2008 Paris-Nice
Encyclopedia
The 2008
Paris–Nice, the 66th running of the race, took place from March 9 to March 16, 2008 and was won by Italian
Davide Rebellin
from , who finished second last year. The race started in Amilly
and ended in Nice
. The 2008 edition returned to the fabled climb of Mont Ventoux
, with stage four finishing at the mountain's ski facility, Mont Serein. The Mont Ventoux stage saw a winning break by Cadel Evans
and Robert Gesink
. Evans took the stage victory as Gesink moved into the overall lead. However, Gesink could not hold onto the lead in stage six when Rebellin attacked on the final descent and took enough time to move into the overall lead.
The event was marked by controversy before the race regarding the ongoing power struggle between ASO
and UCI
, excluding the race from the UCI ProTour
calendar. The race organisers also decided to exclude , the team of the 2007 edition winner Alberto Contador
, due to "damage caused by the team during the 2007 Tour de France
".
Prologue - March 9, 2008: Amilly
Stage 1 - March 10, 2008: La Chapelotte
This stage was originally supposed to start in Amilly
, but because of a storm with gale force winds and rain, the route was shortened by 91 km and started in La Chapelotte
instead.
Stage 2 - March 11, 2008: Nevers
Stage 3 - March 12, 2008: Fleurie
Stage 4 - March 13, 2008: Montélimar
Stage 5 - March 14, 2008: Althen-des-Paluds
Stage 6 - March 15, 2008: Sisteron
Stage 7 - March 16, 2008: Nice
General classification
Jersey wearers when one rider is leading two or more competitions:
The is the only ProTour
team not to be invited to this event because of the "damage caused by the team during the 2007 Tour de France
".
2008 in sports
2008 in sports describes the year's events in world sport.-American football:* Louisiana State University Tigers defeat The Ohio State University Buckeyes 38-24 in the 2008 BCS National Championship Game, thus becoming the first two-time BCS National Champions, and the first BCS titlists with two...
Paris–Nice, the 66th running of the race, took place from March 9 to March 16, 2008 and was won by Italian
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
Davide Rebellin
Davide Rebellin
Davide Rebellin is an Italian road bicycle racer, currently riding for the Italian Miche-Guerciotti team. He served a 2-year suspension for testing positive for Mircera at the 2008 Olympic Games...
from , who finished second last year. The race started in Amilly
Amilly, Loiret
Amilly is a commune and town in the Loiret department in north-central France.-Main sights:*Church of St. Martin *Castles of Varenne and of the Bourgoins *Bardin Watermill*Museum of Folk Art-See also:...
and ended in Nice
Nice
Nice is the fifth most populous city in France, after Paris, Marseille, Lyon and Toulouse, with a population of 348,721 within its administrative limits on a land area of . The urban area of Nice extends beyond the administrative city limits with a population of more than 955,000 on an area of...
. The 2008 edition returned to the fabled climb of Mont Ventoux
Mont Ventoux
Mont Ventoux is a mountain in the Provence region of southern France, located some 20 km northeast of Carpentras, Vaucluse. On the north side, the mountain borders the Drôme département. It is the largest mountain in the region and has been nicknamed the "Giant of Provence", or "The Bald...
, with stage four finishing at the mountain's ski facility, Mont Serein. The Mont Ventoux stage saw a winning break by Cadel Evans
Cadel Evans
Cadel Lee Evans is an Australian professional racing cyclist and winner of the 2011 Tour de France. Early in his career, Evans was a champion mountain biker, winning the World Cup in 1998 and 1999 and placing seventh in the men's cross-country mountain bike race at the 2000 Summer Olympics in...
and Robert Gesink
Robert Gesink
Robert Gesink is a Dutch professional road bicycle racer for UCI ProTeam Rabobank.-Early years:At the Junior World Championships of 2004 UCI Road World Championships in Verona, Gesink finished eighth in the individual time trial and sixth in the road race, while riding for team De Peddelaars in...
. Evans took the stage victory as Gesink moved into the overall lead. However, Gesink could not hold onto the lead in stage six when Rebellin attacked on the final descent and took enough time to move into the overall lead.
