67th Paris-Nice - HIS

France, March 8-15, 2009

Photography

Stage 8 - March 15: Nice - Nice, 119km

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Images by AFP Photo

• Contador congratulated Luis Leon Sanchez before the stage, but the Astana racer tried everything still on the final day.
• Sanchez and Contador are good friends
• The jerseys before the stage with Chavanel in green (points), Martin in polka dot and Seeldraeyers in white (young rider)
• Sanchez had the work cut out for him on then last day.
• Luis Leon Sanchez had a tough final day into Nice.
• The top GC guys had to work hard to bring Contador, who escaped on the first climb of the day.
• Contador shed his last rivals on the col d'Eze, but was caught on the descent.
• Contador checks to see if he can make out his rivals in the distance.
• Chavanel had an untimely flat in the end but was able to re-join the group and keep green and podium spot.
• The descent into Nice is nice
• The three escapers who survived before the peloton were Schleck (leading), Contador and Colom.
• The sprint between Colom (l) and Contador in Nice.
• A happy Colom finally wins after in an aggressive mood the last few days.
• Sanchez celebrates his overall victory
• A family dedication with the pacifier on the podium.
• A happy Sanchez thanked his teammates for the hard work.
• The final podium with winner Sanchez in the middle. Second placed Schleck is on the right and third-placed Chavanel on the left.

Images by Florian & Susanne Schaaf/www.cyclingpictures.de

• Tony Martin (Team Columbia - Highroad) sitting around in his King of the Mountains jersey.
• Race leader Luis-Leon Sanchez (Caisse d'Epargne) greets the other jersey holders on the start line.
• The jersey wearers all ready to roll on the final stage.
• Tony Martin (Team Columbia - Highroad) greets the race director, Christian Prudhomme, at the start.
• Luis-Leon Sanchez talks to a Caisse d'Epargne teammate at the start.
• Race director Christian Prudhomme announces the race's departure.
• The peloton rolls out from the start on the final stage.
• Riders roll out of Nice for the 119 kilometre stage.
• Alberto Contador (Astana), Antonio Colom (Team Katusha), and Fränk Schleck (Saxo Bank) were the only riders to stay away.
• Alberto Contador (Astana) throws his bike but Antonio Colom (Team Katusha) claimed the stage win.
• Antonio Colom (Team Katusha) celebrates his stage win in Nice.
• Leon-Luis Sanchez sprints in the bunch but the result doesn't matter much. The important thing is he's retained the leader's jersey and won the race.
• Katusha, it's Russian for 'I beat you' is something along the lines of what Antonio Colom was saying on the podium.
• There was no dummy spitting by Antonio Colom (Katusha) who won the final stage in Nice.
• Antonio Colom (Katusha) got a nice gold trophy in Nice.
• Caisse d'Epargne's Leon-Luis Sanchez gets his final yellow jersey in Nice.
• Leon-Luis Sanchez (Caisse d'Epargne) holds up the tiger - we're guessing ASO gets a good bulk deal on these from the manufacturer.
• Caisse d'Epargne's Leon-Luis Sanchez celebrates his overall win in Nice.
• Sylvain Chavanel (Quick Step) claimed the points classification over Alberto Contador (Astana).
• Kevin Seeldrayers (Quick Step) took the best young rider's jersey.
• Overall podium (L-R): Sylvain Chavanel (Quick Step), Luis-Leon Sanchez (Caisse d'Epargne) and Fränk Schleck (Team Saxo Bank).
• Overall podium (L-R): Sylvain Chavanel (Quick Step), Luis-Leon Sanchez (Caisse d'Epargne) and Fränk Schleck (Team Saxo Bank).
• Tony Martin (Team Columbia - Highroad) took the King of the Mountains jersey.
• The final jersey winners from the 2009 Paris-Nice: Kevin Seeldrayers, Leon-Luis Sanchez, Sylvain Chavanel and Tony Martin.
• Team Saxo Bank claimed the teams classification.

