First of all, my shoulder after the fall in Kuurne is no bother at all anymore, so that's good news.
So than it was time for my first participation in Paris - Nice, the race towards the sun. And it hasn't been without adventure so far, let me tell you that. The route is somewhat different this year. Lots of flat races, very short stages. The ASO hopes to create exciting races, and I wanted to give them just that! We came here with Matthews, our strongest sprinter.
Paris - Nice :: Stage 1
Profile
Result - Stage 1
1
Bradley Wiggins
Team Sky
4'22
2
Tobias Ludvigsson
Team Giant - Shimano
+ 2
3
Tejay Van Garderen
BMC Racing Team
+ 3
4
Michael Rogers
Tinkoff - Saxo
+ 5
5
Tony Martin
Omega Pharma - Quick·Step Cycling Team
s.t.
6
Cameron Meyer
Orica GreenEdge
+ 8
7
Peter Kennaugh
Team Sky
+ 10
8
Fabian Cancellara
Trek Factory Racing
s.t.
9
Andrey Amador
Movistar Team
+ 11
10
Rui Costa
Lampre - Merida
+ 12
(...)
33
Matthias Vleminckx
Orica GreenEdge
+ 19
Paris - Nice :: stage 2
After a very strong prologue, I was keen on this next stage. With my current form, I can definitely be of value for the team.
Profile
It's about 99% sure this will end in a mass sprint. With two men here for the General Classification, we didn't bring a train. So I have to bring Matthews up to the wheel of another favorite. A big responsibility, but I think I can do it.
With an early mountain sprint, Adam Yates made a move for the points. He will wear the mountain jersey tomorrow.
Things headed towards the sprint as expected. I was Matthews' pilot.
We found a Lotto train we would latch onto. Right when I wanted to place my lead-out sprint, Roelandts blocked me so I had to go the other way.
In the end, Greipel won the stage quite easily. We came in 5th with Matthews. I finished in the top 10, which is also nice.
Result - Stage 2
1
André Greipel
Lotto Belisol
3h58'23
2
Mark Renshaw
Omega Pharma - Quick·Step Cycling Team
s.t.
3
Arnaud Demare
FDJ.fr
s.t.
4
Jürgen Roelandts
Lotto Belisol
s.t.
5
Michael Matthews
Orica GreenEdge
s.t.
6
Sébastien Chavanel
FDJ.fr
s.t.
7
Giacomo Nizzolo
Trek Factory Racing
s.t.
8
Greg Henderson
Lotto Belisol
s.t.
9
Matthias Vleminckx
Orica GreenEdge
s.t.
10
José Joaquín Rojas
Movistar Team
s.t.
Paris - Nice :: Stage 3
And then it was time for the most interesting stage of whole Paris - Nice, if you ask me!
Profile
A bold choice by the ASO. Stage 3 of Paris - Nice is only 43 kilometers long. That'll make for an interesting and fresh race. Some say this is a stage for young, explosive riders. Someone like Matthews, in other words. Or someone like me, maybe?
In the first 10 kilometers, many tried to break away. The entire peloton stayed together, though. At the first intermediate sprint, Adam Yates pulled hard and assured us a nice bonus at the end of Paris - Nice.
When I looked behind, I saw a shattered peloton. We were heading towards a big bend and then the wind would blow quite favourably for escapees. Instead of waiting for organization from the peloton, I increased my effort and broke lose.
It was an unauthorized move but I did it purely on instinct. The team management wouldn't blame me, I was sure of that.
I managed to create a gap! There were still 20 kilometers to go, but I was feeling very strong! There was hesitation in the pack and I soon got a lead of about a minute!
But when FDJ finally took control of the peloton, my lead decreased dramatically. Were they too late and was I heading towards an amazing victory or was it all for nothing?
I felt the peloton breathing down my neck, but I kept up a strong pace. They hovered at a deficit of about 10 seconds for a long time.
On the final climb, Warren Barguil made the jump forward. He caught up with me at the top and I was able to latch onto him!
And so we headed downhill together. There were only 4 kilometers left now, we would be fighting for the victory!
Barguil is no sprinter, so I really started believing in my chances now. The peloton came closer but I knew I had this, I was going to win my first World Tour victory here!