The event was marked by controversy before the race regarding the ongoing power struggle between ASO
Amaury Sport Organisation
The Amaury Sport Organisation is part of the French media group, EPA . It organises sporting events including the Tour de France and Paris–Nice professional cycle road races, and the Dakar Rally...
and UCI
Union Cycliste Internationale
Union Cycliste Internationale is the world governing body for sports cycling and oversees international competitive cycling events. The UCI is based in Aigle, Switzerland....
, excluding the race from the UCI ProTour
UCI ProTour
The UCI ProTour was a series of road bicycle races in Europe, Australia and Canada organised by the UCI . Created by Hein Verbruggen, former president of the UCI, it comprises a number of 'ProTour' cycling teams, each of whom are required to compete in every round of the series...
calendar. The race organisers also decided to exclude , the team of the 2007 edition winner Alberto Contador
Alberto Contador
Alberto Contador Velasco is a Spanish professional road bicycle racer for UCI ProTeam . He was the winner of the 2007 Tour de France with the team. With the Astana team he has won the 2008 Giro d'Italia, the 2008 Vuelta a España, the 2009 Tour de France, the 2010 Tour de France and won 2011 Giro...
, due to "damage caused by the team during the 2007 Tour de France
2007 Tour de France
The 2007 Tour de France, the 94th running of the race, took place from 7 July to 29 July 2007. The Tour began with a prologue in London, and ended with the traditional finish in Paris. Along the way, the route also passed through Belgium and Spain...
".
Prologue - March 9, 2008: AmillyAmilly, LoiretAmilly is a commune and town in the Loiret department in north-central France.-Main sights:*Church of St. Martin *Castles of Varenne and of the Bourgoins *Bardin Watermill*Museum of Folk Art-See also:...
, 4,6 km (ITT)
Prologue results
|
b>General Classification after Prologue
|
Stage 1 - March 10, 2008: La ChapelotteLa ChapelotteLa Chapelotte is a commune in the Cher department in the Centre region of France.-Geography:A forestry and farming village situated by the banks of the river Vernon, some northeast of Bourges, at the junction of the D7, D11 and the D231 roads.-Population:...
> NeversNeversNevers is a commune in – and the administrative capital of – the Nièvre department in the Bourgogne region in central France...
, 93.5 km
This stage was originally supposed to start in AmillyAmilly, Loiret
Amilly is a commune and town in the Loiret department in north-central France.-Main sights:*Church of St. Martin *Castles of Varenne and of the Bourgoins *Bardin Watermill*Museum of Folk Art-See also:...
, but because of a storm with gale force winds and rain, the route was shortened by 91 km and started in La Chapelotte
La Chapelotte
La Chapelotte is a commune in the Cher department in the Centre region of France.-Geography:A forestry and farming village situated by the banks of the river Vernon, some northeast of Bourges, at the junction of the D7, D11 and the D231 roads.-Population:...
instead.
Stage 1 Results
|
General Classification after Stage 1
|
Stage 2 - March 11, 2008: NeversNeversNevers is a commune in – and the administrative capital of – the Nièvre department in the Bourgogne region in central France...
> BellevilleBelleville, RhôneBelleville is a commune of the Rhône department in eastern France.-External links:* at Quid* Belleville on the map of France* at MapQuest...
, 201 km
Stage 2 Results
|
General Classification after Stage 2
|
Stage 3 - March 12, 2008: FleurieFleurieFleurie is a commune in the Rhône department in eastern France.Medieval charters record Fleurie as Floriacum..Fleurie AOC is a division of the Beaujolais wine region. In the 1970s the British Conservative politician and tax fugitive Ernest Marples owned a Fleurie château and vineyard, to which he...
> Saint-ÉtienneSaint-ÉtienneSaint-Étienne is a city in eastern central France. It is located in the Massif Central, southwest of Lyon in the Rhône-Alpes region, along the trunk road that connects Toulouse with Lyon...
, 165.5 km
Stage 3 Results
|
General Classification after Stage 3
|
Stage 4 - March 13, 2008: MontélimarMontélimarMontélimar is a commune in the Drôme department in southeastern France. It is the second-largest town in the department after Valence.-History:...