Stage 7 - March 14: Manosque - Fayence, 191km

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Images by AFP Photo

• Luis León Sánchez (Caisse d'Epargne) launched a courageous solo attack that paid off in a stage win and the overall lead.
• Luis León Sánchez (Caisse d'Epargne) busted out a few classic stage win salutes: The corazón
• Luis León Sánchez (Caisse d'Epargne) does the "gracias a Dios"
• Alberto Contador (Astana) was shattered after losing three minutes on the final 15km.
• Luis León Sánchez (Caisse d'Epargne) dons the yellow jersey.
• Alberto Contador (Astana) couldn't even get off his bike without help after cracking on stage seven.
• Luis León Sánchez (Caisse d'Epargne) makes his move and Alberto Contador cannot hold the wheel.
• The attacks on the yellow jersey came fast and frequent.
• Sanchez leads the yellow jersey
• Luis León Sánchez (Caisse d'Epargne) flew to the finish putting enough time into his competitors to take the overall lead.
• The strain is evident on the faces of the lead group before the attacks came.
• Sylvain Chavanel (Quick Step) took over the green jersey with a solid fourth place.

Images by Christophe Mury /www.velo-club.net

• Christian Knees (Milram) gets up one of the many climbs on today's route.
• Roman Kreuziger (Liquigas) looked strong today.
• Liquigas' Roman Kreuziger did plenty of time on the front today.
• Saxo Bank's Gustav Larsson kept in touch up the climbs.
• Columbia-Highroad was vigilant on the front of the peloton.
• Marco Pinotti (Columbia-Highroad) on his way to 101st place.
• Christophe Riblon (AG2R La Mondiale) was part of the day's break.
• Heinrich Haussler (l) and Chris Sørensen head up one of the climbs.
• Roman Kreuziger leads the day's break that didn't stay away until the finish.
• Alexandre Pichot (BBox Bouygues Telecom) spent time in the break today.
• Stéphane Auge (Cofidis) finished the day in 69th place.
• Marcus Burghardt (Columbia-Highroad) was again active at the front of the peloton.
• Something's interesting... as the Columbia-Highroad boys take a peek ahead.
• Sandy Casar (Française des Jeux) keeps it real in the group.
• Astana's Alberto Contador had an off day on stage seven.
• Sébastien Joly (Française des Jeux) had a day in the break.

Images by Florian & Susanne Schaaf/cyclingpictures.de

• The sun has hit Paris-Nice for good.
• Christophe Moreau always shows good form in Paris-Nice and is just outside the top 10 for now.
• Sammy Sanchez started the stage but had to abandon due to knee problems.
• Contador had to work hard from the beginning and forgot to eat in the process.
• Moreau powers along for a ninth place in stage 7.
• The bunch passes the Lac de St. Croix
• Marcel Sieberg (Team Columbia - Highroad) rides with the snowcapped mountains in the background.
• The break of the day
• Sébastien Joly (Française des Jeux) pulls in the break.
• Boys, this is the way to Fayence, the finishing town.
• The bunch chased behind
• Marcus Burghardt (Team Columbia - Highroad) tucked in and getting his training in for the Spring Classics.
• Luis Leon Sanchez on his solo flyer to victory.
• Sanchez celebrates his win
• He won the last stage last year but taking the GC with one day remaining to go tops it.
• Sanchez thanked his team for the hard work, but he had to finish it off solo.
• Sanchez always feels well in the medium and high mountains in southern France.
• Chavanel checks on his breakaway partners to see who would try to surprise him in the sprint for second.
• Colom stormed across the line for second, ahead of Schleck and Chavanel.
• An exhausted Jens Voigt rode his heart out for captain Fränk Schleck
• Contador had a hunger knock..
• ...and was suffering in the final kilometres
• He immediately went over to the barriers to catch his breath, not even getting off his bike

Stage 6 - March 13: Saint-Paul-Trois-Châteaux - La Montagne de Lure, 182.5km

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Images by AFP Photo

• Alberto Contador (Astana) takes his best shot and flies to the stage win and yellow jersey on stage six atop La Montagne de Lure.
• Sylvain Chavanel (Quick Step) put up a good fight but ultimately could not match Contador on the final climb.
• Alberto Contador (Astana) back in yellow again.
• Alberto Contador (Astana) flies the coop with 5km to go.
• There's little Sylvain Chavanel can do to hold onto yellow, and he's getting no help from the Saxo Bank boys.
• Alberto Contador (Astana) rides away from Fränk Schleck (Saxo Bank) and Antonio Colom (Katusha).
• Contador pedals up past the snow line on his way to the stage win in Paris-Nice.
• Contador grins and bears the pain on his solo attack on La Montagne de Lure.