I started my sprint with a lot of confidence. A bit early, but with the nearing peloton, we had no time to speculate or wait.
But to my surprise, I got countered badly. I lost the sprint! How could this happen?
The worst part was that I saw Matthews winning the sprint of the peloton. Without my attack, he would've won today's stage for sure.
Result - Stage 3
1
Warren Barguil
Team Giant - Shimano
50'22
2
Matthias Vleminckx
Orica GreenEdge
s.t.
3
Michael Matthews
Orica GreenEdge
+ 16
4
André Greipel
Lotto Belisol
s.t.
5
Raymond Kreder
Garmin Sharp
s.t.
6
Michał Kwiatkowski
Omega Pharma - Quick·Step Cycling Team
s.t.
7
Rui Costa
Lampre - Merida
s.t.
8
Bauke Mollema
Belkin Pro Cycling Team
s.t.
9
Taylor Phinney
BMC Racing Team
s.t.
10
Tejay Van Garderen
BMC Racing Team
s.t.
I was so disappointed like you couldn't believe. I crossed the finish line after an extremely fast race so very tired. My legs were burning up and I felt totally empty inside. There was just enough left for a single tear, half from emotion, half from the effort. A missed chance. I was angry at myself for messing this up.
This is a World Tour event, so a second place ought to attract some reporters.
Matthias Vleminckx, the number two of today. How do you feel about today?
I'm very disappointed. I really believed in the victory in the final kilometer. Usually I have a very strong sprint, I don't know what went wrong. Still, you put up quite a show. You accelarated out of the peloton with 25 kilometers to go and managed to keep a gap. That's quite an achievement in a race like this.
After the sprint I just saw the peloton was not sure how to react, so I decided to go for it. You don't win if you don't try. I guess they gave me about a minute because they don't really know who I am. In the end, my effort wasn't enough to win, but it proves I'm in a good shape. I'll be honest with you, I hadn't hear from you until today. I'd say you certainly came in with style. What can we expect from you for the following days? More attacks?
I'm not sure. Matthews is our main sprinter so I'll have to listen to the DS and see what he has in mind for me. You may not win the stage, but thanks to your effort you take the lead in the general classification. How does it feel as a debutant to grab the yellow jersey?
Wait - what?
You should've seen my face. I had no clue at all. I was so busy being angry with myself that I had totally forgotten about the bonification seconds. And he was right, I took the yellow jersey, which is one hell of a consolation prize.
The podium ceremony was just unreal. The audience didn't know me at all and I hardly got applause. But I loved it. It's nothing like I've ever done. This tastes for more.
General Classification
1
Matthias Vleminckx
Orica GreenEdge
4h53'20
2
Bradley Wiggins
Team Sky
+ 3
3
Tobias Ludvigsson
Team Giant - Shimano
+ 5
4
Tejay Van Garderen
BMC Racing Team
+ 6
5
Michael Rogers
Tinkoff - Saxo
+ 8
6
Tony Martin
Omega Pharma - Quick·Step Cycling Team
s.t.
7
Cameron Meyer
Orica GreenEdge
+ 11
8
Peter Kennaugh
Team Sky
+ 13
9
Fabian Cancellara
Trek Factory Racing
s.t.
10
Andrey Amador
Movistar Team
+ 14
Tomorrow I'll be starting as the leader. I'm not sure what my role in the team will be then, I guess I'll find out soon.
Matt
Edited by Ian Butler on 13-04-2014 19:27
Thank you all! It's great to have such support and it really motivates me more than anything to ake this an amazing story.
I've tried to make a nice reporting style, I hope you all enjoy it!
Paris - Nice will continue today!
FonsDeSpons - It's really great to have you back. Thanks
Shonak - I couldn't pass up trying to do something in a 43 km stage
baia - Beats me. I guess his effort before the sprint was way bigger than Barguil's, who just made the jump on that hill at the end. Then I went quite early because I was afraid the peloton would catch me
24sebaf1 - Thanks, great to be back, too hope you enjoy the story!
the_hoyle - yellow does look good on him and a rider like him won't have too many chances of wearing it. So he better enjoy it.
knockout - Glad you liked it!
Jakstar22 - Thanks! I'm still not sure what to do now I guess we'll find out later today!