> Mont-Serein, 176 km
Stage 4 Results
|
General Classification after Stage 4
|
Stage 5 - March 14, 2008: Althen-des-PaludsAlthen-des-PaludsAlthen-des-Paluds is a commune in the Vaucluse department in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region in southeastern France.The commune is crossed by the river Sorgue.-Climate:...
> SisteronSisteronSisteron is a commune in the Alpes-de-Haute-Provence department in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region in southeastern France.Sisteron is situated on the banks of the River Durance just after the confluence of the rivers Buëch and Sasse...
, 172,5 km
Stage 5 results
|
General Classification after Stage 5
|
Stage 6 - March 15, 2008: SisteronSisteronSisteron is a commune in the Alpes-de-Haute-Provence department in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region in southeastern France.Sisteron is situated on the banks of the River Durance just after the confluence of the rivers Buëch and Sasse...
> CannesCannesCannes is one of the best-known cities of the French Riviera, a busy tourist destination and host of the annual Cannes Film Festival. It is a Commune of France in the Alpes-Maritimes department....
, 206 km
Stage 6 Results
|
General Classification after Stage 6
|
Stage 7 - March 16, 2008: NiceNiceNice is the fifth most populous city in France, after Paris, Marseille, Lyon and Toulouse, with a population of 348,721 within its administrative limits on a land area of . The urban area of Nice extends beyond the administrative city limits with a population of more than 955,000 on an area of...
> NiceNiceNice is the fifth most populous city in France, after Paris, Marseille, Lyon and Toulouse, with a population of 348,721 within its administrative limits on a land area of . The urban area of Nice extends beyond the administrative city limits with a population of more than 955,000 on an area of...
, 119 km
Stage 7 Results
|
General Classification after Stage 7
|
General classificationGeneral ClassificationThe general classification in bicycle racing is the category that tracks overall times for bicycle riders in multi-stage bicycle races...
| Cyclist | Team | Time | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 29h 02'48" | ||
| 2 | +3" | ||
| 3 | +48" | ||
| 4 | +51" | ||
| 5 | +1'09" | ||
| 6 | +1'12" | ||
| 7 | +2'17" | ||
| 8 | +2'24" | ||
| 9 | +2'39" | ||
| 10 | +3'21" |
Jersey progress
| Stage (Winner) |
General Classification | Points Classification | Mountains Classification | Young Rider Classification | Team Classification |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Prologue (ITT) (Thor Hushovd Thor Hushovd Thor Hushovd is a Norwegian professional road bicycle racer riding . He has signed for from 2012 onwards. He is known for sprinting and time trialing and is the 2010 Norwegian and world road champion. He is the first Norwegian to lead the Tour de France, and first Scandinavian to win the road... ) |
Thor Hushovd Thor Hushovd Thor Hushovd is a Norwegian professional road bicycle racer riding . He has signed for from 2012 onwards. He is known for sprinting and time trialing and is the 2010 Norwegian and world road champion. He is the first Norwegian to lead the Tour de France, and first Scandinavian to win the road... |
Thor Hushovd Thor Hushovd Thor Hushovd is a Norwegian professional road bicycle racer riding . He has signed for from 2012 onwards. He is known for sprinting and time trialing and is the 2010 Norwegian and world road champion. He is the first Norwegian to lead the Tour de France, and first Scandinavian to win the road... |
no award | Andriy Hryvko Andriy Hryvko Andriy Grivko is a Ukrainian racing cyclist for . He competed at the 2008 Beijing Olympics in the road race, in which he did not finish, and the individual time trial, where he finished 31st.-Palmarès:200520062008-External links:... |
|
