65th Paris-Nice - ProTour

France, March 11-18, 2007

Photography

Stage 7 - March 18: Nice - Nice, 129.5 km

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Images by AFP

Alberto Contador (Discovery Channel) decimates the bunch with a brilliant attack
Levi Leipheimer congratulates Contador on a stunning victory
In yellow, Alberto Contador smiles on the podium
Discovery Channel got no gifts and Contador won with pure brute force from the team and the young winner
Alberto Contador (Discovery Channel) looks like he could get used to this treatment
Contador did not contain his joy with winning the overall Paris-Nice
Contador knew he had time to celebrate his spectacular win, and still take the overall
Bang! Contador shot down all of his rivals
Alberto Contador soaks it all up
I won!

Images by Jean-Francois Quenet

Alain Rumpf had the ProTour leader's jersey ready for Contador, but no opportunity to present it
Cadel Evans (Predictor-Lotto) signs an autograph for a young fan.

Stage 6 - March 17: Brignoles - Cannes, 200 km

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Images by AFP

A brilliant win by Sánchez moves him up to third on GC
Sánchez posts it after a well-earned win
Luis León Sánchez celebrates on the podium after winning stage six
Rebellin had a hard day thanks to help from CSC kept his overall lead
Davide Rebellin (Gerolsteiner) kept the jersey, but lost half his team in the process
Luis León Sánchez attacks the break of three, dropping Contador and his teammate Lopez.

Stage 5 - March 16: Sorgues - Manosque, 178 km

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Images by AFP

Italian David Rebellin (Geroslteiner) whips on the overall leader yellow jersey on the podium gets help putting on the overall leader's jersey.
Italian David Rebellin (Gerolsteiner) waves as leader of the GC.
Ukrainian Yaroslav Popovich (Discovery Channel) concentrates as he motors onward.
Ukrainian Yaroslav Popovich (Discovery Channel) celebrates as he crosses the finish line during the fifth stage.
Ukrainian Yaroslav Popovich (Discovery Channel) waves from the podium.

Images by Jean-Francois Quenet

Davide Rebellin talked tactics with DS Udo Bolts.
A smiling Heinrich Haussler before working hard for Davide Rebellin.

Stage 4 - March 15: Maurs - Mende, 169.5 km

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Images by Luc Claessen/www.ctm-images.com

Jurgen Van den Broeck on the final climb
Levi Leipheimer leads on the final climb.
Maxime Montfort gives it all.
Pierrick Frederigo
Sandy Casar before getting caught on final climb.
The group going into last 2km.
The white jersey wearer suffers.
Daniele Benati
David Millar and Sylvain Chavanel on the final climb
Tom Boonen's group heads uphill.
Josepf Jufre climbs with a focus.
Christian Van de Velde (Team CSC) rides uphill.
Frank Schleck, another Team CSC member, hits the climb.
Gert Steegmans (Quick Step - Innergetic) looks up.
Alexandr Kolobnev's group tackles the climb.
Rabobank's Matthew Hayman
Française Des Jeux's Philippe Gilbert on the final climb.

Images by AFP

Italian Davide Rebellin (Geroslteiner) and Spain's Alberto Contador (Right) (Discovery Channel) ride in the lead pack.
The peloton winds about like a snake.
The peloton rides a bridge on the stage between Maurs and Mende.
David Rebellin pushes the pace.
Frenchman Sandy Casar (La Francaise des Jeux) breaks away.
Spanish Alberto Contador (Discovery Channel/Usa) celebrates as he crosses the finish line.
Italian Davide Rebellin (Gerolsteiner/Ger) (center) poses on the podium with the yellow jersey after Stage 4.

Stage 3 - March 14: Limoges - Maurs, 215.5 km

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Images by AFP

Alexandr Kolobnev (Team CSC) flexed his muscles on stage three
Kolobnev celebrates on the podium after winning stage three of Paris-Nice
The effort shows on Alexandr Kolobnev's face as he holds off the peloton to win stage three of Paris-Nice

Images by Jean-Francois Quenet

Pellizotti's hair climbs out of the team bus, along with the rest of the yellow jersey wearer
Swedish champion Thomas Lövkvist poses at the start of stage three
One way to get a podium photo
Kolobnev on the podium all teeth

Images by Luc Claessen/www.ctm-images.com

Uhh, Mr. Boonen? There was a guy up the road…
Did Kolobnev borrow this salute from Laurent Jalabert?
Kolobnev finished well ahead of the peloton
That speck in front of COM1 is Kolobnev, well ahead of the bunch
Axel Merckx sporting a coif and some shades at the start
Bjarne Riis looking serious at the start. He'd lighten up a bit by the finish
Tom Boonen signs autographs at the start of stage three
The peloton enjoys the bucolic view of the French countryside
Franco Pellizotti gets his second yellow jersey
Kolobnev on the podium keeping his glee contained for the moment
Kolobnev unleashes a blinding white grin
The escapees who didn't make it to the line
Liquigas keeps control of the gap to keep Pellizotti in yellow
Pellizotti gives his hair a last bit of fresh air before helmet time.