Mresuperstar - It's a pickle. Of course wearing yellow at PN is an amazing achievement in his career at this point. But a stage win at PN would've put him on the map with a historic victory, I think
The Hobbit - I finally earned one, without winning, I think that's pretty great
sutty68 - The next stages are flat, so that should be possible, but with a mountain stage later in the race, I fear 3 seconds on Wiggins won't be enough
It's a new dawn for my career. Would you believe me if I told you wearing this jersey completely changes your status? People know me, now. At the hotel I even had a couple recognizing me. Admittedly, they were Belgian, but still!
Now I had maximum two stages to show this jersey in the best daylight possible. I humbly asked the DS about the plan for the next stages.
The next morning, I was getting ready on the team bus, wearing that yellow jersey has a weird feeling. I can't get used to it. Then the DS asked everyone to be quiet. He said: "Today we work for Matt. We've got a yellow jersey to defend, give it your all."
I said it many times before, at Orica you're not just a team mate, you're a friend, first. The guys couldn't agree more, we would defend this jersey with our lives.
Paris - Nice :: Stage 4
Right before the start, some riders from the peloton came up to me to congratulate me. Most of them didn't get a chance yesterday, as I had to disappear quite quickly for the podium ceremony and the doping test.
With this jersey around my shoulders and the team working for me, I felt the pressure rise. I had two stages to prove what I was worth. Two chances.
Profile
This'll be another fast stage. The main thing here is to stay upright. There are quite some narrow roads and lots of turns, so there's danger everywhere. If we make it to the sprint, I think I have a fair chance with Matthews leading me out. After all, a stage this short is all about pure speed. My youth is a big plus here.
And then it was time to start. I was put on the first line, seeing I'm the leader of this Paris - Nice.
The guys really did all they could to defend the jersey. They worked hard and I can't thank them enough!
And luckily we got some help from other teams, too, who were counting on their sprinter.
We kind of missed some guys for the lead-out so Matthews lead me out with a small deficit to Greipel.
I've never been on this side of a sprinting Matthews. Usually I'm leading him out. What a sprint speed!
But I started my sprint too late and fell of the podium. Still, I finished 4th and that's definitely not bad! After all, this is Paris - Nice, this is World Tour.
I was happy about my sprint, and I was still in yellow, so it was a great day! Once again I appeared at the podium, this time a little more people cheered for me. I'm making some fans, hooray!
Result - Stage 4
1
André Greipel
Lotto Belisol
2h31'17
2
Giacomo Nizzolo
Trek Factory Racing
s.t.
3
Arnaud Demare
FDJ.fr
s.t.
4
Matthias Vleminckx
Orica GreenEdge
s.t.
5
Jürgen Roelandts
Lotto Belisol
s.t.
6
Francesco Gavazzi
Astana Pro Team
s.t.
7
Adrien Petit
Cofidis, Solutions Crédits
s.t.
8
Mark Renshaw
Omega Pharma - Quick·Step Cycling Team
s.t.
9
Fabio Felline
Trek Factory Racing
s.t.
10
Sébastien Chavanel
FDJ.fr
s.t.
Paris - Nice :: Stage 5
Tomorrow we head into the mountains, so this will be the last sprinting chance. I really hope to get another top 5 place, maybe even better! Yesterday I felt that a yellow jersey really gives you wings. I feel stronger and stronger wearing this, like nothing can go wrong!
Profile
This profile is 100% perfect for me. It's short, so endurance is of no factor. There are some punchy hills, which will tire out some of the sprinters. It'll go fast, so I can rely on my sprint speed at the finish. With a team like this supporting me, I smell my chance!
The breakaway contained some well known rouleurs, so it was dangerous to give them a big advantage!
Fortunately, other teams stepped up and did their share of the work. Once again we were heading for a mass sprint. My legs were just super and I was completely focused. Our lead-out train came up next to the FDJ's
But the guys couldn't keep up the pace after all the work they'd done to reel in the break. Matthews latched onto Gavazzi's wheel. But things were hectic and I lost contact! Luckily I reacted quickly and nestled myself in Greipel's wheel.
With a bend close to the finish, it was destined to be a short but explosive sprint. Matthews went quite hard. He was sprinting for his own account now, and I couldn't agree more. Waiting for each other at this point was just silly.
