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61st Paris-Nice - 2.HC
France, March 9-16, 2003
Photography
Prologue - March 9: Issy-les-Moulineaux, 4.8 km
Stage 1 - March 10: Auxerre - Paray-le-Monial, 191 km
Stage 2 - March 11: La Clayette - Saint-Etienne, 182.5 km
Stage 3 - March 12: Le Puy-en-Velay - Pont du Gard, 192.5 km
Stage 4 - March 13: Source Perrier (Vergèze), 16.5 km
Stage 5 - March 14: Aix-en-Provence - Toulon (Mont Faron), 152.5
km
Stage 6 - March 15: Toulon - Cannes, 194.5 km
Stage 7 - March 16: Nice - Nice, 160 km
Stage 7 - March 16: Nice - Nice, 160 km
Image by Yuzuru Sunada
- The peloton on the Promenade des Anglais in Nice during the final stage of Paris-Nice
Images by AFP Photo/Franck Fife
- The peloton at the top of the Col d'Eze during the final stage of Paris-Nice
- Best young rider Sylvain Chavanel was one of the most aggressive riders in the final stage
- Alexandre Vinokourov (Telekom) rides at the front during the final stage of Paris-Nice
- David Bernabeu (Milaneza) crosses the line to win the last stage of Paris-Nice
- David Bernabeu (Milaneza) celebrates his victory
- Alexandre Vinokourov (Telekom) dedicates his victory to his deceased friend, Andrei Kivilev
- Alexandre Vinokourov (Telekom) holds up a picture of his deceased friend Andrei Kivilev on the podium
- Alexandre Vinokourov (Telekom) with his daughter on the podium of Paris-Nice
- The final podium (L to R) Davide Rebellin (Gerolsteiner, 3rd), Alexandre Vinokourov (Telekom, 1st) and Mikel Zarrabeitia (ONCE, 2nd)
Stage 6 - March 15: Toulon - Cannes, 194.5 km
Images by AFP Photo/Franck Fife
- Alexandre Vinokourov (Telekom) takes a drink during stage 6 of Paris-Nice
- Tyler Hamilton (CSC) during his 101 kilometre breakaway attempt in stage 6
- Sylvain Chavanel (La Boulangere) leads Samuel Sanchez (Euskaltel) during their successful escape
- David Latasa (Kelme) leads the five man break along the sea front in Cannes
- A delighted Joaquim Rodriguez (ONCE) crosses the line to win stage 6
- Past winner of Paris-Nice Laurent Jalabert interviews race leader Alexandre Vinokourov after stage 6
- A thoughtful Alexandre Vinokourov (Telekom) in yellow after stage 6
- Joaquim Rodriguez (ONCE) celebrates his first pro victory on the podium
Images by Yuzuru Sunada
- Past winner of Paris-Nice Laurent Jalabert interviews race leader Alexandre Vinokourov after stage 6
Stage 5 - March 14: Aix-en-Provence - Toulon (Mont Faron), 152.5 km
Images by AFP Photo/Franck Fife
- Alexandre Vinokourov (Telekom) was calm at the start of stage 5, in the green points jersey
- The peloton rides during the fifth stage of Paris-Nice, from Aix-en-Provence to Mont Faron
- Frank Vandenbroucke (Quick.Step-Davitamon) descends during stage 5 of Paris-Nice
- Laurent Brochard (Ag2r) goes for it on Mont Faron
- Tyler Hamilton (CSC) watches Alexandre Vinokourov (Telekom) during stage 5 of Paris-Nice
- With 1.5 km to go to the summit of Mont Faron Alexandre Vinokourov launched an inspired attack, that was not to be surpassed
- Alexandre Vinokourov (Telekom) wins the fifth stage atop Mont Faron
- Alexandre Vinokourov (Telekom) raises his arms in victory and tribute to Andrei Kivilev as he wins the fifth stage atop Mont Faron
- An emotional Alexandre Vinokourov (Telekom) on the podium with his flowers after winning stage 5 of Paris-Nice
- Alexandre Vinokourov (Telekom) blows a kiss to the crowd on the podium
- Alexandre Vinokourov (Telekom) cries after taking the yellow jersey in stage 5 of Paris-Nice
- Alexandre Vinokourov (Telekom) cries in the yellow jersey
- An emotional Alexandre Vinokourov (Telekom) in the yellow jersey after the fifth stage of Paris-Nice
Images by Patrick Begou
- Vinokourov leads the first riders up the climb
- Virenque working the climb
- Virenque rides over his name
- The peloton on their way up
- Hamilton, Camenzind and Chavanel
- Etxebarria's bike and clothing matches the graffiti on the road
Stage 4 - March 13: Source Perrier (Vergèze), 16.5 km
Images by AFP Photo/Franck Fife
- Richard Virenque (Quick-Step) warms up before the start
- Sylvain Chavanel (Brioches La Boulangere) rode to a solid 7th place
