Home Cyclingnews TV   News  Tech   Features   Road   MTB   BMX   Cyclo-cross   Track    Photos    Fitness    Letters   Search   Forum  
Paris-Tours
Preview
Live coverage
Startlist
Results
Map
Photos
2002 Paris-Tours

 

2003 World Cup

 

Recently on Cyclingnews.com


Bayern Rundfahrt
Photo ©: Schaaf


97th Paris-Tours - CDM

France, October 5, 2003

Main Page    Live report     Results    Espoirs Results    World Cup Standings

Zabel celebrates the return of the sprinters

By Chris Henry in Tours

Zabel dethrones Petacchi
Photo: © C.Henry/CN
Click for larger image

Erik Zabel (Team Telekom) won today's Paris-Tours classic with a flawless sprint, the race's first bunch finish since Nicola Minali's back to back victories in 1995 and 1996. The German national champion used his wealth of experience, the Fassa Bortolo leadout train, and a well executed surge to the line to get the better of Petacchi, the fastest sprinter of 2003. Australia's Stuart O'Grady finished a solid third, adding another World Cup podium place to his season's results.

"This year Petacchi has been the fastest sprinter," Zabel said after his victory over the Fassa Bortolo fast man. "That's also why I'm so happy to have won."

Zabel, who claimed two stage victories ahead of Petacchi in the recent Vuelta a España, along with the overall points classification, noted that the three week tour served him well in the testing 257km classic.

"We saw once again that it was very important for [Team Telekom] to do the Vuelta," he added. "All of the riders who rode the Vuelta had good legs today."

Paris-Tours is essentially a flat race, a sprinter's classic. Nonetheless, not since 1996 has the peloton arrived en masse to dispute the victory on the Avenue de Grammont, a 2.6km finishing drag in the heart of Tours in France's Loire valley. Recent victors such as Jakob Piil, Richard Virenque, Andrea Tafi, and Jacky Durand have all profited from breakaways that foiled the resolve of the peloton to finish together, and either solo or in a small group, the race has favoured the opportunists. This year marked a return to the sprint, as the peloton and the sprinters' teams finally got their timing right, reeling in the day-long breakaway before the final rolling and twisting arrival into Tours.

A happy Zabel
Photo: © AFP
Click for larger image

Who better to test his legs in the high nervous finale than World Cup leader Paolo Bettini (Quick.Step-Davitamon). After his teammate (and former Paris-Tours winner) Johan Museeuw took to the front of the field to set the pace on the outskirts of Tours, Bettini was the only man capable of putting in a solo attack with any chance of success. It didn't work this time, but Bettini's status as favourite for the World Championships in one week's time was confirmed once more.

"I attacked because I wanted to win," Bettini said with a smile. "My condition is good, but unfortunately I was alone and it was too far to go in the headwind. But I'm still happy with the test."

How it unfolded

If there's one certainty in Paris-Tours, it's that Jacky Durand (FDJeux.com) will somehow play a role in the early break. It's what he does. But for all the failed attempts to ride the entire race ahead of the field, Durand's 1998 Paris-Tours win, and a second place last year, continue to inspire "Dudu" to ride the race his own way. This year after 3 kilometres, Durand had seven men for company: Lars Michaelsen (CSC), Tom Boonen (Quick.Step-Davitamon), Sebastian Lang (Gerolsteiner), Samuel Dumoulin (Jean Delatour), Daniele Righi (Lampre), Stefan Kupfernagel (Phonak), and Thomas Liese (Bianchi).

The early break
Photo: © C.Henry/CN
Click for larger image

By the 40 kilometre mark the move had an advantage of 2'20" over a fast-moving peloton, which seemed eager to avoid any double digit advances by the early escapees. While the break stayed away for the majority of the race, its advantage never topped 5'15" over the field, typically due to the work of Fassa Bortolo and Rabobank, controlling the field for Petacchi and Oscar Freire.

As the eight leaders persisted, helped along by the brisk tailwind, the Fassa Bortolo and Rabobank teams kept their sprinters within striking distance. The race was moving well ahead of schedule, and the high speed (the fourth hour of racing was run at 51 km/h) was a sign that little could stop the peloton from arriving together on the Avenue de Grammont.

The front runners decided their chances were best if they worked together, and nobody attacked the lead move. With Durand's eternal ambition to make a break stick, and the powerful legs of Boonen helping drive the pace, the leaders did well to resist the return of the peloton until the final 14 kilometres. Their fate was sealed, however, and despite a last ditch effort by Lang, who jumped clear just before capture, the race was only just beginning as it began to arc its way east and around Tours to arrive from the south.

The field was nervous entering the often narrow and technical sections of the parcours in the residential areas south of Tours. A few riders finally decided to test their legs, but few could hope of gaining any ground on the field. As Quick.Step took over for Rabobank at the front, the white World Cup leader's jersey of Bettini could be seen moving into the front positions. Eager to make a selection, Bettini tried his first acceleration, stretching out the race behind and briefly snapping the elastic. The few who could hold his wheel were not capable of insisting with the move, and he was soon back in the fold.