I couldn't feel my legs, I really couldn't. So instead of staying in Greipel's slipstream, I chose the right side of the road and started my final accelaration. The crowd was making me extremely excited!
I had enough energy left for a final jump!
And it was enough! I couldn't believe my eyes! I won my first World Tour race by half a wheel on Michael Matthews, in the yellow jersey! Unbelievable!
Matthews put his hand on my shoulder and we both raised an arm for the victory. I saw he was genuinly happy for me. I couldn't help smiling. I stopped and waited for the rest of the team, to thank them all personally. I couldn't keep count of the guys congratulating me with the win. It meant the world to me, especially when Greipel tapped me on the shoulder. What a guy. When I had seen Durbridge, someone took me by the arm and guided me towards the area behind the podium. Time for the flash interview. I was glad to see it was the same reporter as last time. Before the camera rolled, I quickly asked him: "English, please?" He smiled and nodded his head. My French is just terrible, can't be helped.
The winner of today's stage, Matthias Vleminckx. Two days ago I told you I hadn't heard your name before. Now I can promise you I'll never forget it. Stage winner in Paris - Nice in the leader's jersey.
I can't believe it, it still has to sink in. Last year I had some victories, but nothing that even comes close to this. Paris - Nice is a fantastic race and to win a stage here is an incredible feeling. Can you describe your sprint to us?
The sprint was very hectic. We knew it'd be fast. I had lost the wheel of Michael in the final kilometer, but I didn't panic. At the Juniors I was one of the top sprinters, so I know my way around a sprinting peloton. I was lucky to find Greipel's wheel and his wide torso kept me out of the wind until the final 150 meters. I saw Michael sprinting and there was an opening on the right so I dived right into it. I placed a jump and in the end that's what did it. Tomorrow's stage finishes uphill. Is there a chance of keeping the jersey all the way to Nice?
I don't know. Of course I'll fight for it, but it'll be very hard. The fatigue from my efforts in the past few days is already noticable. There have been some fast, nervous stages and that gets in your legs.
The team has been great so far and I can't thank them enough. But even the best team in the world can't make me go up a mountain faster. A mountain slope doesn't lie. Did you expect this coming here?
Not at all. This is my first World Tour event besides the Eneco Tour last season. I knew my form was great but I could never expect this. It's a big step up for my career. And with these words, today's winner is being asked away for the podium ceremony.
Result - Stage 5
1
Matthias Vleminckx
Orica GreenEdge
2h10'02
2
Michael Matthews
Orica GreenEdge
s.t.
3
André Greipel
Lotto Belisol
s.t.
4
Giacomo Nizzolo
Trek Factory Racing
s.t.
5
Fabio Felline
Trek Factory Racing
s.t.
6
José Joaquín Rojas
Movistar Team
s.t.
7
Arnaud Demare
FDJ.fr
s.t.
8
Mark Renshaw
Omega Pharma - Quick·Step Cycling Team
s.t.
9
Bernhard Eisel
Team Sky
s.t.
10
Francesco Gavazzi
Astana Pro Team
s.t.
General Classification
1
Matthias Vleminckx
Orica GreenEdge
9h34'33
2
Bradley Wiggins
Team Sky
+ 9
3
Tobias Ludvigsson
Team Giant - Shimano
+ 11
4
Tejay Van Garderen
BMC Racing Team
+ 12
5
Michael Rogers
Tinkoff - Saxo
+ 14
6
Tony Martin
Omega Pharma - Quick·Step Cycling Team
s.t.
7
André Greipel
Lotto Belisol
+ 15
8
Cameron Meyer
Orica GreenEdge
+ 17
9
Peter Kennaugh
Team Sky
+ 19
10
Fabian Cancellara
Trek Factory Racing
s.t.
Spoiler
11
Andrey Amador
Movistar Team
+ 20
12
Michael Matthews
Orica GreenEdge
+ 21
13
Rui Costa
Lampre - Merida
s.t.
14
Rohan Dennis
Garmin Sharp
+ 22
15
Lars Boom
Belkin Pro Cycling Team
s.t.
16
Alexey Lutsenko
Astana Pro Team
s.t.
