Recently on Cyclingnews.com |
 Mt Hood Classic Photo ©: Swift |
65th Paris-Nice - ProTour
France, March 11-18, 2007
Main Page Results Overall standings Stage Details Live report Next Stage
Prologue - March 11: Issy-les-Moulineaux - Issy-les-Moulineaux, 4.7 km
A new beginning for avowed anti-doper Millar
By Jean-François Quénet in Issy-les-Moulineaux
|
David Millar (Saunier Duval-Prodir) won the prologue of Paris-Nice only a few kilometers away from Nanterre where he appeared in court four months ago regarding doping charges. Millar's victory also came just days after the presentation of the new UCI anti-doping program. He beat young Roman Kreuziger (Liquigas) who is not yet 20 years old.
Although Millar won a time trial in the Tour of Spain last year, he made clear this win marks the real new beginning to his second career. He has given himself five years in which he wants to become the world's best rider. In the meantime, he bears the flag of the anti-doping campaign.
Bobby Julich (Team CSC), the winner of last year's prologue of Paris-Nice, clocked exactly the same time as last year, but that put him in 11th position, six seconds behind the Scot on a course that was the same except for it being 100 metres shorter. Weather conditions also differed this year with nice, warm temperatures today. Team CSC did not fare as well as previous years; race favorite Fränk Schleck finished in 75th position.
|
"Now it'll be up to Schleck, (Alberto) Contador, and Co to attack me,"Millar said. "It's not going to be easy for them. Saunier Duval is one of the strongest teams here even if some names aren't very well known. We intend to defend the yellow jersey 'til Nice."
Saunier Duval was the most efficient team in the prologue, indeed. With Francisco Ventoso and Reimert Wielinga also in the top eight, they lead the team classification ahead of Française des Jeux, who had a nice surprise with Sébastien Joly finishing third.
|
The most unexpected ride was the one of Kreuziger. The former junior world champion had the best time until Millar crossed the line. "For sure I came here to do well," the Liquigas rider said. "But honestly, I didn't expect to come second. There were people like (Levi) Leipheimer and (David) Zabriskie who are top specialists. I gave everything, so I have no regret about finishing second. The strongest has won, and he deserves it.
"I'm in a process of discovering everything. Paris-Nice is my first race at such a high level. Last year, for my debut as a professional, I had a very light program of no more than 40 races. Now, I feel in good condition, and I target the white jersey in Paris-Nice, at least. If it goes well, I'll try and go in breakaways but I definitely want to be the best young rider in Nice."
Millar might give him some advice on the way. He knows what it is to be a natural super talent and he wants young riders to avoid his mistakes. "I have new responsibilities in the fight against doping," Millar said. "I'm very, very happy with my result today. I'm not exactly at my top physically because I had a big crash at the beginning of January in training. This prologue was my first goal for this season. I went on the course 14 times, and I did the last corner eight times. I feel like myself again."
Photography
For a thumbnail gallery of these images, click here
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.