Attacking again on the Côte du Petit Pas de l'Ane, Bettini this time created the gap he wanted, and found himself alone with under 4km to race. It was a tall order to stay clear, but few would doubt the abilities of the man who has won three World Cup races already this year and is all but assured a second consecutive victory in the overall classification.

Zabel all the way
Photo: © AFP
Click for larger image

As Bettini struggled to hold a slender lead on the peloton, the Fassa Bortolo and Rabobank teams were once more revving their engines in the hope of a bunch finish in Tours. As Bettini reached the long Avenue de Grammont the capture was made, and the difficult task of successfully timing the sprint began. Down the seemingly interminable straightaway, Fassa Bortolo put in its final effort for team leader Petacchi, but Zabel was already on his wheel.

As other challengers such as Fred Rodriguez, Baden Cooke, Julian Dean and Stuart O'Grady forced themselves into the mix, Petacchi launched his own sprint, but it was Zabel who still had the legs after 257km to come around the Italian, saving his victory fist pump until after the line was crossed. Petacchi, clearly disappointed, sat up and put his hands in his face, a sign that he knew his closest shot yet at a World Cup win had eluded him.

Zabel, who has come into fine form after a year not quite up to his usual standards, was ecstatic after his Paris-Tours victory. "In Milan-San Remo Paolo Bettini was exceptional," he explained. "At the Tour of Flanders Van Petegem was exceptional. At the Tour it was Petacchi. On the other hand, I was always well-placed, so it's not so dramatic."

Today the peloton saw once again that it was Zabel who was exceptional.

Photography

Images by Chris Henry/Cyclingnews.com

Images by AFP Photo

Images by Alain Quenderf

Images by Peter Geyer/cyclingfans.com

  • The 2003 Paris-Tours race gets underway.
  • In introducing the Domina Vacanze-Elitron team at the start, race commentator Daniel Mangeas asked the crowd to be careful not to awaken them.
  • Michele Bartoli (Fassa Bortolo) signed autographs while trying to stay warm before the start.
  • Stuart O'Grady reached the podium in third place in his last race for Credit Agricole.
  • Fred Rodriguez (Vini Caldirola-Saunier Duval) was in a good mood before the start, then rode strongly to contest for the sprint finish, getting 9th.
  • Jens "Grizzly" Voigt (Credit Agricole) appeared ready for winter after a long season.
  • Classics legend Johan Museeuw (Quick Step-Davitamon) rode in support of teammate Bettini and finished 28th.
  • David Etxebarria did not make it to the finish.
  • Paolo Bettini (Quick Step-Davitamon) attracted his own crowd before the race where his 11th-place finish was good enough to wrap up the 2003 World Cup win.
  • Bettini juggled signing autographs for fans with speaking to the media.
  • Postal's Christian Vandevelde appeared to be admiring Vjatceslav Ekimov's ruby slippers which, when clicked together, perhaps offered a way home after a long season.
  • Erik Zabel (Telekom) attracted plenty of attention before the start and even more so at the finish where he won.