Stage 2 - March 13: Vatan - Limoges, 177 km

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Images by AFP

Discovery riders Tomas Vaitkus and Matt White were popular with the locals in Vatan this morning.
David Millar (Saunier Duval) looking cool in yellow.
Alberto Contador (Discovery Channel) at the start.
Roman Kreuzinger (Liquigas) in the white jersey of best young rider.
Spring racing in France doesn't get much better than this.
Cadel Evans crusin' along in the peloton.
We're in France, incase you were wondering...
'They're behind you.' Voeckler and Gilbert check their time gap as the break pulls away.
Race leader David Millar (Saunier Duval) well protected by his teammates.
Gilbert leads the day's four-man escape.
Thomas Voeckler (Bouygues Telecom) and Philippe Gilbert (Française des Jeux) drive the break.
Murilo Fischer (Liquigas) going full gas in the closing stages.
Thomas Voeckler (Bouygues Telecom) and Murilo Fischer (Liquigas) tried to make a go of it but were caught with just one kilometre to go
Franco Pellizotti (Liquigas) surprised the sprinters on the uphill finish into Limoges
Pellizotti takes a breath after a furious run-in to Limoges
Arms akimbo, Franco Pellizotti had plenty of time to celebrate his win
Franco Pellizotti celebrates winning stage two of Paris-Nice
Pellizotti dons the yellow jersey he holds a slim six second lead over David Millar
Yaroslav Popovich takes a corner
Daniele Bennati in green

Images by Luc Claessen/www.ctm-images.com

Stage 1 - March 12: Cloyes-sur-le-Loir - Buzançais, 186 km

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Jean-Patrick Nazon (Ag2r) wins ahead of Siedler and Hayman
Nazon celebrates on the podium
Nazon tastes victory for the first time in a while
Velasco takes a big pull trying to keep the break clear
Herve Duclos-Lasalle (Cofidis) tries to attack as the peloton chases the break down
Racing to the sun
Yellow jersey David Millar is nearly indistinguishable from his Saunier Duval teammates.
Christophe Laurent (Credit Agricole) and Ivan Velasco (Euskatel-Euskadi) in the break

Prologue - March 11: Issy-les-Moulineaux - Issy-les-Moulineaux, 4.7 km

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Images by Fotoreporter Sirotti

David Zabriskie (Team CSC) ready to rock in the USA Champ colours.
Tom Boonen (Quickstep-Innergetic) ready to go; he will be looking forward to the sprint stages after finishing in 56th for the day.
David Millar (Saunier Duval-Prodir)
Levi Leipheimer (Discovery Channel looking concentrated on the job ahead for the day.
Fränk Schleck (Team CSC) finished back in 75th
Igor Astarloa (Milram) had a good day in his new team colours.
Daniele Bennati (Lampre-Fondital) rode very well, the top Italian on the day.
Franco Pellizotti (Liquigas) rode strong, finishing right behind compatriot Bennati.
Davide Rebellin (Gerolsteiner) or Tin-Tin is gunning it, finishing in 15th, to make three Italians in a row.
Cyril Dessel (Ag2r Prévoyance) grits and gets about the job.
Tom Boonen (Quickstep-Innergetic) puts all of his muscle into the pedals.
Sylvain Chavanel (Cofidis) flies the french Champion colours; finishing 22nd
Patrik Sinkewitz (T-Mobile)
Sandy Casar (Française Des Jeux) looks ahead.
Cadel Evans (Predictor-Lotto) road well for the early-season, the Aussie finished 8" back.
Pietro Caucchioli (Crédit Agricole) had a slow day, finishing at 20".
Levi Leipheimer (Discovery Channel) won the Tour of California last month and had a good ride today in the Prologue.
Bobby Julich (Team CSC) was the winner of the 2006 prologue but could only manage 11th today.
Samuel Sánchez (Euskaltel-Euskadi)
Luis León Sánchez (Caisse d'Epargne)
Axel Merckx (T-Mobile) breathes deep; he will retire after the Tour de France.
Chris Horner (Predictor-Lotto) going strong, finishing in 70th, always with a smile.
Yaroslav Popovych (Discovery Channel)
Roman Kreuziger (Liquigas) absolutely hammered today, finishing second behind Millar and currently leads the young rider competition.
Didier Rous (Bouygues Telecom)
Sébastien Joly (Française Des Jeux
Tom Danielson (Discovery Channel) finished 11" back.
Thomas Voeckler (Bouygues Telecom)
David Zabriskie (Team CSC) finished 11" back on Millar.
Iban Mayo (Saunier Duval-Prodir) closed the day 29" back on the winner.
Luca Paolini (Liquigas) pushes his Cannondale machine.
David Millar (Saunier Duval-Prodir) concentrated on his winning ride.
David Millar (Saunier Duval-Prodir) rides to the win, at an average pace of 46.869 km/h
Patxi Vila (Lampre-Fondital) was the last rider out of the start house.
David Millar (Saunier Duval-Prodir) happy to be on the podium.
David Millar (Saunier Duval-Prodir) also won the prologue of the 2000 Tour de France.
David Millar (Saunier Duval-Prodir) presented with prizes.
David Millar (Saunier Duval-Prodir) takes the leader's jersey.