Images by Florian & Susanne Schaaf/cyclingpictures.de

• A content Alberto Contador celebrates another good day in the saddle.
• And gets a yellow jersey for his efforts.
• It's difficult to see Contador losing his jersey now that it's so late in the race.
• The six shooter salute gets a run on the podium.
• Silence-Lotto's Jürgen Roelandts waits for his turn at the sign on.
• The nine-man break got away quite early into the stage.
• Romain Feillu (Agritubel) leads the break that didn't stay away today.
• The day's break couldn't suppress the peloton all stage.
• Especially when Astana controlled it for captain Alberto Contador.
• Race leader Sylvain Chavanel was again protected by the Quick Step crew.
• Although Chavanel wouldn't hold on to his jersey by day's end.
• The first sun of spring greeted riders on the stage to La Montagne de Lure.
• Sylvain Chavanel descends with his teammates around him.
• The back of the field is a bad place to be in the mountains.
• Mickaël Delage (Silence-Lotto) leads the nine-man break.
• Silence-Lott's Mickaël Delage helped drive the day's break.
• The day's big break was doomed from the start, given that so much was at stake today.
• Columbia-Highroad did plenty of work in pursuit of the leaders.
• Columbia-Highroad's Markus Burghardt drives the peloton.
• There were plenty of nerves in the peloton today.
• Alberto Contador wasn't nervous, however and made the day count with victory by 58 seconds.
• A quick chest thump and it's time to throw to relax...
• After a job well done in La Montagne de Lure.
• Fränk Schleck and Luis-Leon Sanchez made it to the finish in second and third respectively.
• Fränk Schleck gulps some air after a big effort on the final climb.
• Schleck showed he has healthy form after a stage win in the Tour of California last month.
• The next group at the finish included Cadel Evans (l), Jonathan Hivert (c), Jens Voigt (background), David Moncoutié and Sammy Sanchez (r).
• Moncoutié and Evans (r) duel it out for finishing order.
• Kevin Seeldrayers brought home his team captain Sylvain Chavanel, to limit the damage done by Contador.
• It was a tough day for Chavanel who dropped to third on GC.
• Saxo Bank's Jens Voigt grabs the big ones at the finish.
• Christophe Moreau (Agritubel) finished in the top 10.
• It was Moreau's best performance for quite some time.
• Kevin Seeldrayers (Quick Step) earned his keep, and some more respect, today.

Images by Petitesreines/Petitesreines.free.fr

• The break on the way up
• Niki Terpstra (Team Milram) rides in the break
• Mickaël Delage (Silence-Lotto) in the break
• The break goes through beautiful countryside
• The Astana-led bunch followed a couple of minutes later.
• Astana is putting its stamp on the race
• The Kazakh team does better than in the rainy stage where Contador was isolated.
• Contador out of the saddle
• Christophe Moreau sitting near the front
• The snow-covered mountain top

Stage 5 - March 12: Annonay - Vallon-Pont-d’Arc, 204km

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Images by AFP Photo

• Jérémy Roy (Française des Jeux) gets the stage win with a courageous attack with more than 5km to go.
• Thomas Voeckler (Bbox Bouygues Telecom) leads the day's successful breakaway ahead of Tony Martin (Columbia-Highroad) and Jeremy Roy (FdJ)
• Jérémy Roy (Française des Jeux) gives the thumbs up after scoring a big win in stage five.
• Sylvain Chavanel (Quick Step) congratulates Roy on his way up to get the yellow jersey.
• A third yellow jersey for Sylvain Chavanel.
• Sylvain Chavanel (Quick Step) always had a teammate nearby.
• Sylvain Chavanel was well protected by Quick Step and kept hold of the yellow jersey on a mountainous stage five.

Images by Sirotti/www.sirotti.it

• The grapevines are still in 'winter mode' at this time of year in France.
• Jérémy Roy remains focused as he heads towards his first pro win.
• The leading trio makes its way to Vallon-Pont-d'Arc.
• Française des Jeux's Jérémy Roy proved his worth as a winner today, with a commanding performance.