Results - 257 km

1 Erik Zabel (Ger) Telekom                                            5.24.55 (47.55 km/h)
2 Alessandro Petacchi (Ita) Fassa Bortolo                                    
3 Stuart O'grady (Aus) Credit Agricole                                       
4 Baden Cooke (Aus) FDJeux.com                                               
5 Franck Renier (Fra) Brioches La Boulangere                                 
6 Julian Dean (NZl) Team CSC                                                 
7 Stefano Zanini (Ita) Saeco                                                 
8 Luca Paolini (Ita) Quick Step-Davitamon                                    
9 Fred Rodriguez (USA) Vini Caldirola-Saunier Duval                          
10 Peter Van Petegem (Bel) Lotto-Domo                                        
11 Paolo Bettini (Ita) Quick Step-Davitamon                                  
12 Marcus Zberg (Swi) Gerolsteiner                                           
13 Alessandro Bertolini (Ita) Alessio                                        
14 Giovanni Lombardi (Ita) Domina Vacanze-Elitron                            
15 Ludovic Capelle (Bel) Landbouwkrediet-Colnago                             
16 Gabriele Missaglia (Ita) Lampre                                           
17 Aart Vierhouten (Ned) Lotto-Domo                                          
18 Robbie McEwen (Aus) Lotto-Domo                                            
19 Steffen Radochla (Ger) Team Bianchi                                       
20 Sébastien Hinault (Fra) Credit Agricole                                   
21 José Ivan Gutierrez (Spa) Ibanesto.Com                                    
22 Danilo Di Luca (Ita) Saeco                                                
23 Fabio Baldato (Ita) Alessio                                               
24 Alexandre Usov (Blr) Phonak Hearing Systems                               
25 Andy Flickinger (Fra) Ag2R Prevoyance                                     
26 Laurent Brochard (Fra) Ag2R Prevoyance                                    
27 Roger Beuchat (Swi) Phonak Hearing Systems                                
28 Johan Museeuw (Bel) Quick Step-Davitamon                                  
29 Mikhail Timochine (Rus) Landbouwkrediet-Colnago                           
30 Inaki Isasi (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi                                       
31 Davide Rebellin (Ita) Gerolsteiner                                        
32 Martin Elmiger (Swi) Phonak Hearing Systems                               
33 Philippe Gilbert (Bel) FDJeux.com                                         
34 Jérôme Pineau (Fra) Brioches La Boulangere                                
35 Steven De Jongh (Ned) Rabobank                                            
36 Tristan Hoffman (Ned) Team CSC                                            
37 Igor Astarloa (Spa) Saeco                                                 
38 Guido Trenti (USA) Fassa Bortolo                                          
39 Jaan Kirsipuu (Est) Ag2R Prevoyance                                       
40 Mark Scanlon (Irl) Ag2R Prevoyance                                        
41 Josevincente Garcia Acosta (Spa) Ibanesto.Com                             
42 Oscar Freire (Spa) Rabobank                                               
43 Cristian Moreni (Ita) Alessio                                             
44 Serguei Ivanov (Rus) Fassa Bortolo                                        
45 Bert Grabsch (Ger) Phonak Hearing Systems                                 
46 Gregory Rast (Swi) Phonak Hearing Systems                                 
47 Walter Beneteau (Fra) Brioches La Boulangere                              
48 Cédric Vasseur (Fra) Cofidis Credit Par Telephone                         
49 Fabio Sacchi (Ita) Saeco                                                  
50 Serge Baguet (Bel) Lotto-Domo                                             
51 Maarten Den Bakker (Ned) Rabobank                                         
52 Kyrylo Pospyeyev (Ukr) Domina Vacanze-Elitron                             
53 Daniele Nardello (Ita) Team Telekom                                       
54 Andreas Klier (Ger) Team Telekom                                          
55 Bernhard Eisel (Aut) FDJeux.com                                           
56 Paolo Bossoni (Ita) Vini Caldirola-Saunier Duval                          
57 Matthias Kessler (Ger) Team Telekom                                       
58 Christophe Agnolutto (Fra) Ag2R Prevoyance                                
59 Kim Kirchen (Lux) Fassa Bortolo                                       0.09
60 Michele Bartoli (Ita) Fassa Bortolo                                       
61 Paolo Valoti (Ita) Domina Vacanze-Elitron                                 
62 Gerrit Glomser (Aut) Saeco                                                
63 Erik Dekker (Ned) Rabobank                                                
64 Stefan Adamsson (Swe) Team Bianchi                                    0.22
65 Marc Wauters (Bel) Rabobank                                           0.41
66 Patrick Calcagni (Swi) Vini Caldirola-Saunier Duval                   1.08