Results
1 David Millar (GBr) Saunier Duval-Prodir 6.01 (46.869 km/h) 2 Roman Kreuziger (Cze) Liquigas 0.01 3 Sébastien Joly (Fra) Française Des Jeux 0.02 4 Luis León Sánchez (Spa) Caisse d'Epargne 5 Alberto Contador (Spa) Discovery Channel 6 Levi Leipheimer (USA) Discovery Channel 0.03 7 Francisco José Ventoso (Spa) Saunier Duval-Prodir 0.04 8 Remmert Wielinga (Ned) Saunier Duval-Prodir 9 Thomas Lövkvist (Swe) Française Des Jeux 10 Joost Posthuma (Ned) Rabobank 0.05 11 Bobby Julich (USA) Team CSC 0.06 12 Thomas Voeckler (Fra) Bouygues Telecom 13 Daniele Bennati (Ita) Lampre-Fondital 14 Franco Pellizotti (Ita) Liquigas 15 Davide Rebellin (Ita) Gerolsteiner 0.07 16 Gert Steegmans (Bel) Quickstep-Innergetic 17 Cadel Evans (Aus) Predictor-Lotto 0.08 18 Philippe Gilbert (Bel) Française Des Jeux 19 Rémi Pauriol (Fra) Crédit Agricole 20 Jérôme Pineau (Fra) Bouygues Telecom 21 Luke Roberts (Aus) Team CSC 0.09 22 Sylvain Chavanel (Fra) Cofidis 23 Samuel Sánchez (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi 24 Tadej Valjavec (Slo) Lampre-Fondital 25 Jurgen Van den Broeck (Bel) Predictor-Lotto 26 Francisco Pérez (Spa) Caisse d'Epargne 27 Vicente Reynes (Spa) Caisse d'Epargne 0.10 28 Aitor Pérez Arrieta (Spa) Caisse d'Epargne 29 Maxime Monfort (Bel) Cofidis 30 Jesús Del Nero (Spa) Saunier Duval-Prodir 31 Sandy Casar (Fra) Française Des Jeux 32 Samuel Dumoulin (Fra) Ag2r Prévoyance 33 Igor Astarloa (Spa) Milram 34 Joaquím Rodríguez (Spa) Caisse d'Epargne 35 Didier Rous (Fra) Bouygues Telecom 36 Murilo Fischer (Bra) Liquigas 0.11 37 Mikel Astarloza (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi 38 Simon Gerrans (Aus) Ag2r Prévoyance 39 Stijn Devolder (Bel) Discovery Channel 40 David Zabriskie (USA) Team CSC 41 Kevin Van Impe (Bel) Quickstep-Innergetic 42 Andoni Aranaga (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi 43 Tom Danielson (USA) Discovery Channel 44 Yaroslav Popovych (Ukr) Discovery Channel 45 Sébastien Rosseler (Bel) Quickstep-Innergetic 0.12 46 Andy Schleck (Lux) Team CSC 47 Alexandre Botcharov (Rus) Crédit Agricole 48 Mirco Lorenzetto (Ita) Milram 49 Brett Lancaster (Aus) Milram 50 Cyril Dessel (Fra) Ag2r Prévoyance 51 Patxi Vila (Spa) Lampre-Fondital 0.13 52 Patrik Sinkewitz (Ger) T-Mobile 53 Sergio Paulinho (Por) Discovery Channel 54 Tyler Farrar (USA) Cofidis 0.14 55 Markel Irizar (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi 56 Tom Boonen (Bel) Quickstep-Innergetic 57 Alessandro Vanotti (Ita) Liquigas 58 José Vicente Garcia (Spa) Caisse d'Epargne 0.15 59 Rubén Pérez (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi 60 Yuriy Krivtsov (Ukr) Ag2r Prévoyance 61 Tomas Vaitkus (Ltu) Discovery Channel 62 Gregory Henderson (NZl) T-Mobile 63 Nicolas Vogondy (Fra) Agritubel 64 Mathieu Ladagnous (Fra) Française Des Jeux 65 William Bonnet (Fra) Crédit