In short
| Stage winner | Jean-Patrick NAZON |
 (yellow jersey) |
David MILLAR |
 (green jersey) |
Daniele BENNATI |
 (red polka dot jersey) |
Romain FEILLU |
 (white jersey) |
Roman KREUZINGER |
Starters' list | Time schedules
All classifications
| Stage |
|---|
 |
• Individual time• Individual points • Best young • Best climber • Best team |
|
| Overall |
|
• Individual time• Individual points • Best young • Best climber • Best team |
Stage by stage
| P | Sunday 11 March | 4.7 km |
| Issy-les-Moulineaux > Issy-les-Moulineaux | ||
| 1 | Monday 12 March | 186 km |
| Cloyes-sur-le-Loir > Buzançais | ||
| 2 | Tuesday 13 March | 177 km |
| Vatan > Limoges | ||
| 3 | Wednesday 14 March | 215.5 km |
| Limoges > Maurs la Jolie | ||
| 4 | Thursday 15 March | 169.5 km |
| Maurs la Jolie > Mende | ||
| 5 | Friday 16 March | 178 km |
| Sorgues > Manosque | ||
| 6 | Saturday 17 March | 200 km |
| Brignoles > Cannes | ||
| 7 | Sunday 18 March | 129.5 km |
| Nice > Nice | ||
| Total Length | 1260.2 km | |
  |
  |
  |
  |
  |
The race
Monday 12 March 2007| stage 1 | Cloyes-sur-le-Loir > Buzançais - 186 km |
|---|
Nazon outsprints favourites for stage win
France’s Jean-Patrick Nazon (AG2R) made up for lost time to win the 186 kms first stage of Paris-Nice on Monday. The Frenchman, whose best win so far took place on the Champs-Elysees in 2003, chose the less glamourous finish in Buzancais to remind he was still one of the best finishers in the field. Nazon, 30, beat Germany’s Sebastian Siedler (Milram) and Australia’s Matthew Hayman (Rabobank) on the line. Favourite Daniele Bennati of Italy (Lampre) had to be content with 4th place.
Prologue winner David Millar of Britain (Saunier Duval) retained his overall lead. The stage was marked by a long breakaway led by local favourite Romain Feillu.
The film of the stage
Paris-Nice 1st stage
Cloyes sur le Loir – Buzancais (186 kms)
160 riders at the start
Four breakaway from the gun
The start was given at 12:28 in Cloyes sur le Loir. A minute’s silence was observed in memory of Andrei Kivilev, killed exactly four years ago on Paris-Nice. Team directors also read out a statement to protest against the case being dropped without charges by the magistrate in charge of the Puerto doping scandal.
Four riders were on the move from the gun, led by France’s Romain Feillu (Agritubel), sliver-medallist at the under-23 world championships in Salzburg. With him were Christophe Laurent (Credit Agricole), Spain’s Ivan Velasco (Euskaltel) and another Frenchman Herve Duclos-Lassalle (Cofidis). The break quickly gained momentum and their lead reached 7:20 at kilometre 19 and 10:30 at most after 47 kms before going down. Average speed for the first hour was 41.4 kph.
Feillu won the first intermediate sprint in Contres (km 83) ahead of Duclos-Lassalle and Velasco.
Feillu best climber
Feillu.was also first at the top of the third category Cote de St Aignan (km 103) and took the best climber’s polka-dot jersey. Duclos-Lassalle and Laurent were second and third.
The chase was led by David Millar’s Saunier Duval team-mates and Daniele Bennati’s Lampre partners, gearing up for a potential final sprint. The gap steadily decreased and was under six minutes with 60 kms left and under five minutes at kilometre 144.
By the time the four crossed the line for the first time in Buzancais (km 169) – Duclos-Lassalle won the intermediate sprint ahead of Laurent and Feillu -, their lead had melted down to 2:15.
Splendid sprint for Nazon
Sensing the peloton were closing in, Duclos-Lassalle parted company with his three companions at kilometre 182. But he was caught with Velasco and Laurent 1.5 km from the finish as Romain Feillu gave it a last try before surrendering in turn.
The road was open for the scheduled mass sprint finish and it crowned to boldest rider on the day, Jean-Patrick Nazon. Ideally placed after the pin turn that preceded the finale, the French veteran surged 400 metres from the line to hold his lead until the finish line.
Germany’s Sebastian Siedler (Milram) was second and Australia’s Matthew Hayman (Rabobank) was third.
Briton David Millar, the prologue winner, retained his overall lead ahead of Czech Roman Kreuzinger (Liquigas) and Spain’s Luis Sanchez.
The winner interview
Nazon hopes for more wins to come
This is another prestigious victory for you after the Champs-Elysees four years ago.Prestigious victories I had my share before but I wanted this badly because it’s been a long time since the last. This is great for confidence so early in the season and I hope to be able to win more on this Paris-Nice.
Is the Tour still your great ambition this season?
Obviously I hope to be on the Tour de France but a lot can happen beforehand. I can crash or be sick.
Can you tell us about your sprint?
I surged very early with more than 200 metres to go and I was surprised no one followed suit. I held as long as I could and fortunately I made it.
The newsflashes
Millar keeps yellow jersey
Top five placings
1. Jean-Patrick Nazon (France, AG2R)
2. Sebastian Siedler (Germany, Milram)
3. Matthew Hayman (Australia) Rabobank
4. Daniele Bennati (Italy) Lampre
5. Vicente Reynes (Spain, Caisse d’Epargne)