67 Martin Derganc (Slo) Domina Vacanze-Elitron                               
68 Davide Casarotto (Ita) Alessio                                            
69 Michael Albasini (Swi) Phonak Hearing Systems                             
70 Wilfried Cretskens (Bel) Quick Step-Davitamon                             
71 Erki Pütsep (Est) Ag2R Prevoyance                                         
72 Mario Scirea (Ita) Domina Vacanze-Elitron                                 
73 Pietro Zucconi (Swi) Vini Caldirola-Saunier Duval                         
74 Allan Davis (Aus) Once-Eroski                                             
75 José Alberto Martinez (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi                             
76 Jurgen Van Goolen (Bel) Quick Step-Davitamon                              
77 Rony Martias (Fra) Brioches La Boulangere                                 
78 Benoit Joachim (Lux) US Postal-Berry Floor                                
79 Jimmy Engoulvent (Fra) Brioches La Boulangere                             
80 Frédéric Guesdon (Fra) FDJeux.com                                         
81 Denis Lunghi (Ita) Alessio                                                
82 Mathew Hayman (Aus) Rabobank                                              
83 Sven Teutenberg (Ger) Team Bianchi                                    1.28
84 Lars Michaelsen (Den) Team CSC                                            
85 Nick Nuyens (Bel) Quick Step-Davitamon                                    
86 Marcel Strauss (Swi) Gerolsteiner                                         
87 Luciano Pagliarini (Bra) Lampre                                           
88 Yuri Metlushenko (Ukr) Landbouwkrediet-Colnago                            
89 Mikel Pradera (Spa) Once-Eroski                                           
90 Stephan Schreck (Ger) Team Telekom                                        
91 Thomas Eriksen (Den) Team CSC                                             
92 Bram De Groot (Ned) Rabobank                                              
93 Davide Bramati (Ita) Quick Step-Davitamon                                 
94 Nico Mattan (Bel) Cofidis Credit Par Telephone                        2.13
95 Philippe Gaumont (Fra) Cofidis Credit Par Telephone                       
96 Thorsten Rund (Ger) Team Bianchi                                      2.36
97 Sebastian Lang (Ger) Gerolsteiner                                         
98 Stefan Kupfernagel (Ger) Phonak Hearing Systems                           
99 Steffen Wesemann (Ger) Team Telekom                                       
100 Sandy Casar (Fra) FDJeux.com                                             
101 Lilian Jegou (Fra) Credit Agricole                                       
102 Tom Boonen (Bel) Quick Step-Davitamon                                    
103 Stéphane Berges (Fra) Ag2R Prevoyance                                    
104 Marc Streel (Bel) Landbouwkrediet-Colnago                            3.35
105 Benoit Poilvet (Fra) Credit Agricole                                     
106 Gianluca Sironi (Ita) Vini Caldirola-Saunier Duval                   4.01
107 Alessandro Spezialetti (Ita) Saeco                                   4.28
108 Victor Hugo Pena (Col) US Postal-Berry Floor                         6.14
109 Marco Serpellini (Ita) Lampre                                            
110 Unai Etxebarria (Ven) Euskaltel-Euskadi                                  
111 Rubens Bertogliati (Swi) Lampre                                          
112 Angel Martin Perdiguero (Spa) Domina Vacanze-Elitron                     
113 Jon Odriozola (Spa) Ibanesto.Com                                         
114 Roberto Petito (Ita) Fassa Bortolo                                       
115 Peter Wrolich (Aut) Gerolsteiner                                         
116 Jan Hruska (Cze) Once-Eroski                                             
117 Janeck Tombak (Est) Cofidis Credit Par Telephone                         
118 Franck Bouyer (Fra) Brioches La Boulangere                               
119 Frédéric Bessy (Fra) Cofidis Credit Par Telephone                        
120 Max Van Heeswijk (Ned) US Postal-Berry Floor                             
121 Pavel Padrnos (Cze) US Postal-Berry Floor                                
122 Hayden Roulston (NZl) Cofidis Credit Par Telephone                       
123 Pietro Caucchioli (Ita) Alessio                                          
124 Fabrizio Guidi (Ita) Team Bianchi                                        
125 Alessio Galletti (Ita) Saeco                                             
126 Pierre Bourquenoud (Swi) Jean Delatour                                   
127 Thomas Liese (Ger) Team Bianchi                                          
128 Jens Voigt (Ger) Credit Agricole                                         
129 Denis Menchov (Rus) Ibanesto.Com                                         
130 Andrea Ferrigato (Ita) Alessio                                           
131 Samuel Dumoulin (Fra) Jean Delatour                                      
132 Iker Flores (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi                                      