17
Giacomo Nizzolo
Trek Factory Racing
+ 23
18
Andrew Talansky
Garmin Sharp
s.t.
19
Taylor Phinney
BMC Racing Team
s.t.
20
Jonathan Hivert
Belkin Pro Cycling Team
s.t.
21
Luke Durbridge
Orica GreenEdge
s.t.
22
Brett Lancaster
Orica GreenEdge
s.t.
23
Chris Horner
Lampre - Merida
+ 24
24
Michał Kwiatkowski
Omega Pharma - Quick·Step Cycling Team
s.t.
25
Manuele Boaro
Tinkoff - Saxo
s.t.
26
Bauke Mollema
Belkin Pro Cycling Team
+ 25
27
Tom Dumoulin
Team Giant - Shimano
s.t.
28
Ramunas Navardauskas
Garmin Sharp
s.t.
29
Arnaud Demare
FDJ.fr
+ 26
30
Richie Porte
Team Sky
s.t.
31
Simon Spilak
Team Katusha
s.t.
32
Jean-Christophe Peraud
AG2R La Mondiale
s.t.
33
Peter Velits
BMC Racing Team
+ 27
34
Jonathan Castroviejo
Movistar Team
s.t.
35
Thomas Löfkvist
IAM Cycling
s.t.
36
Przemyslaw Niemiec
Lampre - Merida
+ 28
37
Pieter Weening
Orica GreenEdge
s.t.
38
Tiago Machado
Team NetApp - Endura
s.t.
39
Moreno Moser
Cannondale
s.t.
40
Aleksandr Kuschynski
Team Katusha
+ 29
41
Jérôme Coppel
Cofidis, Solutions Crédits
s.t.
42
Geoffrey Soupe
FDJ.fr
+ 30
43
Thomas De Gendt
Omega Pharma - Quick·Step Cycling Team
s.t.
44
Nicolas Roche
Tinkoff - Saxo
+ 31
45
Jurgen Van den Broeck
Lotto Belisol
s.t.
46
Tyler Farrar
Garmin Sharp
s.t.
47
Greg Henderson
Lotto Belisol
s.t.
48
Danny Pate
Team Sky
+ 32
49
Ryder Hesjedal
Garmin Sharp
s.t.
50
Iker Camaño
Team NetApp - Endura
s.t.
51
Jesús Herrada
Movistar Team
s.t.
52
Mark Renshaw
Omega Pharma - Quick·Step Cycling Team
+ 33
53
Warren Barguil
Team Giant - Shimano
s.t.
54
Antonio Piedra
Caja Rural - Seguros RGA
s.t.
55
Hayden Roulston
Trek Factory Racing
s.t.
56
David De la Cruz
Team NetApp - Endura
s.t.
57
Fabio Felline
Trek Factory Racing
+ 34
58
Jens Debusschere
Lotto Belisol
s.t.
59
José Herrada
Movistar Team
s.t.
60
Paolo Tiralongo
Astana Pro Team
+ 35
61
Francisco José Ventoso
Movistar Team
s.t.
62
Marcel Wyss
IAM Cycling
s.t.
63
Arthur Vichot
FDJ.fr
+ 36
64
Jürgen Roelandts
Lotto Belisol
s.t.
65
Vyacheslav Kuznetsov
Team Katusha
s.t.
66
Valerio Agnoli
Astana Pro Team
s.t.
67
Gediminas Bagdonas
AG2R La Mondiale
s.t.
68
Fränk Schleck
Trek Factory Racing
+ 37
69
Matthew Busche
Trek Factory Racing
s.t.
70
Graeme Brown
Belkin Pro Cycling Team
s.t.
71
Matthew Hayman
Orica GreenEdge
s.t.
72
Patrick Schelling
IAM Cycling
s.t.
73
Julian Alaphilippe
Omega Pharma - Quick·Step Cycling Team
+ 38
74
Reinardt Janse Van Rensburg
Team Giant - Shimano
s.t.
75
Moreno Hofland
Belkin Pro Cycling Team
s.t.
76
Alexis Gougeard
AG2R La Mondiale
s.t.
77
Yaroslav Popovych
Trek Factory Racing
+ 39
78
Steve Chainel
AG2R La Mondiale
s.t.
