GP d'Ouverture La Marseillaise - 1.1

France, February 6, 2007

2006 Results Results Past winners

Unibet.com repeats in Marseillaise

Jeremy Hunt (Unibet.com)
Photo ©: Sirotti

Unibet.com won this traditional European race season opener for the second year in a row. Jeremy Hunt (Unibet.com) repeated last year's success of Baden Cooke, with Mikhail Ignatiev (Tinkoff Credit Systems) in second and Staf Scheirlinckx (Cofidis) in third. The 32-year-old Hunt took the final sprint at the end of the 126.7 km race between Gardanne and Luminy in southern France.

Unibet's win made a strong statement after their inclusion in the race was threatened earlier this week. Just before the race, organizers granted permission for Unibet to take the start, but only under the condition that the ProTour team not display the Unibet.com name of their lead sponsor. French law prohibits advertising of foreign lottery and betting institutions. Unibet accepted the decision and raced in neutral jerseys with large question marks replacing their sponsor's name. The team's lawyer said the advertising ban violated European law.

Belgian Staf Scheirlinckx (Cofidis) out-sprinted Glenn D'Hollander (Chocolade Jacques) for third.

T-Mobile reported that favourite Roger Hammond had an unfortunate debut in team colours. He came off on the last climb and was left behind by teammates. According to www.t-mobile-team.com, director Allan Peiper said, "Roger is in good form and proved his credentials as a leading figure in the team. Of course he's annoyed about today's bad luck, but he'll put that behind him over the next days at the Star of Bessège where he'll show his young compatriot Mark Cavendish the way to the front of the peloton." Hammond finished ninth. Only 16 riders managed to finish within the time limit.

Photography

For a thumbnail gallery of these images, click here

Images by Fotoreporter Sirotti

Unibet.com looking normal in its trade jerseys
Unibet.com at the start in its new jerseys.
Jeremy Hunt (Unibet.com) ahead of Tinkoff rider in European opener.
Jeremy Hunt (Unibet.com) takes win in Euro opener.
Jeremy Hunt (Unibet.com) over Ignatiev in France.
Jeremy Hunt (Unibet.com) with win.
Mikhail Ignatiev (Tinkoff Credit Systems) comes in for second.
Mikhail Ignatiev (Tinkoff Credit Systems) misses out on win.
Mikhail Ignatiev (Tinkoff Credit Systems) finishes in second.
Staf Scheirlinckx (Cofidis) finishes in third.
Christophe Moreau (Ag2r Prévoyance) finishes.
Tyler Hamilton (Tinkoff Credit Systems) back after two years.
Axel Merckx (T-Mobile) ends a day of racing.
Riders finishing in La Marseillaise.
Riders finishing in La Marseillaise.
Jeremy Hunt (Unibet.com) with winnings in France.
Jeremy Hunt (Unibet.com) on the podium.
Mikhail Ignatiev (Tinkoff Credit Systems) with 2 for second place.
Mikhail Ignatiev (Tinkoff Credit Systems) on the podium.

Images by Régis Garnier/www.velofotopro.com

Tyler Hamilton makes his comeback in France.
Eventual winner Jeremy Hunt on the start line with a special jersey.
It's time for a new season in Europe!
Mikhail Ignatiev (Tinkoff) made the podium.
Christophe Moreau had a good race.
The bunch
Jeremy Hunt wins the Grand Prix La Marseillaise, the first race in France for 2007.
Staf Scheirlinckx (Cofidis) takes the third place.
Hunt on the podium without his usual jersey...

Results

1 Jeremy Hunt (GBr) Unibet.com
2 Mikhail Ignatiev (Rus) Tinkoff Credit Systems                0.03
3 Staf Scheirlinckx (Bel) Cofidis                              0.13
4 Glenn D'Hollander (Bel) Chocolade Jacques-Topsport Vlaanderen
5 Laurens Ten Dam (Ned) Unibet.com
6 Rémi Pauriol (Fra) Crédit Agricole
7 Pierre Rolland (Fra) Crédit Agricole                         0.17
8 Sven Renders (Bel) Chocolade Jacques-Topsport Vlaanderen
9 Roger Hammond (GBr) T-Mobile                                 0.21
10 Pieter Mertens (Bel) Predictor-Lotto                        0.24
11 Jan Kuyckx (Bel) Landbouwkrediet-Tönissteiner               0.58
12 Stef Clement (Ned) Bouygues Telecom
13 Mathieu Drujon (Fra) Auber                                  1.38
14 Hubert Dupont (Fra) Ag2r Prévoyance                         1.39
15 Christophe Moreau (Fra) Ag2r Prévoyance                     3.57
16 Michiel Elijzen (Ned) Cofidis
Classified: 16

Young riders classification

1 Mikhail Ignatiev (Rus) Tinkoff Credit Systems
2 Pierre Rolland (Fra) Crédit Agricole

Mountains

Petit Galibier, 45 km

1 Mikhail Ignatiev (Rus) Tinkoff Credit Systems                6 pts
2 Jeremy Hunt (GBr) Unibet.com                                 4
3 Michiel Elijzen (Ned) Cofidis                                2

Espigoulier, 79 km

1 Mikhail Ignatiev (Rus) Tinkoff Credit Systems                6 pts
2 Jeremy Hunt (GBr) Unibet.com                                 4
3 Michiel Elijzen (Ned) Cofidis                                2

Mountains classification

1 Mikhail Ignatiev (Rus) Tinkoff Credit Systems               12 pts
2 Jeremy Hunt (GBr) Unibet.com                                 8
3 Michiel Elijzen (Ned) Cofidis                                4

Past winners

2006 Baden Cooke (Aus) Unibet.com
2005 Nicki Sörensen (Den) Team CSC
2004 Baden Cooke (Aus) FDJeux.com
2003 Ludo Dierckxsens (Bel) Landbouwkrediet-Colnago
2002 Xavier Jan (Fra) Big Mat-Auber 93
2001 Jakob Piil (Den) CSC World Online
2000 Emmanuel Magnien (Fra)