| Stage 1 (Gert Steegmans Gert Steegmans Gert Steegmans is a Belgian professional road bicycle racer who rides for UCI ProTeam . He has a strong finishing sprint and can compete in the sprint with fellow Belgian cyclist Tom Boonen.-Career overview:... ) |
Dionisio Galparsoro Dionisio Galparsoro Dionisio Galparsoro Martínez is a Spanish racing cyclist formerly with UCI ProTeam Euskaltel-Euskadi.- Palmarès :* Vuelta a Asturias - 1 stage * Hessen Rundfahrt - 1 stage & Points Classification... |
||||
| Stage 2 (Gert Steegmans Gert Steegmans Gert Steegmans is a Belgian professional road bicycle racer who rides for UCI ProTeam . He has a strong finishing sprint and can compete in the sprint with fellow Belgian cyclist Tom Boonen.-Career overview:... ) |
Thierry Hupond Thierry Hupond Thierry Hupond is a French professional road bicycle racer for UCI Professional Continental team Skil-Shimano. Hupond became professional with Skil-Shimano in 2008, having been a stagiare with the team in late 2007... |
Trent Lowe Trent Lowe Trent Lowe is a professional road bicycle racer from Australia. He rode for on the UCI ProTour from 2008 to 2010. Lowe was one of only two Australians on the Slipstream Squad, the other being Chris 'CJ' Sutton who came from Cofidis in 2007... |
|||
| Stage 3 (Kjell Carlström Kjell Carlström Kjell Carlström is a Finnish road racing cyclist for UCI ProTour team . He has raced in the Tour de France in 2005, 2006 and 2007... ) |
Sylvain Chavanel Sylvain Chavanel Sylvain Chavanel Albira is a French professional road bicycle racer. His brother Sébastien Chavanel is also a cyclist.Chavanel started his professional career in 2000 with Jean-René Bernaudeau's team Bonjour, which became Brioches La Boulangère in 2003... |
Clément Lhotellerie Clément Lhotellerie Clément Lhotellerie is a French road racing cyclist.-Career:Lhotellerie was an accomplished mountain-biker and cyclo-cross rider before switching to the road. He had won the French cyclo-cross championships in Juniors and U23 categories. He turned professional for Skil-Shimano cycling team in 2007... |
Luis León Sánchez Luis León Sánchez Luis León Sánchez Gil is a Spanish road bicycle racer for UCI ProTeam . He is also known as Lulu Sanchez. He rode for team Liberty Seguros-Würth from 2004 until 2006, when he moved to the Caisse d'Epargne team following the collapse of the Liberty Seguros-Würth team in the wake of the Operación... |
||
| Stage 4 (Cadel Evans Cadel Evans Cadel Lee Evans is an Australian professional racing cyclist and winner of the 2011 Tour de France. Early in his career, Evans was a champion mountain biker, winning the World Cup in 1998 and 1999 and placing seventh in the men's cross-country mountain bike race at the 2000 Summer Olympics in... ) |
Robert Gesink Robert Gesink Robert Gesink is a Dutch professional road bicycle racer for UCI ProTeam Rabobank.-Early years:At the Junior World Championships of 2004 UCI Road World Championships in Verona, Gesink finished eighth in the individual time trial and sixth in the road race, while riding for team De Peddelaars in... |
Robert Gesink Robert Gesink Robert Gesink is a Dutch professional road bicycle racer for UCI ProTeam Rabobank.-Early years:At the Junior World Championships of 2004 UCI Road World Championships in Verona, Gesink finished eighth in the individual time trial and sixth in the road race, while riding for team De Peddelaars in... |
|||
| Stage 5 (Carlos Barredo Carlos Barredo Carlos Barredo Llamazales is a Spanish road racing cyclist with UCI ProTeam . He was issued a suspension for the first two months of the 2011 season in response to a fight with Rui Costa after a 2010 Tour de France stage, with Barredo claiming that Costa had ridden dangerously in the final stages... ) |
|||||
| Stage 6 (Sylvain Chavanel Sylvain Chavanel Sylvain Chavanel Albira is a French professional road bicycle racer. His brother Sébastien Chavanel is also a cyclist.Chavanel started his professional career in 2000 with Jean-René Bernaudeau's team Bonjour, which became Brioches La Boulangère in 2003... ) |
