Hushovd powered in to win the prologue at Paris-Nice
Thor Hushovd (Credit Agricole) cut through blasting winds and a wet course Sunday to win the opening prologue at the 66th Paris-Nice.
The mostly flat 4.6km course across the wind-blown fields near Amilly wasn't very technical and favored Hushovd's powerful style. Winner of the 2006 opening prologue in the Tour de France, Hushovd won in 5 minutes, 28 seconds.
Basque rider Markel Irizar (Euskaltel-Euskadi), perhaps no stranger to wet and windy roads, set an early fast time of 5:33 that withstood challenges from the top favorites and settled into second. Stefan Schumacher (Gerolsteiner) and Brad McGee (CSC) tied for third at 5:34.
Danny Pate (Slipstream-Chipotle) led the American contingent with a rock solid sixth at 5:35. Tyler Farrar (Slipstream-Chipotle) crashed on a corner about 2km to go, but managed to finish in last place more than three minutes slower.
David Millar (Slipstream-Chipotle), winner of last year's prologue, didn't take any chances on slick corners and stopped the clock 11 seconds off the winning pace.
Other favorites also refused to take unnecessary risks on roads dampened by rain that fell during about the first 40 or so riders.
Cadel Evans (Silence-Lotto), second overall in last year's Tour, lost 17 seconds. Davide Rebellin (Gerolsteiner), second overall last year, stopped the clock 27 seconds off the pace while Frank Schleck (CSC), a climber who will be dangerous on Mont Ventoux, ceded 34 seconds.
The 66th Paris-Nice continues Monday with the rolling 184.5km first stage from Amilly to Nevers that concludes with a difficult final sprint with a rising finish over the final 800m with an average grade of 7.1 percent..
1. HUSHOVD Thor (N), CREDIT AGRICOLE 05:28
2. IRIZAR Markel (Sp), EUSKALTEL - EUSKADI 05:32, at 00:04
3. SCHUMACHER Stefan (G), GEROLSTEINER 05:33, at 00:05
4. MC GEE Bradley (Aus), TEAM CSC 05:33, at 00:05
5. BONNET William (F), CREDIT AGRICOLE 05:34, at 00:06
6. PATE Danny (USA), SLIPSTREAM CHIPOTLE 05:34, at 00:06
7. BERTAGNOLLI Leonardo (I), LIQUIGAS 05:35, at 00:07
8. GRIVKO Andriy (Ukr), TEAM MILRAM 05:36, at 00:08
9. KROON Karsten (Nl), TEAM CSC 05:36, at 00:08
10. LOWE Trent (Aus) SLIPSTREAM CHIPOTLE 05:37, at 00:09