- Chavanel's teammate Didier Rous rounded out the top 10
- Richard Virenque is waiting for the mountains
- ONCE's Mikel Zarrabeitia moved into third overall
- Alexandre Vinokourov (Telekom) placed 8th on the stage and sits in 2nd overall
- Tyler Hamilton (CSC) rode another excellent time trial
- Jorg Jaksche (ONCE) was the first to knock off Hamilton's time
- Dario Frigo (Fassa Bortolo) was fastest over the second half of the course
- Dario Frigo (Fassa Bortolo) in full flight
- Dario Frigo (Fassa Bortolo) took the stage win and race lead
Stage 3 - March 12: Le Puy-en-Velay - Pont du Gard, 192.5 km
Images by AFP Photo/Franck Fife
- The members of the Cofidis team observe a minute of silence before the start of the third stage in memory of their teammate Andrei Kivilev, who died after a crash in stage 2
- The remaining seven riders of the Cofidis team cross the line together at the end of the third stage of Paris-Nice
Stage 2 - March 11: La Clayette - Saint-Etienne, 182.5 km
Images by AFP Photo/Franck Fife
- The peloton cross over a bridge during stage 2 of Paris-Nice
- Dario Frigo (Fassa Bortolo) leads the front group during the second stage of Paris-Nice
- Davide Rebellin (Gerolsteiner) raises his arms in happy victory as he takes the second stage in St Etienne
- Davide Rebellin (Gerolsteiner) in the yellow jersey as the new race leader of Paris-Nice
Stage 1 - March 10: Auxerre - Paray-le-Monial, 191 km
Images by AFP Photo/Franck Fife
- Riders pass through the feed zone during the first stage of Paris-Nice from Auxerre to Paray-le-Monial
- Richard Virenque (Quick.Step) on the attack in the company of Sebastian Joly (R) and Cedric Vasseur (L) during the first stage of Paris-Nice
- Alessandro Petacchi (Fassa Bortolo) triumphs in the stage 1 sprint ahead of Robbie McEwen (R) and Stuart O'Grady (L)
- Stuart O'Grady (Credit Agricole) in the yellow jersey by a single second
Prologue - March 9: Issy-les-Moulineaux, 4.8 km
Images by Chris Henry/Cyclingnews
- The ONCE boys warm up before the prologue
- Stuart O'Grady (l) and Thor Hushovd have a chat from the bus with Telekom's Bobby Julich
- Merckx senior, junior, and bike share a moment before the race
- Robbie McEwen (Lotto-Domo) warms up on the turbo trainer
- US Postal's Guennadi Mikhailov rolls up to the start house
- Andy Flickinger (Ag2R) powers up the opening false flat
- Benoit Joachim (USPS) feels the pain
- Udo Bolts (Gerolsteiner) doesn't seem to mind the 1.2km climb
- Tom Boonen (Quick-Step) takes the inside line through the Carrfour de Weiden
- Laurent Brochard (Ag2R) gets it going on the climb
- Saeco's Mirko Celestino on a standard road machine
- French hope Sylvain Chavanel gets some tv time
- David Bernabeu (Milaneza-MSS) leads the charge for the Portuguese team
- Patrice Halgand (Jean Delatour) leans into a corner
- Lotto-Domo's Glenn d'Hollander searches for more speed in the opening kilometre
- Philippe Gaumont (Cofidis) receives encouragement from his director
- Rene Haselbacher (Gerolsteiner) punctures at the worst possible moment: the start of the climb
- Thor Hushovd (Credit Agricole) rode to a solid 11th place
- Jose Alberto Martinez (Euskaltel) tackles the second half of the climb
- Bobby Julich (Telekom) takes a tight line through the turn
- Phonak's Miguel Martinez grins and bears it
- Jorgen Bo Petersen (fakta) represents for Denmark
- Davide Rebellin (Gerolsteiner) maintained contact with the leaders, 9" behind the winner
- Australian champion Stuart O'Grady continues to show good form, taking fourth
- Frank Vandenbroucke is on his way back to top form
- Richard Virenque, heading the right way
- ONCE's Mikel Pradera rode well to finish seventh
- Claus Michael Moller (Milaneza) dives into the turn
- Tyler Hamilton (CSC) flew to a second place in his first race of the season
- Dario Frigo (Fassa Bortolo) is among the top GC contenders
- Nico Mattan (Cofidis) predicted he'd win the stage, and he did
- Bjarne Riis congratulates Tyler Hamilton on his second place
Images by Michel Nourtier
- Kelme-Costa Blanca put in a good run, but it wasn't good enough