133 Johan Verstrepen (Bel) Landbouwkrediet-Colnago                           
134 Matthew White (Aus) US Postal-Berry Floor                                
135 Rolf Aldag (Ger) Team Telekom                                            
136 Wim Vansevenant (Bel) Lotto-Domo                                         
137 Mario Aerts (Bel) Team Telekom                                           
138 Jacky Durand (Fra) FDJeux.com                                            
139 Gorik Gardeyn (Bel) Lotto-Domo                                           
140 Daniele Righi (Ita) Lampre                                               
141 Stefano Casagranda (Ita) Alessio                                    14.15
142 Matthew Wilson (Aus) FDJeux.com                                     15.36
143 Damon Kluck (USA) US Postal-Berry Floor                                  
144 Karsten Kroon (Ned) Rabobank                                             
DNF Jakob Piil (Den) Team CSC                                                
DNF Nicolas Jalabert (Fra) Team CSC                                          
DNF Geert Van Bondt (Bel) Team CSC                                           
DNF Vladimir Karpets (Rus) Ibanesto.Com                                      
DNF Javier Pascual (Spa) Ibanesto.Com                                        
DNF Ruben Plaza Molina (Spa) Ibanesto.Com                                    
DNF Massimo Apollonio (Ita) Vini Caldirola-Saunier Duval                     
DNF Mauro Gerosa (Ita) Vini Caldirola-Saunier Duval                          
DNF Marco Milesi (Ita) Vini Caldirola-Saunier Duval                          
DNF Vjatceslav Ekimov (Rus) US Postal-Berry Floor                            
DNF Christian Vandevelde (USA) US Postal-Berry Floor                         
DNF Cyril Dessel (Fra) Phonak Hearing Systems                                
DNF Nicolas Portal (Fra) Ag2R Prevoyance                                     
DNF Stéphane Auge (Fra) Credit Agricole                                      
DNF Pierrick Fedrigo (Fra) Credit Agricole                                   
DNF Christophe Le Mevel (Fra) Credit Agricole                                
DNF René Andrle (Cze) Once-Eroski                                            
DNF Gorka Beloki (Spa) Once-Eroski                                           
DNF Alvaro Gonzalez Galdeano (Spa) Once-Eroski                               
DNF Marcos Serrano (Spa) Once-Eroski                                         
DNF Angel Vicioso (Spa) Once-Eroski                                          
DNF Anthony Geslin (Fra) Brioches La Boulangere                              
DNF Maryan Hary (Fra) Brioches La Boulangere                                 
DNF David Etxebarria (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi                                 
DNF Gorka Arrizabalaga (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi                               
DNF Gorka Gerrikagoitia (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi                              
DNF Gorka Gonzalez (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi                                   
DNF Nicolas Vogondy (Fra) FDJeux.com                                         
DNF Raphael Schweda (Ger) Team Bianchi                                       
DNF Malte Urban (Ger) Team Bianchi                                           
DNF Jérôme Bernard (Fra) Jean Delatour                                       
DNF Frédéric Finot (Fra) Jean Delatour                                       
DNF Patrice Halgand (Fra) Jean Delatour                                      
DNF Yuriy Krivtsov (Ukr) Jean Delatour                                       
DNF Ludovic Martin (Fra) Jean Delatour                                       
DNF Mickaël Buffaz (Fra) Jean Delatour                                       
DNF Tony Bracke (Bel) Landbouwkrediet-Colnago                                
DNF Bert De Waele (Bel) Landbouwkrediet-Colnago                              
DNF Wesley Van Speybrock (Bel) Landbouwkrediet-Colnago                       
DNF Giosuè Bonomi (Ita) Saeco                                                
DNF Nicola Loda (Ita) Fassa Bortolo                                          
DNF Matteo Tosatto (Ita) Fassa Bortolo                                       
DNF Robert Förster (Ger) Gerolsteiner                                        
DNF Ronny Scholz (Ger) Gerolsteiner                                          
DNF Mariano Piccoli (Ita) Lampre                                             
DNF Simone Bertoletti (Ita) Lampre                                           
DNF Nico Eeckhout (Bel) Lotto-Domo                                           
DNF Thierry Marichal (Bel) Lotto-Domo                                        
DNF Santos Gonzalez (Spa) Domina Vacanze-Elitron                             
DNF Michele Scarponi (Ita) Domina Vacanze-Elitron                            
DNF Marek Rutkiewicz (Pol) Cofidis Credit Par Telephone                      
DNF Robert Sassone (Fra) Cofidis Credit Par Telephone                        
DNS Michael Sandstod (Den) Team CSC                                          