Agricole 0.16 66 Gorka Verdugo (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi 67 Amaël Moinard (Fra) Cofidis 68 Pierrick Fédrigo (Fra) Bouygues Telecom 69 Dmitriy Muravyev (Kaz) Astana 70 Chris Horner (USA) Predictor-Lotto 71 Kai Reus (Ned) Rabobank 0.17 72 Alan Pérez (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi 73 Josep Jufré (Spa) Predictor-Lotto 74 Christian Vande Velde (USA) Team CSC 75 Fränk Schleck (Lux) Team CSC 76 Pieter Weening (Ned) Rabobank 77 Jurgen Van de Walle (Bel) Quickstep-Innergetic 78 Dmitriy Fofonov (Kaz) Crédit Agricole 79 Sebastian Siedler (Ger) Milram 80 Iker Camaño (Spa) Saunier Duval-Prodir 0.18 81 Laurent Lefèvre (Fra) Bouygues Telecom 82 Alberto Fernández De La Puebla (Spa) Saunier Duval-Prodir 83 Nicolas Jalabert (Fra) Agritubel 84 Romain Feillu (Fra) Agritubel 84 Xavier Florencio (Spa) Bouygues Telecom 86 Aaron Kemps (Aus) Astana 87 Matteo Tosatto (Ita) Quickstep-Innergetic 0.19 88 Nicolas Portal (Fra) Caisse d'Epargne 89 Patrick Calcagni (Swi) Liquigas 90 Juan Antonio Flecha (Spa) Rabobank 91 Pietro Caucchioli (Ita) Crédit Agricole 0.20 92 David Loosli (Swi) Lampre-Fondital 93 Johan Van Summeren (Bel) Predictor-Lotto 94 Bert Roesems (Bel) Predictor-Lotto 0.21 95 Mathew Hayman (Aus) Rabobank 96 Steven De Jongh (Ned) Quickstep-Innergetic 97 David López García (Spa) Caisse d'Epargne 98 Björn Schröder (Ger) Milram 99 Jean-Patrick Nazon (Fra) Ag2r Prévoyance 0.22 100 Daniele Righi (Ita) Lampre-Fondital 101 Matej Mugerli (Slo) Liquigas 102 Yoann Le Boulanger (Fra) Bouygues Telecom 103 Aivaras Baranauskas (Ltu) Agritubel 104 Roger Hammond (GBr) T-Mobile 105 Koos Moerenhout (Ned) Rabobank 106 Alberto Ongarato (Ita) Milram 107 Aleksandr Kuschynski (Blr) Liquigas 108 Maxim Iglinsky (Kaz) Astana 0.23 109 Alexandr Kolobnev (Rus) Team CSC 110 Bert Grabsch (Ger) T-Mobile 111 Steve Zampieri (Swi) Cofidis 112 Oliver Zaugg (Swi) Gerolsteiner 0.24 113 Frédéric Bessy (Fra) Cofidis 114 Thomas Frei (Swi) Astana 115 Stéphane Augé (Fra) Cofidis 116 Luca Paolini (Ita) Liquigas 0.25 117 Sylvain Calzati (Fra) Ag2r Prévoyance 118 Thomas Fothen (Ger) Gerolsteiner 119 Hervé Duclos-Lassalle (Fra) Cofidis 120 Hubert Dupont (Fra) Ag2r Prévoyance 0.26 121 Claudio Corioni (Ita) Lampre-Fondital 122 Fabio Baldato (Ita) Lampre-Fondital 123 Heinrich Haussler (Ger) Gerolsteiner 124 Anthony Charteau (Fra) Crédit Agricole 125 Axel Merckx (Bel) T-Mobile 126 Matthew White (Aus) Discovery Channel 127 Freddy Bichot (Fra) Agritubel 0.27 128 Matthias Russ (Ger) Gerolsteiner 129 Guennadi Mikhailov (Rus) Astana 130 Igor Abakoumov (Bel) Astana 131 Angelo Furlan (Ita) Crédit Agricole 132 Jakob Piil (Den) T-Mobile 133 José Antonio Redondo (Spa) Astana 0.28 134 Mikel Gaztañaga Echeverria (Spa) Agritubel 135 Mario Aerts (Bel) Predictor-Lotto 136 Michael Barry (Can) T-Mobile 137 