- Team tags before the race
- One of the Seaco riders checks his time
- Cedric Vasseur heads off
Images by Peter Geyer
- Sean Kelly won Paris-Nice an amazing SEVEN consecutive years, 1982-1988
- 1996 Tour winner and current CSC team manager Bjarne Riis is all smiles before the prologue
- Tyler Hamilton (CSC) is all business before his first race of the season
- Axel Merckx (Lotto-Domo) adjusts his helmet before heading to the start ramp
- Daniel Baal, former president of the FFC (the French cycling federation), is now deputy director of the Tour de France whose organizers also run Paris-Nice
- Bernard Thevenet, two-time Tour de France champion (1975, 1977) covers the Tour and other races for French television
- Aussies Robbie McEwen (Lotto-Domo) and Matthew White (USPS) share a light moment before the race
- Stuart O'Grady (Credit Agricole) approaches the start ramp during warm-ups
- Joaquim Rodriguez (ONCE) at the top of the climb. He later went on to win stage 6.
- Robbie McEwen (Lotto-Domo) has his eyes on a bigger prize, the centennial Tour green jersey
- Mario Aerts (Telekom) pushes to the top of the climb
- Andy Flickinger (AG2R) on the final stretch before the descent
- Danilo Hondo (Telekom) lost a minute and a half
- Alexis Rodriguez (Kelme) takes the turn at the top
- Kurt Van de Wouwer (Quick Step-Davitamon) can almost see the start of the descent
- Torsten Hiekmann (Telekom) flew to a very respectable 24th place in the prologue
- Josu Silloniz (Euskaltel-Euskadi) didn't appear to be suffering at the top
- Mikel Zarrabeitia (ONCE) limited his losses in the prologue and wound up second overall in Nice, just 11 seconds ahead of Rebellin
- Davide Rebellin (Gerolsteiner) won stage 2, wore yellow, and finished on the podium in third place
- Alessandro Petacchi (Fassa Bortolo) won stage 1
- David Bernabeu (Milaneza) won the final stage in Nice and finished in 6th place
- Tom Boonen (Quick Step-Davitamon) starts a new season on a new team
- Stuart O'Grady (Credit Agricole), wearing the Australian national champion jersey, rode to a solid 4th place in the prologue
- Miguel Martinez (Phonak) feels it at the top of the climb
- The French have great expectations for Sylvain Chavanel who finished Paris-Nice in 5th place and took the best young rider jersey
- Another top young French prospect, Sandy Casar (FDJeux.com) finished a strong 8th in the prologue
- Bobby Julich (Telekom) may get some chances to show himself this season
- Patrice Halgand, a 2002 Tour stage winner, leads the Jean Delatour team
- Tyler Hamilton (CSC) starts a new season with a strong second place finish in the prologue and the KoM jersey in Nice
- Axel Merckx (Lotto-Domo) was one of many who dropped out during stage 6
- Jens Voigt (Credit Agricole) attacks the top of the climb and dreams of another stage victory in the Tour
- Dario Frigo (Fassa Bortolo) finished 6th in the prologue, won stage 4 to take the yellow jersey, then dropped out before stage 5 due to stomach problems
- Nico Mattan (Cofidis) powered to a win in the prologue
- Gilberto Simoni (Saeco), taking the turn at the top of the climb, rode a solid Paris-Nice...but has bigger ambitions
- Defending champion Alexandre Vinokourov (Telekom) rode a solid prologue on Sunday, then lost his best friend, Andrei Kivilev, on Wednesday, before grabbing overall victory in an emotional 2003 Paris-Nice
- Richard Virenque (Quick Step-Davitamon) loves the crowd and they love him, giving him what surely was the biggest applause of the day
- Kurt-Asle Arvesen led the Fakta team at Paris-Nice, was in the decisive break in the final stage (finishing 5th) and finished in 12th place overall
- Laurent Brochard led the AG2R team at Paris-Nice and won the points/green jersey
- Benoit Joachim finished Paris-Nice in 53rd place, the best placing for the USPS team
- Andrei Kivilev (Cofidis) at the top of the climb in the prologue, just 3 days before his tragic death after a bad crash in stage 2
Images by Fotoreporter Sirotti
- Laurent Brochard (Ag2r) hoping for a good time
- Sylvain Chavanel (Brioches la Boulangere) - don't mess with me!