World Cup standings after round 9

1 Paolo Bettini (Ita) Quick.Step-Davitamon                                365 pts
2 Peter Van Petegem (Bel) Lotto-Domo                                      219
3 Michael Boogerd (Ned) Rabobank                                          204
4 Davide Rebellin (Ita) Gerolsteiner                                      187
5 Erik Zabel (Ger) Team Telekom                                           186
6 Danilo Di Luca (Ita) Team Saeco                                         140
7 Mirko Celestino (Ita) Team Saeco                                        139
8 Daniele Nardello (Ita) Team Telekom                                     124
9 Stuart O'Grady (Aus) Credit Agricole                                    124
10 Francesco Casagrande (Ita) Lampre                                      123
11 Dario Pieri (Ita) Team Saeco                                           117
12 Luca Paolini (Ita) Quick.Step-Davitamon                                106
13 Alexandre Vinokourov (Kaz) Team Telekom                                100
14 Frank Vandenbroucke (Bel) Quick.Step-Davitamon                          92
15 Michele Scarponi (Ita) Domina Vacanze-Elitron                           88
16 Fabio Baldato (Ita) Alessio                                             86
17 Serguei Ivanov (Rus) Fassa Bortolo                                      79
18 Viatcheslav Ekimov (Rus) US Postal presented by Berry Floor             74
19 Igor Astarloa (Spa) Team Saeco                                          71
20 Javier Pascual Llorente (Spa) Kelme-Costa Blanca                        68
21 Stefano Zanini (Ita) Team Saeco                                         54
22 Andrea Noe' (Ita) Alessio                                               46
23 Matthias Kessler (Ger) Team Telekom                                     44
24 Nico Mattan (Bel) Cofidis-Le Crédit par Téléphone                       43
25 Marc Wauters (Bel) Rabobank                                             40
26 Romans Vainsteins (Lat) Vini Caldirola-SO.DI                            40
27 Oscar Freire Gomez (Spa) Rabobank                                       40
28 Julian Dean (NZl) Team CSC                                              39
29 Bernhard Eisel (Aut) FDJeux.com                                         30
30 Oscar Camenzind (Swi) Phonak Hearing Systems                            28
31 Gianluca Bortolami (Ita) Vini Caldirola-SO.DI                           27
32 Markus Zberg (Swi) Gerolsteiner                                         27
33 Michele Bartoli (Ita) Fassa Bortolo                                     24
34 Marco Serpellini (Ita) Lampre                                           22
35 Beat Zberg (Swi) Rabobank                                               22
36 Angel Vicioso Arcos (Spa) O.N.C.E.-Eroski                               21
37 Fred Rodriguez (USA) Vini Caldirola-SO.DI                               20
38 Rolf Aldag (Ger) Team Telekom                                           20
39 Gabriele Missaglia (Ita) Lampre                                         19
40 Fabio Sacchi (Ita) Team Saeco                                           17
41 Cristian Moreni (Ita) Alessio                                           16
42 Laurent Dufaux (Swi) Alessio                                            16
43 Andrea Ferrigato (Ita) Alessio                                          16
44 Salvatore Commesso (Ita) Team Saeco                                     13
45 Steven De Jongh (Ned) Rabobank                                          12
46 Nicolas Portal (Fra) Ag2r-Prevoyance                                    10
47 Matthew Wilson (Aus) FDJeux.com                                         10
48 Aart Vierhouten (Ned) Lotto-Domo                                         9
49 Miguel Angel Martin Perdiguero (Spa) Domina Vacanze-Elitron              9
50 Kim Kirchen (Lux) Fassa Bortolo                                          9
51 Rik Verbrugghe (Bel) Lotto-Domo                                          8
52 Mario Aerts (Bel) Team Telekom                                           6
53 Ruggero Marzoli (Ita) Alessio                                            6
54 José Ivan Gutierrez Palacios (Spa) iBanesto.com                          5
55 Stefan Kupfernagel (Ger) Phonak Hearing Systems                          5
56 Tristan Hoffman (Ned) Team CSC                                           5
57 Ellis Rastelli (Ita) Gerolsteiner                                        4
58 Max Van Heeswijk (Ned) US Postal presented by Berry Floor                3
59 Juan Antonio Flecha (Spa) iBanesto.com                                   3
60 Tom Boonen (Bel) Quick.Step-Davitamon                                    3
61 Xavier Florencio Cabre (Spa) O.N.C.E.-Eroski                             1