Davide Rebellin Davide Rebellin Davide Rebellin is an Italian road bicycle racer, currently riding for the Italian Miche-Guerciotti team. He served a 2-year suspension for testing positive for Mircera at the 2008 Olympic Games... |
||||
| Stage 7 (Luis León Sánchez Luis León Sánchez Luis León Sánchez Gil is a Spanish road bicycle racer for UCI ProTeam . He is also known as Lulu Sanchez. He rode for team Liberty Seguros-Würth from 2004 until 2006, when he moved to the Caisse d'Epargne team following the collapse of the Liberty Seguros-Würth team in the wake of the Operación... ) |
|||||
| Final |
Davide Rebellin Davide Rebellin Davide Rebellin is an Italian road bicycle racer, currently riding for the Italian Miche-Guerciotti team. He served a 2-year suspension for testing positive for Mircera at the 2008 Olympic Games... |
Thor Hushovd Thor Hushovd Thor Hushovd is a Norwegian professional road bicycle racer riding . He has signed for from 2012 onwards. He is known for sprinting and time trialing and is the 2010 Norwegian and world road champion. He is the first Norwegian to lead the Tour de France, and first Scandinavian to win the road... |
Clément Lhotellerie Clément Lhotellerie Clément Lhotellerie is a French road racing cyclist.-Career:Lhotellerie was an accomplished mountain-biker and cyclo-cross rider before switching to the road. He had won the French cyclo-cross championships in Juniors and U23 categories. He turned professional for Skil-Shimano cycling team in 2007... |
Robert Gesink Robert Gesink Robert Gesink is a Dutch professional road bicycle racer for UCI ProTeam Rabobank.-Early years:At the Junior World Championships of 2004 UCI Road World Championships in Verona, Gesink finished eighth in the individual time trial and sixth in the road race, while riding for team De Peddelaars in... |
Jersey wearers when one rider is leading two or more competitions:
- On stage 1, Markel IrizarMarkel IrizarMarkel Irizar Aranburu is a Spanish professional road bicycle racer for UCI ProTour team . Like team founder Lance Armstrong, Irizar is a testicular cancer survivor.- Palmares :2002...
wore the green jersey - On stage 2, Karsten Kroon wore the green jersey
- On stage 3, Gert SteegmansGert SteegmansGert Steegmans is a Belgian professional road bicycle racer who rides for UCI ProTeam . He has a strong finishing sprint and can compete in the sprint with fellow Belgian cyclist Tom Boonen.-Career overview:...
wore the green jersey - On stages 5 & 6, Luis León SánchezLuis León SánchezLuis León Sánchez Gil is a Spanish road bicycle racer for UCI ProTeam . He is also known as Lulu Sanchez. He rode for team Liberty Seguros-Würth from 2004 until 2006, when he moved to the Caisse d'Epargne team following the collapse of the Liberty Seguros-Würth team in the wake of the Operación...
wore the white jersey
Withdrawals
Only 86 riders finished the race of the 160 that started. Almost 40 riders abandoned during the last stage.| Stage | Cyclist | Team | Reason | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DNF | 1 | Groin Groin In human anatomy, the groin areas are the two creases at the junction of the torso with the legs, on either side of the pubic area. This is also known as the medial compartment of the thigh. A pulled groin muscle usually refers to a painful injury sustained by straining the hip adductor muscles... injury due to crash |
||
| DNS | 2 | Losing 13:25 on the first stage | ||
| DNF | 2 | |||
| DNF | 2 | |||
| DNF | 2 | |||
| DNF | 2 | |||
| DNS | 3 | Skil-Shimano Skil-Shimano Skil-Shimano is a professional cycling team based in The Netherlands that participates in UCI Continental Circuits races and, when selected, in UCI ProTour events. The team is managed by Arend Scheppink, with assistance from directeur sportifs Akira Bandou, Hisafumi Imanishi, Iwan Spekenbrink,... |