Images by Florian & Susanne Schaaf/cyclingpictures.de

• The trio had plenty of TV time and made the most of it, fighting it out for the win.
• Tony Martin proved he's got a diesel engine doing the lion's share of the work on the front.
• Quick Step stacks the front in defence of the race lead.
• Race leader Sylvain Chavanel is tucked up nicely in the Quick Step womb.
• Go Jérémy, go! Roy powers to the line in Vallon-Pont-d'Arc.
• Tony Martin leads Voeckler but finished the day in third.
• And with plenty of time to spare...
• Roy was able to celebrate...
• His first pro win. A great day for Française des Jeux.
• Then it was left to Murilo Fischer and Romain Feillu to fight it out for the scraps.
• A jubilant Jérémy Roy celebrates on the podium.
• After securing his first pro win Jérémy Roy was all smiles.
• New King of the Mountains, Tony Martin deserved his classification lead after a day of hard work.
• Thomas Voeckler rides the lonely road of a small breakaway.
• Columbia-Highroad's Tony Martin showed his class today, helping keep the break ahead of the peloton.
• It was Jérémy Roy, however who made it matter at the end of the day.
• While Quick Step was busy patrolling the front of the peloton...
• The Astana crew was ensuring Alberto Contador avoided trouble.
• Jen Voigt (Saxo Bank) was keeping it relaxed in the bunch.
• A bit barren now but wait until a couple of months' time.
• Sprint leader Mirco Lorenzetto (Lampre) was hanging out the back for a while.

Stage 4 - March 11: Vichy - Saint-Étienne, 173.5km

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Images by AFP Photo

• American Christian Vande Velde (Garmin-Slipstream) celebrates on the podium.
• Sylvain Chavanel (Quick Step) started stage four in yellow.
• Cadel Evans (Silence-Lotto) is next up for signing autographs.
• Spaniard Alberto Contador (Astana) signs autographs for some of his younger fans.
• Christian Vande Velde (Garmin-Sliptream) wins solo with plenty of time to give a victory salute.
• Christian Vande Velde (Garmin-Slipstream) gives his winning salute.

Images by Sirotti/www.sirotti.it

• Sylvain Chavanel (QuickStep) stays in yellow for another day.
• Sylvain Chavanel maintained the race lead during stage four.
• Christian Vande Velde showed that his winter preparation has put him in good stead for 2009.
• Christian Vande Velde (Garmin-Slipstream) wins solo in Saint Etienne.

Images by Florian & Susanne Schaaf/cyclingpictures.de

• The early spring landscape in France makes for a fantastic backdrop.
• The Cofidis boys certainly stand out in the peloton.
• With riders up the road the group wasn't giving it too much gas today.
• The Quick Step boys stick together to provide Chavanel with a comfortable transition through stage four.
• Barren, but not for long... The trees in France will be out of hibernation soon.
• Samuel Dumoulin (Cofidis) rides in the front of the break.
• From any angle you could tell Quick Step was protecting the front.
• And Sylvain Chavanel was the beneficiary.
• Dude, you didn't win... One of the Skil Shimano boys was happy with his performance today.
• Christophe Moreau rolls in to the finish while Jens Voigt has a chuckle behind.
• Best young rider Kevin Seeldrayers comes in to finish 24th.
• Despite being cold the rain held off for most of the day, allowing some of the scenery to be enjoyed.
• The tail of the peloton pulls the cord a little...
• While the break gets away and puts plenty of time into the bunch.
• Sylvain Chavanel and Kevin Seeldrayers were looked after by their teammates.
• Heinrich Haussler looks none too impressed as he rolls in for 26hth place on the stage.
• Christian Vande Velde (Garmin-Slipstream) won convincingly.
• Quick Step and Chavanel defended admirably on another wintry kind of day.

Stage 3 - March 10: Orval - Vichy, 178km

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Images by AFP Photo

• Sylvain Chavanel (Quick Step) seizes the day with the stage win and the overall lead on GC.
• Heinrich Haussler (Cervelo) took the green jersey for a ride in the day's breakaway.
• Chavanel get the better of Juan Antonio Flecha (Rabobank).
• Sylvain Chavanel (Quick Step) wins the sprint and takes possession of the yellow jersey.
• Chavanel is not the least bit happy, is he?
• Sylvain Chavanel (Quick Step) took the yellow jersey on stage three.
• Sylvain Chavanel (Quick Step) leads the split which formed in the finale.
• Alberto Contador (Astana) lost the overall lead on a rainy stage three.

Images by Jean-Francois Quenet/Cyclingnews.com

• Sylvain Chavanel (Quick Step) speaks to the press.

Images by Sirotti/www.sirotti.it

• Rabobank set the race on fire some 50 kilometres from the finish.
• Chavanel follows his teammate Kevin Seeldraeyers (Quick Step) in the break royale.
• Alberto Contador (Astana) was on the wrong end of the split and lost a minute.
• Chavanel sprinted out of the draft of Juan Antonio Flecha (Rabobank) for a great stage win in Paris-Nice.
• A happy Chavanel after his stage win in Vichy.