Espoirs - 189.5 km

1 Mathieu Claude (Fra) Vendee U Pays De La Loire                      4.07.22
2 Marc Staelen (Fra) Uc Chateauroux-Lab.Fenioux                          0.20
3 Johnny Hoogerland (Ned) Quickstep-Davitamon                                
4 William Bonnet (Fra) Cyclo Club Nogent Sur Oise                            
5 Steven De Becker (Bel) Slagino Cycling Team-Abx Go Pass                    
6 Jean Zen (Fra) Vendee U Pays De La Loire                                   
7 Nic Ingels (Bel) Wielergroep Beveren 2000                                  
8 Laurent Mangel (Fra) Cc.Etupes-Ledoubs Pays De Montbel.                    
9 Kévin Lalouette (Fra) Cyclo Club Nogent Sur Oise                       0.24
10 Michael Blanchy (Bel) Slagino Cycling Team-Abx Go Pass                0.47
11 Sébastien Portal (Fra) Pole France Wasquehal                          0.53
12 Yohann Gene (Fra) Vendee U Pays De La Loire                           1.10
13 Benoît Sinner (Fra) Seine Et Marne                                    1.59
14 Wim Devocht (Bel) Quickstep-Davitamon                                 3.24
15 Kévin Desmedt (Bel) Wielergroep Beveren 2000                              
16 Tommy V.D.Gehuchte (Bel) Slagino Cycling Team-Abx Go Pass             3.49
17 Julien Lacourt (Fra) Castel Sarrasin Didier Rous Tarnet Garonne           
18 Romain Feillu (Fra) Uc Chateauroux-Lab.Fenioux                            
19 Fabrice Billard (Fra) Rhone Alpes                                         
20 Alexandre Blain (Fra) Avc Aix En Provence                                 
21 Mariusz Witecki (Pol) Cyclo Club Nogent Sur Oise                      3.54
22 Nikolas Cotret (Fra) Orleanais                                        3.57
23 Thomas Ravenel (Fra) U.C.Sabolienne                                   4.13
24 Ludovic Poilvet (Fra) Cotes D'armor Cc Moncontour                     4.24
25 Joseph Lemoine (Fra) U.C.Sabolienne                                   4.32
26 Stefan Wynands (Bel) Slagino Cycling Team-Abx Go Pass                     
27 Michael Voigt (USA) U.S.A                                                 
28 Jéremy Dartus (Fra) Credit Agricole Espoirs                           4.41
29 Antoine Perche (Fra) Pole France Wasquehal                            4.53
30 Arnaud Lesvenan (Fra) Bretagne                                            
31 Sébastien Fauvez (Fra) Pole France Wasquehal                              
32 Jean-Philippe Dony (Bel) R.C. Pesant Club Liegeois                    5.01
33 Guillaume Canet (Fra) Velo Club Lyon Vaux-En-Velin                    5.05
34 Anthony Presse (Fra) Bretagne                                         5.21
35 Arnaud Gerard (Fra) Cotes D'armor Cc Moncontour                           
36 Cédric Drouet (Fra) Uc Chateauroux-Lab.Fenioux                            
37 Loïc Cavalier (Fra) Team Remy Meder-Haguenau                              
38 Robby Meul (Bel) Slagino Cycling Team-Abx Go Pass                         
39 Alexandre Cabrera (Fra) Avc Aix En Provence                           5.27
40 Renaud Pioline (Fra) Seine Et Marne                                  12.17
41 Yann Legoff (Fra) Cyclo Club Marmande 47                             13.33
42 Dimitri Defaux (Bel) Quickstep-Davitamon                             17.13
43 Koen Barbe (Bel) Deschacht Granville Team                                 
44 Bart Dockx (Bel) Quickstep-Davitamon                                      
45 Jérôme Comblin (Bel) R.C. Pesant Club Liegeois                            
46 Tonny Goossens (Bel) Wielergroep Beveren 2000                        19.20
47 Eric Malgouzou (Fra) Auvergne Espoirs                                     
48 William Steinbrecher (USA) U.S.A                                     19.28
49 Anton Wouters (Bel) Quickstep-Davitamon                                   
50 Tom Vastmans (Bel) Deschacht Granville Team                          20.24
51 Fabrice Taillandier (Fra) Bretagne                                        
52 Nicolas Prin (Fra) Rhone Alpes                                            
53 Dane Jankowiak (USA) U.S.A                                           20.39
54 Michel Pfundstein (Fra) Team Remy Meder-Haguenau                          
55 Aurélien Dheruelle (Fra) U.C.Sabolienne                                   
56 Dimitri Deherdt (Bel) Deschacht Granville Team                            
57 Pierre Dumond (Fra) Castel Sarrasin Didier Rous Tarnet Garonne       20.42
58 Cyril Vitry (Fra) Team Remy Meder-Haguenau                           20.45
59 Walker Ferguson (USA) U.S.A                                               
60 Nathan Mitchel (USA) U.S.A                                           20.50
61 Jordane Chazal (Fra) Velo Club Lyon Vaux-En-Velin                         
62 Colin Mencmolina (Fra) Avc Aix En Provence                                
63 Hugo Pallay (Fra) Rhone Alpes                                             
64 Ronan Geffroy (Fra) Orleanais                                             
65 Gregory Habeaux (Bel) R.C. Pesant Club Liegeois                           
66 Austin King (USA) U.S.A                                                   
67 Mickaël Regner (Fra) Auvergne Espoirs                                20.57
68 Florent Gueret (Fra) Team Remy Meder-Haguenau                        21.19
69 Nadir Haddou (Fra) Union Sportive Creteil                                 
70 Jonathan Comblin (Bel) R.C. Pesant Club Liegeois                     21.45
71 Thomas Desmaison (Fra) Saint-Cyr-Sur-Loire U.C.                           
72 David Bouillaux (Fra) Seine Et Marne                                 21.49
73 Fréderic Molines (Fra) Orleanais                                          
74 Antoine Caron (Fra) Auvergne Espoirs                                      
75 Yannick Piriou (Fra) Bretagne                                             
76 Christophe Vilpellet (Fra) Uc Chateauroux-Lab.Fenioux                     
77 Willy Perrocheau (Fra) Cyclo Club Marmande 47                             
78 Cénéric Racault (Fra) Saint-Cyr-Sur-Loire U.C.                            
79 Guillaume Galles (Fra) Cyclo Club Marmande 47                             