||
| DNF | 3 | |||
| DNF | 3 | |||
| DNF | 3 | Skil-Shimano Skil-Shimano Skil-Shimano is a professional cycling team based in The Netherlands that participates in UCI Continental Circuits races and, when selected, in UCI ProTour events. The team is managed by Arend Scheppink, with assistance from directeur sportifs Akira Bandou, Hisafumi Imanishi, Iwan Spekenbrink,... |
||
| DNS | 4 | |||
| DNS | 5 | |||
| DNS | 5 | |||
| DNS | 5 | Slipstream Chipotle | Finished 21:07 after Evans, on the 4th stage | |
| DNF | 5 | |||
| DNF | 5 | |||
| DNF | 5 | |||
| DNF | 5 | |||
| DNF | 5 | |||
| DNF | 5 | |||
| DNF | 5 | |||
| DNF | 5 | Injury due to crash | ||
| DNF | 5 | |||
| DNF | 5 | |||
| DNF | 5 | Agritubel | ||
| DNF | 5 | |||
| DNF | 5 | Skil-Shimano Skil-Shimano Skil-Shimano is a professional cycling team based in The Netherlands that participates in UCI Continental Circuits races and, when selected, in UCI ProTour events. The team is managed by Arend Scheppink, with assistance from directeur sportifs Akira Bandou, Hisafumi Imanishi, Iwan Spekenbrink,... |
||
| DNF | 5 | Skil-Shimano Skil-Shimano Skil-Shimano is a professional cycling team based in The Netherlands that participates in UCI Continental Circuits races and, when selected, in UCI ProTour events. The team is managed by Arend Scheppink, with assistance from directeur sportifs Akira Bandou, Hisafumi Imanishi, Iwan Spekenbrink,... |
||
| DNS | 6 | |||
| DNS | 6 | |||
| DNF | 6 | Skil-Shimano Skil-Shimano Skil-Shimano is a professional cycling team based in The Netherlands that participates in UCI Continental Circuits races and, when selected, in UCI ProTour events. The team is managed by Arend Scheppink, with assistance from directeur sportifs Akira Bandou, Hisafumi Imanishi, Iwan Spekenbrink,... |
||
| DNF | 6 | Slipstream Chipotle | ||
| DNF | 6 | Agritubel | ||
| DNF | 6 | |||
| DNF | 6 | |||
| DNF | 6 | |||
| DNF | 6 | |||
| DNF | 6 | |||
| DNF | 7 | Slipstream Chipotle | ||
| DNF | 7 | |||
| DNF | 7 | Agritubel | ||
| DNF | 7 | Agritubel | ||
| DNF | 7 | |||
| DNF | 7 | |||
| DNF | 7 | |||
| DNF | 7 | |||
| DNF | 7 | |||
| DNF | 7 | |||
| DNF | 7 | Team High Road | ||
| DNF | 7 | Team High Road | ||
| DNF | 7 | Team High Road | ||
| DNF | 7 | Team High Road | ||
| DNF | 7 | Team High Road | ||
| DNF | 7 | Team High Road | ||
| DNF | 7 | Team High Road | ||
| DNF | 7 | |||
| DNF | 7 | |||
| DNF | 7 | |||
| DNF | 7 | |||
| DNF | 7 | |||
| DNF | 7 | |||
| DNF | 7 | |||
| DNF | 7 | |||
| DNF | 7 | |||
| DNF | 7 | |||
| DNF | 7 | |||
| DNF | 7 | |||
| DNF | 7 | |||
| DNF | 7 | |||
| DNF | 7 | |||
| DNF | 7 | |||
| DNF | 7 | |||
| DNF | 7 | |||
| DNF | 7 |
Teams and cyclists
The following 20 UCI ProTour and UCI Professional Continental teams were selected to the 2008 Paris–Nice:| Nation | UCI Code |
Team Name |
|---|---|---|
 |
ALM | |
| |
AGR | |
| |
BTL | |
 |
GCE | |
| |
COF | |
| |
C.A | |
| |
EUS | |
| |
FDJ | |
 |
GST | |
 |
LAM | |
| |
LIQ | |
 |
QST | |
 |
RAB | |
| |
SDV | |
| |
SIL | |
| |
SKS | |
 |
TSL | |
 |
CSC | |
| |
THR | |
| |
MRM |
The is the only ProTour
UCI ProTour
The UCI ProTour was a series of road bicycle races in Europe, Australia and Canada organised by the UCI . Created by Hein Verbruggen, former president of the UCI, it comprises a number of 'ProTour' cycling teams, each of whom are required to compete in every round of the series...
team not to be invited to this event because of the "damage caused by the team during the 2007 Tour de France
2007 Tour de France
The 2007 Tour de France, the 94th running of the race, took place from 7 July to 29 July 2007. The Tour began with a prologue in London, and ended with the traditional finish in Paris. Along the way, the route also passed through Belgium and Spain...
".
External links
- cyclingfans.com Paris–Nice 2008 Live guide, photos, commentary.
- cyclingnews