79
Marc Goos
Belkin Pro Cycling Team
s.t.
80
Daniel Moreno
Team Katusha
+ 40
81
Samuel Sánchez
BMC Racing Team
s.t.
82
Romain Feillu
Bretagne - Séché Environnement
s.t.
83
Daniel Martin
Garmin Sharp
+ 41
84
Elia Favilli
Lampre - Merida
s.t.
85
Javier Francisco Aramendia
Caja Rural - Seguros RGA
s.t.
86
Amaël Moinard
BMC Racing Team
+ 42
87
Klaas Lodewyck
BMC Racing Team
s.t.
88
Pello Bilbao
Caja Rural - Seguros RGA
s.t.
89
Jérôme Cousin
Team Europcar
s.t.
90
Florian Senechal
Cofidis, Solutions Crédits
s.t.
91
Steven Kruijswijk
Belkin Pro Cycling Team
+ 43
92
Gianluca Brambilla
Omega Pharma - Quick·Step Cycling Team
s.t.
93
Gianni Meersman
Omega Pharma - Quick·Step Cycling Team
s.t.
94
Koldo Fernández
Garmin Sharp
s.t.
95
Francesco Gavazzi
Astana Pro Team
+ 44
96
Ángel Madrazo
Caja Rural - Seguros RGA
s.t.
97
Florian Vachon
Bretagne - Séché Environnement
s.t.
98
Michael Valgren
Tinkoff - Saxo
s.t.
99
José Joaquín Rojas
Movistar Team
+ 45
100
Egor Silin
Team Katusha
s.t.
101
Karsten Kroon
Tinkoff - Saxo
s.t.
102
Adrien Petit
Cofidis, Solutions Crédits
+ 46
103
Florian Guillou
Bretagne - Séché Environnement
s.t.
104
Pierre-Luc Périchon
Bretagne - Séché Environnement
s.t.
105
Valentin Iglinskiy
Astana Pro Team
+ 47
106
Winner Anacona
Lampre - Merida
+ 48
107
Eduard Vorganov
Team Katusha
s.t.
108
Maxim Iglinskiy
Astana Pro Team
s.t.
109
Louis Verhelst
Cofidis, Solutions Crédits
s.t.
110
Samuel Dumoulin
AG2R La Mondiale
+ 49
111
Mikel Landa
Astana Pro Team
s.t.
112
Gang Xu
Lampre - Merida
s.t.
113
Jesper Hansen
Tinkoff - Saxo
+ 50
114
Anthony Geslin
FDJ.fr
s.t.
115
Bartosz Huzarski
Team NetApp - Endura
s.t.
116
Fabricio Ferrari
Caja Rural - Seguros RGA
s.t.
117
Ruslan Tleubayev
Astana Pro Team
s.t.
118
Chris Anker Sørensen
Tinkoff - Saxo
+ 51
119
Kenny Elissonde
FDJ.fr
s.t.
120
Guillaume Bonnafond
AG2R La Mondiale
s.t.
121
José Mendes
Team NetApp - Endura
s.t.
122
Roy Curvers
Team Giant - Shimano
s.t.
123
Francesco Lasca
Caja Rural - Seguros RGA
+ 52
124
Thomas Damuseau
Team Giant - Shimano
s.t.
125
Tom Leezer
Belkin Pro Cycling Team
s.t.
126
Michal Golas
Omega Pharma - Quick·Step Cycling Team
s.t.
127
Kris Boeckmans
Lotto Belisol
+ 53
128
Ivan Rovny
Tinkoff - Saxo
s.t.
129
Albert Timmer
Team Giant - Shimano
s.t.
130
Jérôme Pineau
IAM Cycling
s.t.
131
Tony Hurel
Team Europcar
s.t.
132
Cayetano Sarmiento
Cannondale
+ 54
133
Julien Fouchard
Cofidis, Solutions Crédits
s.t.
134
Bernhard Eisel
Team Sky
+ 55
135
Daniel Oss
BMC Racing Team
s.t.
136
Hugo Houle
AG2R La Mondiale
+ 56
137
Cyril Lemoine
Cofidis, Solutions Crédits
s.t.