80 Mickael Lamiraud (Fra) Cyclo Club Marmande 47                             
81 Romain Appert (Fra) Orleanais                                             
82 Benn Wurth (Lux) Luxembourg                                               
83 Frédéric Limousin (Fra) Pole France Wasquehal                             
84 Laurent Didier (Lux) Luxembourg                                           
85 Cédric Barre (Fra) Saint-Cyr-Sur-Loire U.C.                               
86 Adrien Brusson (Fra) Cyclo Club Marmande 47                               
87 Kenny Vanderschueren (Bel) Deschacht Granville Team                       
88 Romuald Senechal (Fra) Saint-Cyr-Sur-Loire U.C.                           
89 Romain Gaudelet (Fra) Cyclo Club Nogent Sur Oise                          
90 Alexandre Bousseau (Fra) Vendee U Pays De La Loire                        
91 Vincent Lebesle (Fra) U.C.Sabolienne                                      
92 Loïc Vandel (Fra) Rhone Alpes                                             
93 Pierre Therville (Fra) Velo Club Lyon Vaux-En-Velin                       
94 Llyod Mondory (Fra) Bretagne                                              
95 Jonathan Henrion (Bel) R.C. Pesant Club Liegeois                          
96 Cédric Haas (Fra) Cc.Etupes-Ledoubs Pays De Montbel.                      
97 Alexandre Pichot (Fra) Vendee U Pays De La Loire                          
98 Anthony Ravard (Fra) Vendee U Pays De La Loire                            
99 Cédric Martin (Fra) Auvergne Espoirs                                 22.00
100 Jean-Marc Marino (Fra) Pole France Wasquehal                             
101 Mathieu Fragniere (Fra) Team Remy Meder-Haguenau                    22.04
102 Maxime Larue (Fra) C.R.4.C.Roanne                                   23.14
103 Cédric Bompis (Fra) Seine Et Marne                                       
104 Sébastien Pozza (Fra) Castel Sarrasin Didier Rous Tarnet Garonne    28.41
DNS Emmanuel Guinard (Fra) Union Sportive Creteil                            
DNF Olivier Basck (Fra) Orleanais                                            
DNF Jérémy Debray (Fra) U.C.Sabolienne                                       
DNF Eddy Lubin (Fra) U.C.Sabolienne                                          
DNF Benoît Daeninck (Fra) Union Sportive Creteil                             
DNF David Tandart (Fra) Union Sportive Creteil                               
DNF Jérémie Galland (Fra) Union Sportive Creteil                             
DNF François Carpentier (Fra) Union Sportive Creteil                         
DNF Bruno Pellegrin (Fra) Rhone Alpes                                        
DNF Sébastien Jouffret (Fra) Rhone Alpes                                     
DNF Mathieu Geniez (Fra) Castel Sarrasin Didier Rous Tarnet Garonne          
DNF Thomas Marchetti (Fra) Castel Sarrasin Didier Rous Tarnet Garonne        
DNF Julien Roques (Fra) Castel Sarrasin Didier Rous Tarnet Garonne           
DNF Stephan Gay (Fra) Auvergne Espoirs                                       
DNF Benjamin Decaux (Fra) Avc Aix En Provence                                
DNF Kenny Lembo (Fra) Avc Aix En Provence                                    
DNF Aurélien Passeron (Fra) Avc Aix En Provence                              
DNF Mathieu Paris (Fra) Cyclo Club Nogent Sur Oise                           
DNF Christophe Riblon (Fra) Cyclo Club Nogent Sur Oise                       
DNF Sylvain Auclair (Fra) C.R.4.C.Roanne                                     
DNF Nicolas Dulac (Fra) C.R.4.C.Roanne                                       
DNF Rémy Ladret (Fra) C.R.4.C.Roanne                                         
DNF Sylvain Villacampa (Fra) C.R.4.C.Roanne                                  
DNF Sétéphane Beaumont (Fra) Cotes D'armor Cc Moncontour                     
DNF Florian Guillou (Fra) Cotes D'armor Cc Moncontour                        
DNF Fabrice Jeandesboz (Fra) Cotes D'armor Cc Moncontour                     
DNF Guillaume Ledinahet (Fra) Cotes D'armor Cc Moncontour                    
DNF David Arassus (Fra) Cc.Etupes-Ledoubs Pays De Montbel.                   
DNF Adrien Vuillier (Fra) Cc.Etupes-Ledoubs Pays De Montbel.                 
DNF Nicolas Vuillemin (Fra) Cc.Etupes-Ledoubs Pays De Montbel.               
DNF Fabien Pasquier (Fra) Orleanais                                          
DNF Ronny Kremer (Lux) Luxembourg                                            
DNF Gilles Hendel (Lux) Luxembourg                                           
DNF Claude Wolter (Lux) Luxembourg                                           
DNF Ludovic Lanceleur (Fra) Credit Agricole Espoirs                          
DNF Julien Mazet (Fra) Credit Agricole Espoirs                               
DNF Pierre Drancourt (Fra) Credit Agricole Espoirs                           
DNF Fabien Fleury (Fra) Credit Agricole Espoirs                              
DNF Paul Brousse (Fra) Uc Chateauroux-Lab.Fenioux                            
DNF Julien Schick (Fra) Uc Chateauroux-Lab.Fenioux                           
DNF John Vandenabeele (Bel) Deschacht Granville Team                         
DNF Stian Remme (Nor) Deschacht Granville Team                               
DNF Mathieu Boiche (Fra) Velo Club Lyon Vaux-En-Velin                        
DNF Vincent Bonora (Fra) Velo Club Lyon Vaux-En-Velin                        
DNF Julien Chazottes (Fra) Velo Club Lyon Vaux-En-Velin                      
DNF Steff Dewilde (Bel) Slagino Cycling Team-Abx Go Pass                     
DNF Vincent Gaudin (Fra) Seine Et Marne                                      
DNF Stéphane Mariolles (Fra) Seine Et Marne                                  
DNF Jérôme Beschon (Fra) Saint-Cyr-Sur-Loire U.C.                            
DNF Cédric Deruyter (Fra) Pole France Wasquehal                              
DNF Christoph Janssens (Bel) Wielergroep Beveren 2000                        
DNF Kenny Lisabeth (Bel) Wielergroep Beveren 2000                            
DNF David Mares (Bel) Wielergroep Beveren 2000                               
DNF Jérôme Amann (Fra) Team Remy Meder-Haguenau