Jeux 			8.27
20. Frédéric Gabriel (Fra) Home Market-Charleroi		9.23

Stage 6, Sète - Mende, 214 kms:

 1. Alexander Vinokourov (Kaz) Casino 			     5.37.55 (37.855 km/h)
 2. Benoît Salmon (Fra) Casino
 3. Frédéric Gabriel (Fra) Home Market-Charleroi		1.31
 4. Stéphane Heulot (Fra) La Française des Jeux			1.39
 5. Jakob Piil (Dan) Acceptcard					1.59
 6. Cédric Vasseur (Fra) Crédit Agricole			2.02
 7. Georg Totschnig (Aut) Telekom 				2.11
 8. Laurent Dufaux (Swi) Saeco-Cannondale			2.14
 9. Udo Bölts (Ger) Telekom					2.18
10. François Simon (Fra) Crédit Agricole			2.18
11. Kurt Van de Wouwer (Bel) Lotto-Mobistar			2.18
12. Armin Meier (Swi) Saeco-Cannondale				2.18
13. David Moncoutie (Fra) Cofidis				2.18
14. Dominique Rault (Fra) Big Mat-Auber 93 			2.30
15. Gilles Bouvard (Fra) Home Market-Charleroi			2.36
16. Sébastien Demarbaix (Bel) Lotto-Mobistar			2.52
17. Ellis Rastelli (Ita) Liquigas-Pata				2.55
18. Charles Guilbert (Fra) Home Market-Charleroi		2.57
19. Michael Blaudzun (Den) Team Home-Jack & Jones		2.57
20. Xavier Jan (Fra) La Française des Jeux			3.08

GC after Stage 6 

 1. Benoît Salmon (Fra) Casino 				    23.10.09
 2. Alexander Vinokourov (Kaz) Casino				0.07
 3. Alberto Martinez (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi			3.40
 4. Laurent Dufaux (Swi) Saeco-Cannondale			4.02
 5. François Simon (Fra) Crédit Agricole			4.26
 6. Stéphane Heulot (Fra) La Française des Jeux			4.34
 7. Armin Meier (Swi) Saeco-Cannondale				5.06
 8. Cédric Vasseur (Fra) Crédit Agricole			5.07
 9. Mikael Kyneb (Den) Team Home-Jack & Jones			5.18
10. Udo Bölts (Ger) Telekom					5.19
11. Michael Blaudzun (Den) Team Home-Jack & Jones		5.28
12. Gilles Bouvard (Fra) Home Market-Charleroi			5.37
13. David Moncoutie (Fra) Cofidis				6.13
14. Georg Totschnig (Aut) Telekom				7.30
15. Sébastien Demarbaix (Bel) Lotto-Mobistar			7.41
16. Charles Guilbert (Fra) Home Market-Charleroi		8.08
17. Joona Laukka (Fin) Acceptcard				8.46
18. Frédéric Gabriel (Fra) Home Market-Charleroi		9.10
19. Xavier Jan (Fra) La Française des Jeux			9.56
20. Dominique Rault (Fra) Big Mat-Auber 93 		       22.11

Teams

Casino (Barthe, Vinokourov), Cofidis (Desbiens, Moncoutié), Crédit Agricole (Simon, Vasseur, Moncassin), Festina (Belli, Madouas), La Française des Jeux (Heulot, Robin), Big Mat-Auber 93 (Bourguignon), Telekom (Bölts, Riis, Totsching, Elli, Zabel), Lotto-Mobistar (Van de Wouwer, Van Hyfte, Marichal, Lhoir, Demarbaix, Wuyts, Durand, Verbrugghe), Collstrop (Bracke, Van Haesebroucke, De Clercq, Baeyens, Everaert, Vansevenant, Fofonov, Mizourov), Home Market-Charleroi, Saeco-Cannondale (Dufaux, Meier, Traversoni), Mobilvetta-Northwave (Tebaldi), Amica Chips-Costa Almeria, Liquigas-Pata (Massi), Team Home-Jack and Jones (Marc Streel), Acceptcard, Euskaltel-Euskadi.

Past Winners

1949    Henri Massal (Fra)
1950    Antonin Rolland (Fra)
1951    Raphael Geminiani (Fra)
1952    Siro Bianchi (Ita)
1953    Pierre Nardi (Fra)
1954    Jesus Martinez (Spa)
1955    Miguel Poblet (Spa)
1956    Antonin Rolland (Fra)
1957    Jean Pierre Schmitz (Lux)
1958    Francis Pipelin (Fra)
1959    Jean Brankaert (Fra)
1960    Valentin Hout (Fra)
1961    Joseph Groussard (Fra)
1962    Mies Stolker (Ned)
1963    Fernando Manzaneque (Spa)
1964    André Foucher (Fra)
1965    André Foucher (Fra)
1966    Jean Claude Theilliere (Fra)
1967    Michel Grain (Fra)
1968     
1969    Luis Ocana (Spa)
1970    Walter Ricci (Fra)
1971    Eddy Merckx (Bel)
1972    Cyrille Guimard (Fra)
1973    Raymond Poulidor (Fra)
1974    Jean Pierre Danguilaume (Fra)
1975    Francesco Moser (Ita)
1976    Alain Meslet (Fra)
1977    Wladimiro Panizza (Ita)
1978    Claudio Bortolotto (Ita)
1979    Giuseppe Saronni (Ita)
1980    Jean René Bernaudeau (Fra)
1981    Jean René Bernaudeau (Fra)
1982    Jean René Bernaudeau (Fra)
1983    Jean René Bernaudeau (Fra)
1984    Domenique Garde (Fra)
1985    Silvano Contini (Ita)
1986    Claude Criquielion (Bel)
1987    Patrice Esnault (Fra)
1988    Claude Criquielion (Bel)
1989    Jérome Simon (Fra)
1990    Gerard Rué (Fra)
1991    Gilbert Duclos Lassalle (Fra)
1992    Luc Leblanc (Fra)
1993    Maurizio Fondriest (Ita)
1994    Jan Svorada (Svk)
1995    Miguel Indurain (Spa)
1996    Laurent Jalabert (Fra)
1997    Alberto Elli (Ita)
1998	Laurent Dufaux (Swi) Festina
Past Winners by Mario Stiehl, Berlin