138
Cristiano Salerno
Cannondale
+ 57
139
Rein Taaramäe
Cofidis, Solutions Crédits
s.t.
140
Matteo Bono
Lampre - Merida
s.t.
141
Joshua Edmondson
Team Sky
+ 58
142
Tosh Van der Sande
Lotto Belisol
+ 59
143
John Gadret
Movistar Team
s.t.
144
Sam Bennett
Team NetApp - Endura
s.t.
145
Jonathon McEvoy
Team NetApp - Endura
s.t.
146
Raymond Kreder
Garmin Sharp
+ 1'00
147
Stéphane Poulhiès
Cofidis, Solutions Crédits
s.t.
148
Rafael Valls
Lampre - Merida
+ 1'01
149
Mickaël Delage
FDJ.fr
s.t.
150
Petr Ignatenko
Team Katusha
s.t.
151
George Bennett
Cannondale
s.t.
152
Vincent Jérôme
Team Europcar
s.t.
153
Sébastien Chavanel
FDJ.fr
+ 1'02
154
Marcos García
Caja Rural - Seguros RGA
s.t.
155
Ian Boswell
Team Sky
s.t.
156
Fabio Silvestre
Trek Factory Racing
s.t.
157
Arnaud Gérard
Bretagne - Séché Environnement
+ 1'03
158
Fabrice Jeandesboz
Team Europcar
+ 1'04
159
Mikel Nieve
Team Sky
+ 1'05
160
Sébastien Hinault
IAM Cycling
s.t.
161
John Darwin Atapuma
BMC Racing Team
+ 1'06
162
Davide Viganò
Caja Rural - Seguros RGA
s.t.
163
Matteo Pelucchi
IAM Cycling
s.t.
164
Davide Formolo
Cannondale
+ 1'07
165
Yukiya Arashiro
Team Europcar
+ 2'57
166
Jonathan Fumeaux
IAM Cycling
+ 3'08
167
Guillaume Boivin
Cannondale
+ 3'15
168
Jean-Marc Marino
Cannondale
+ 3'26
169
Alberto Bettiol
Cannondale
+ 4'04
170
Enrique Sanz
Movistar Team
+ 4'08
171
Yohan Offredo
FDJ.fr
+ 4'32
172
Anton Vorobyev
Team Katusha
+ 5'13
173
Morgan Lamoisson
Team Europcar
+ 5'27
174
Sean De Bie
Lotto Belisol
+ 5'44
175
Antoine Duchesne
Team Europcar
+ 5'51
176
Lloyd Mondory
AG2R La Mondiale
+ 5'54
177
Romain Guillemois
Team Europcar
+ 5'55
178
Pirmin Lang
IAM Cycling
+ 12'24
179
Adam Yates
Orica GreenEdge
+ 13'14
180
Benjamin Le Montagner
Bretagne - Séché Environnement
+ 13'17
181
Cheng Ji
Team Giant - Shimano
+ 13'20
182
Benoit Jarrier
Bretagne - Séché Environnement
+ 13'56
183
Michael Schwarzmann
Team NetApp - Endura
+ 17'32
184
Armindo Fonseca
Bretagne - Séché Environnement
+ 24'37
Like I said to the reporter, it's a huge step up for my career. I'm just so happy I could prove what I'm worth so soon. I can just feel a lot of pressure falling of my shoulders. My season is already half-successful so I can look forward to the rest of the season with a certain calm.
However, I still want to put in my best effort in the cobbled classics, don't get me wrong! It would be sad if this were my highlight in my entire career.
Ollfardh - I hope that, too, of course! But to tell you a secret, his sprinting stat is superior to his COB stat at this age, so maybe it's good he can profit from his best stat at Paris - Nice
The Hobbit - Yellow, the color of the banana thanks!
Dippofix - So far, so good, I'd say!
Thanks guys. I must admit that win came as a surprise to me. But a good surprise
I'm updating the 2nd post with his palmares now. Hope you like the lay-out there
Aah, there it is. His first win. However, I am rather surprised since it came quite early and even in a sprint of quite some fast men. I expected him to have to work and wait longer and harder for it, however never the less a moment to enjoy and celebrate. Let's keep yellow
"It’s a little bit scary when Contador attacks." - Tommy V
Paris - Nice :: Stage 1 