Images by Luc Claessen/www.ctm-images.com

Alberto Contador (Discovery Channel) in his new team colours.
Axel Merckx (T-Mobile) looks tough.
Benoît Joachim (Astana) flies the Luxembourg colours in his new team Astana.
Bobby Julich (Team CSC) the winner of the 2006 Paris-Nice Prologue
Cadel Evans (Predictor-Lotto) rode well for the day.
Chris Horner (Predictor-Lotto) putting muscle into the machine on the 4.7km course.
David Millar (Saunier Duval-Prodir) on the way to the win.
David Millar (Saunier Duval-Prodir) concentrates and finishes with a time of 6.01.
David Zabriskie (Team CSC) is hunched over his Cervélo machine.
Fränk Schleck (Team CSC) did not have a great day and will look forward to the latter part of the race.
Gert Steegmans (Quickstep-Innergetic) will be seen later leading out Boonen in the sprint.s
Igor Astarloa (Milram) finished 10" back.
Joost Posthuma (Rabobank) finished in 10th at 5".
Juan Antonio Flecha (Rabobank) finished 19" back.
Jurgen Van den Broeck (Predictor-Lotto) looks sleek on his bike.
Levi Leipheimer (Discovery Channel) is using the same form that took him to the overall win in the Tour of California for good results in France.
Luis León Sánchez (Caisse d'Epargne) looks very slim.
Mario Aerts (Predictor-Lotto) finished 28" back.
Philippe Gilbert (Française Des Jeux) finished in 18th for the day.
Bert Roesems (Predictor-Lotto) powers his Ridley machine.
Roger Hammond (T-Mobile) in his new team colours.
Roman Kreuziger (Liquigas) had an amazing day and now leads the young rider classification.
Roy Sentjens (Predictor-Lotto)
Stijn Devolder (Discovery Channel)
Sylvain Chavanel (Cofidis) in the French TT Champion colours.
Tom Boonen (Quickstep-Innergetic) finished 14" back and will have a tough time to try to capture the leader's jersey.
Tom Danielson (Discovery Channel) powers the bike with his lanky frame.
Kevin Van Impe (Quickstep-Innergetic)

Images by Régis Garnier/www.velofotopro.com

Patrice Clerc and Christian Prudhomme chat before the Paris-Nice starts.
The flag rises on the Paris-Nice's start.
Angelo Furlan (Crédit Agricole).
Sébastien Joly (Française Des Jeux) takes third place.
Sergio Paulhino (Discovery Channel).
Andy Shleck (Team CSC).
France's Pierrick Fédrigo (Bouygues Telecom).
Tyler Farrar (Cofidis).
Philippe Gilbert (Française Des Jeux) hopes to have a good Paris-Nice.
Amael Moinard (Cofidis) look pensive.
The eventual winner David Millar (Saunier Duval-Prodir) waits at the start.
A warm up for Tom Boonen
Tom Boonen (Quickstep-Innergetic) at the start.
Alberto Contador takes the start after Discovery Channel teammate Tom Boonen.
'I'm the winner?'
David Millar is congratulated by his sport director.
David Millar swaps his yellow jersey for a yellow jersey.
Millar celebrates his win on the ProTour's first stage of 2007.
Liquigas' Roman Kreuzinger takes the young rider jersey at just 19 years of age.