Nicolas Crosbie (Fra) Bouygues Telecom 138 Marcus Burghardt (Ger) T-Mobile 139 Christophe Laurent (Fra) Crédit Agricole 0.29 140 Iban Mayo (Spa) Saunier Duval-Prodir 141 Thorwald Veneberg (Ned) Rabobank 142 Thierry Marichal (Bel) Française Des Jeux 0.31 143 Benoît Vaugrenard (Fra) Française Des Jeux 144 Volker Ordowski (Ger) Gerolsteiner 145 Roy Sentjens (Bel) Predictor-Lotto 146 Wilfried Cretskens (Bel) Quickstep-Innergetic 147 José Luis Arrieta (Spa) Ag2r Prévoyance 148 Martin Müller (Swi) Milram 148 Gerben Löwik (Ned) Rabobank 150 Massimiliano Mori (Ita) Lampre-Fondital 0.32 151 Christophe Rinero (Fra) Saunier Duval-Prodir 152 Marcus Zberg (Swi) Gerolsteiner 153 Kasper Klostergård (Den) Team CSC 0.33 154 Bernhard Kohl (Aut) Gerolsteiner 155 Christophe Detilloux (Bel) Française Des Jeux 0.34 156 Eduardo Gonzalo (Spa) Agritubel 157 Benoît Joachim (Lux) Astana 0.37 158 Iban Velasco Murillo (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi 159 Ralf Grabsch (Ger) Milram 0.38 160 Benoît Salmon (Fra) Agritubel 0.46 Young rider 1 Roman Kreuziger (Cze) Liquigas 6.02 2 Luis León Sánchez (Spa) Caisse d'Epargne 0.01 3 Alberto Contador (Spa) Discovery Channel 4 Francisco José Ventoso (Spa) Saunier Duval-Prodir 0.03 5 Thomas Lövkvist (Swe) Française Des Jeux 6 Philippe Gilbert (Bel) Française Des Jeux 0.07 7 Rémi Pauriol (Fra) Crédit Agricole 8 Jurgen Van den Broeck (Bel) Predictor-Lotto 0.08 9 Maxime Monfort (Bel) Cofidis 0.09 10 Jesús Del Nero (Spa) Saunier Duval-Prodir 11 Andy Schleck (Lux) Team CSC 0.11 12 Tyler Farrar (USA) Cofidis 0.13 13 Tomas Vaitkus (Ltu) Discovery Channel 0.14 14 Mathieu Ladagnous (Fra) Française Des Jeux 15 William Bonnet (Fra) Crédit Agricole 0.15 16 Amaël Moinard (Fra) Cofidis 17 Kai Reus (Ned) Rabobank 0.16 18 Alan Pérez (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi 19 Alberto Fernández De La Puebla (Spa) Saunier Duval-Prodir 0.17 20 Romain Feillu (Fra) Agritubel 21 Aaron Kemps (Aus) Astana 22 Thomas Frei (Swi) Astana 0.23 23 Thomas Fothen (Ger) Gerolsteiner 0.24 24 Claudio Corioni (Ita) Lampre-Fondital 0.25 25 Heinrich Haussler (Ger) Gerolsteiner 26 Matthias Russ (Ger) Gerolsteiner 0.26 27 José Antonio Redondo (Spa) Astana 0.27 28 Marcus Burghardt (Ger) T-Mobile 29 Benoît Vaugrenard (Fra) Française Des Jeux 0.30 30 Kasper Klostergård (Den) Team CSC 0.32 31 Bernhard Kohl (Aut) Gerolsteiner 32 Eduardo Gonzalo (Spa) Agritubel 0.33 Teams 1 Saunier Duval-Prodir 18.11 2 Française Des Jeux 0.06 3 Discovery Channel 0.08 4 Liquigas 0.10 5 Caisse d'Epargne 0.13 6 Bouygues Telecom 0.16 7 Team CSC 0.18 8 Lampre-Fondital 0.20 9 Quickstep-Innergetic 0.22 10 Euskaltel-Euskadi 0.23 11 Cofidis 0.25 12 Predictor-Lotto 13 Ag2r Prévoyance 14 Milram 0.26 15 Crédit Agricole 0.28 16 Rabobank 0.31 17 T-Mobile 0.42 18 Agritubel 0.43 19 Gerolsteiner 0.48 20 Astana 0.49