- Miguel Martinez (Phonak), complete with go-fast rainbow stripes
- Baden Cooke (FDJeux.com) totally focused
- Dario Frigo (Fassa Bortolo) looks at the road ahead
- Nico Mattan (Cofidis) ready to start
- Stuart O'Grady (Credit Agricole) in the house
- Davide Rebellin (Gerolsteiner) in the starting house. Use the force!
- Gilberto Simoni (Saeco) espouses strange helmets
- Frank Vandenbroucke (Quick Step) was a little nervous before his ride
- Alexandre Vinokourov (Telekom) was last to start, being the defending champ
- Richard Virenque (Quick Step) concentrates at the start
- Mario Aerts (Telekom) - those vertical stripes really suit your frame!
- Saeco's Igor Astarloa didn't hit his nose on a door - it's a strip to help breathing
- Tom Boonen (Quick Step) did not have an outstanding ride, but his aims are different this week
- Laurent Brochard (Ag2r) in action during the prologue
- Oscar Camenzind (Phonak) managed a competent 12th
- Fabian Cancellara (Fassa Bortolo) was the best young rider with a 5th placing
- Baden Cooke (FDJeux.com) on his way to 15th place in the prologue
- Dario Frigo (Fassa Bortolo) hurting on the first climb
- Tyler Hamilton (CSC) showed his form with a fine second place
- Bobby Julich (Telekom) finished a respectable 27th
- Nico Mattan (Cofidis) leaves for 5'47" of pain
- Robbie McEwen (Lotto-Domo) didn't bother with an aero bike, and evidently only one glove.
- Axel Merckx (Lotto-Domo) starts his effort
- Claus Moller (Milaneza-MSS) leaves the starting gate
- David Moncoutie (Cofidis) hopes for good things later this week
- Daniele Nardello (Telekom) had a steady ride to finish 93rd
- Stuart O'Grady (Credit Agricole) on his way to 4th place in the prologue
- Fassa Bortolo's Alessandro Petacchi rides during the prologue of Paris-Nice
- Ivan Quaranta (Saeco) during the prologue
- Davide Rebellin (Gerolsteiner) launches himself up the climb
- Gilberto Simoni (Saeco) gets going at the start
- Frank Vandenbroucke (Quick Step) feels the effort of the prologue
- Alexandre Vinokourov (Telekom) powers away
- Richard Virenque (Quick Step) gets himself through the prologue
- Nico Mattan (Cofidis) - the first yellow jersey wearer in Paris-Nice
- Nico Mattan (Cofidis) salutes the crowd from the podium
- Nico Mattan (Cofidis) pulls on his yellow jersey
- Nico Mattan (Cofidis) in yellow shows the flowers and the lion
- Nico Mattan (Cofidis) in yellow, complete with Credit Lyonnais stuffed lion
Images by AFP
- Philippe Gaumont (Cofidis) on his way to third place
- Tyler Hamilton (CSC) during the 4.8-kilometre prologue of the Paris-Nice
- Nico Mattan (Cofidis) celebrates on the podium after winning the 4.8-kilometre prologue of the Paris-Nice
- Nico Mattan on his way to first place
Image by Jerome Camilleri
- Cyclingnews' Chris Henry catches Jorg Jaksche in action
Team bikes from the prologue
Images by Chris Henry/Cyclingnews
- Team CSC's new Cervelo time trial machine
- Phonak's time trial bike for Oscar Camenzind
- One of Gilberto Simoni's Cannondale TT bikes
- Gorka Gonzalez's Euskaltel-Euskadi Orbea
- Milaneza-MSS also rides Orbea
- Thor Hushovd's Credit Agricole Look carbon TT frame
- Kelme's new Look KG486 set up for TT use
- Kelme had the greatest variety of frames; this is the new Look KX Light road frame
- Cofidis switched to Decathlon frames for 2003
- Fassa Bortolo's Pinarello, with rear brake mounted near the chain stays
- Gerolsteiner's new Wilier time trial bikes
- A non-standard Gerolsteiner TT bike; Udo Bolts rode a white version of this carbon frame