Images by Florian and Susanne Schaaf/www.cyclingpictures.de

• There more cars than riders in the break of the day.
• The bunch huddles together in the rain.
• Alberto Contador had a yellow rain jacket on earlier but once it was soaked he changed to a black outfit.
• It was zip-up time in France
• The five-man break...
• was down to four when Bodnar dropped back shortly before the chase group caught them all.
• Bodnar had enough after a day of hard racing and didn't even try to stay with the Rabobank group .
• The bunch comes along at high speed.
• Columbia-Highroad and Cervélo led the chase but once Rabobank took over things disintegrated quickly.

Stage 2 - March 9: Saint-Brisson-sur-Loire - La Chapelle-Saint-Ursin, 195.5km

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Images by AFP Photo

• Alberto Contador (Astana) in yellow after the stage one time trial.
• These same fields will explode with colour in the summer but are brown as the peloton rolls through in March.
• The day's breakaway: Christophe Laurent (Agritubel), Aitor Hernández (Euskaltel-Euskadi), Aleksandr Kuschynski (Liquigas) and Piet Rooijakkers (Skil-Shimano).
• Heinrich Haussler (Cervelo TestTeam) takes the sprint win on stage two.
• Heinrich Haussler (Cervelo TestTeam) steps onto the podium in Paris-Nice stage two.
• Heinrich Haussler (Cervelo TestTeam) wins the sprint ahead of Mark Renshaw (Columbia-Highroad)
• Heinrich Haussler (Cervelo TestTeam) took the green jersey of best sprinter.
• Alberto Contador (Astana) held onto yellow after getting caught behind a crash in the finale.

Images by Sirotti/www.sirotti.it

• The peloton struggled with strong cross-winds, which the event is known for, today.
• Race leader Alberto Contador (Astana) tried to keep out of trouble today.
• Heinrich Haussler (Cervélo TestTeam) didn't leave too early as he had feared, and claimed victory.
• Heinrich Haussler (Cervélo TestTeam) wanted a win but says he might take a few more now.
• Alberto Contador (Astana) looks to be shaping up for another incredible year in 2009.

Images by Jean-Francois Quenet

• Heinrich Haussler (Cervélo TestTeam) was all smiles as his successful season starts.
• Alberto Contador (Astana) was happy to hold on to his overall lead.
• Alberto Contador (Astana) held on to the lead despite being caught up in a crash.

Images by Florian and Susanne Schaaf/www.cyclingpictures.de

• Paris-Nice!
• Warrior Juan Antonio Flecha gets ready
• The break forms with Aitor Hernández (Euskaltel-Euskadi, l) and Piet Rooijakkers (Skil-Shimano). They are waiting for Aleksandr Kuschynski (Liquigas) to catch up. Later Christophe Laurent (Agritubel) joins.
• The peloton races through early-season France where the trees are still in winter training.
• Wilfried Cretskens (Silence-Lotto) is a valuable helper for Cadel Evans.
• The break during it's Drive-Through food stop
• Astana controlled the bunch in protection of yellow.
• The riders in the feed zone where some riders have received their musettes already, but others are still starving.
• A legwarmer's day in sunny but windy conditions.
• Heinrich Haussler takes the stage
• Haussler's win was his third victory this season
• A happy Haussler on the podium
• The German adds to Cervélo's great spring
• Alberto Contador (Astana) kept yellow despite a scary crash in front of him.
• Haussler received the sprinter's jersey
• Tony Martin stays in white for the best young rider.

Stage 1 - March 8: Amilly - Amilly (ITT), 9.3km

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• Bradley Wiggins held the best time for a while, until Contador bettered it.
• Sylvain Chavanel (Quick Step) showed once again that he can time trial even if it is not a road race.
• Alberto Contador (Astana) in his winning ride of 11:05.
• Alberto Contador (Astana) dons the first yellow jersey at Paris-Nice.
• Luis-Leon Sanchez (Caisse d'Epargne) powers to a third place finish, nine seconds behind Contador.

Images by Jean-François Quénet/Cyclingnews.com

• Tony Martin has the white jersey for the best young rider.

Images by Sirotti/www.sirotti.it

• How did Alberto Contador (Astana) win a flat time trial? That's the question on everyone's lips.
• Great Britain's Bradley Wiggins (Garmin - Slipstream) was guttered with his second place.
• Spain's Luis-Leon Sanchez (Caisse d'Epargne) claimed third place.
• As happy as Alberto: Alberto Contador (Astana) was delighted with his time trial win, his rivals however weren't as impressed.
• Alberto Contador (Astana) claims another stuffed lion for his collection.