All classifications
| 1 | Alexandr KOLOBNEV |
| 2 | Tom BOONEN |
| 3 | Daniele BENNATI |
| 4 | Mathew HAYMAN |
| 5 | Jean-Patrick NAZON |
| » overall rankings |
All classifications
| Stage |
|---|
 |
• Individual time• Individual points • Best young • Best climber • Best team |
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| Overall |
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• Individual time• Individual points • Best young • Best climber • Best team |
Starters' list | Time schedules
The race
Wednesday 14 March 2007Limoges > Maurs la Jolie - 215.5 km
The newsflashes
15:57Top five placings
Top five classification in the 215-5 kms 3rd stage of Paris-Nice between Limoges and Maurs-la-Jolie:
1. Alexandr Kolobnev (Russia, CSC)
2. Tom Boonen (Belgium, Quick Step)
3. Daniele Bennati (Italy, Lampre)
4. Matthew Hayman (Australia, Rabobank)
5. Jean-Patrick Nazon (France, AG2R) all 12 secs behind.
Kolobnev wins the 3rd stage
Alexandr Kolobnev (CSC) wins the 3rd stage of Paris-Nice after a 213-kms breakaway. Tom Boonen wins the peloton sprint ahead of Daniele Bennati.
15:52Can Kolobnev make it?
Three kilometres to go and the former Russian champion leads the bunch by 24 seconds.
15:49Three back in the bunch
Baldato, Haussler and Vogondy have been caught by the bunch with seven kilometres to go.
15:48Kolobnev refuses to surrender
Kolobnev refuses to lay the arms and leads his former companions by 20 seconds and the peloton by 38 seconds.
15:45Kolobnev tries his luck
The break is now seriously in jeopardy with a gap of some 40 seconds and Kolobnev has decided to take his chances and go.
15:411:05 with 15 kms to go
The gap between Baldato, Vogondy, Kolobnev, Haussler and the peloton is 1:05 with 15 kms to go.
15:35Twenty kilometres to go
Twenty kilometres to go and the gap is now 1:50.
15:33Two minutes now
Km 194: the lead is down to two minutes exactly.
15:31Gap down to 2:10
The gap between the four leaders and the main pack was 2:10 with 25 kms to go. Quick Step and Liquigas are leading the chase.
15:27A few facts on Heinrich Haussler
Born in Australia in 1984, Haussler moved back to Germany nine years ago. He joined T-Mobile in 2004 and Gerolsteiner in 2005. He made his first impression in the pro ranks by winning a Vuelta stage in 2005.
15:19Lead now three minutes
Kilometre 184 - The gap is now exactly three minutes between the four escapees and the main pack.
15:14Lead slims down to 3:20
The lead of the four escapees, who went at kilometre 2, is now down to 3:20 with 33 kms to go before the finish in Maurs-la-Jolie.
15:09Classification of the sprint in Sousceyrac
Classification of the intermediate sprint in Sousceyrac (km 178):
1. Kolobnev. 2. Vogondy 3. Haussler.
Haussler takes polka-dot jersey
Heinrich Haussler (Gerolsteiner) will take the best climber’s polka-dot jersey away from Stephane Auge at the finish in Maurs. The German finished first at the top of all climbs on the menu today.
15:04Classification at the top the Cote du Fangas
Classification at the top of the Cote du Fangas (2nd cat, km 173.5):
1. Haussler 2. Kolobnev 3. Vogondy.
Situation of the race at kilometre 170
Situation of the race at kilometre 170:
Baldato, Vogondy, Kolobnev and Hassler
Wielinga 4:10 behind
Peloton 4:35 behind
Wielinga out of the peloton
Dutchman Reinbert Wielinga (Saunier Duval) has attacked at the front of the peloton.
14:57Average speed 42.2 kph
The overall average speed after four hours is 42.2 kph.
14:44Lead under six minutes
The lead keeps decreasing and is now down to 5:50 (kilometre 161)
14:36Lead down to 6:40
Kilometre 155 - the gap between the four escapees - Baldato, Vogondy, Haussler, Kolobnev - and the peloton has been cut down to 6:40.
14:30Last gap 7:20
The gap at kilometre 150 has diminished again and is now down to 7:20.
14:21Lead down to 8:05
The lead of the four escapees is now down to 8:05 at kilometre 140.
14:20Gallopin: "Kolobnev is a hard-headed Russian"
Team CSC director Alain Gallopin talked to www.letour.fr about Alexandr Kolobnev and his team’s objectives on Paris-Nice: "Kolobnev is a fighter, he’s a Russian, a hard-headed Russian. But we don’t know him so well as he rode for Rabobank last season. The aim was not really to be in a break today. Now everyhting will depend on what happens at the back and if the peloton decide to react. In any case, the decision will be made on the last climb. Everything is possible because yesterday, if Philippe Gilbert had been on a good day, they could have made it with Voeckler.
"We split the team equally between Paris-Nice and Tirreno-Adriatico. There’s no real pressure on us here even though Frank Schleck and Bobby Julich are going for the GC and even for a final win. The stage in Mende tomorrow will be decisive but hopefully, the last weekend will also count, unlike in recent years."
Nine-minute lead at kilometre 130
The break regains some momentum as the four leaders - Baldato, Haussler, Kalobnev and Vogondy - now lead the chasing bunch by nine minutes.
13:55Bontempi: "It’s going to be very difficult"
Interviewed by www.letour.fr, Lampre team director Gudio Bontempi admitted it would be hard for the break to go all the way: "It’s a hard course and the other teams won’t let any break succeed before tomorrow’s stage to Mende. It’s going to be very difficult for the stage win as well as for the overall classification. But Fabio feels great, he’s in brilliant shape."
13:42Liquigas chase, the gap goes down
Six Liquigas riders have taken the reins of the peloton. As a result the lead has gone down to 8:30 at kilometre 112.
13:23Boonen at the back
Like he did yesterday, Tom Boonen has been resting quietly at the back of the peloton since the start in Limoges.
13:22Lead down to 9:30 at feeding zone
The lead of the four escapees - Baldato, Kolobnev, Haussler, Vogondy - has been cut down to 9:30 at the feeding zone in St Pantaleon de Larche (km 99). The maximum lead so far has been 10:20.
13:04Average speed for the first two hours
The average speed in the first two hours of the stage was 43.95 kph. The first hour was raced at 43.4 kph and the second at 44.5.
13:01Last gap 10:20
The lead of the four escapees reached 10:20 at kilometre 84.
12:52Leproux (Agritubel): "I wanted one guy in the break"
Agritubel team director Denis Leproux told www.letour.fr he had called on his riders to be on the day’s break: "At the morning briefing, I told them I wanted one man in the break, whoever it was. Feillu tried, then Baranauskas and finally Nicolas made it. He has good legs and he’s not afraid of a course like today’s with nice little bumps. There should be a nice fight on the last hill but I’m afraid we’ll have the same outcome as in previous days with the bunch coming back near the finish."
12:49Baldato the old man of the bunch
At 38, Baldato shows he still has the legs of a young man. He started his pro career in 1991 and won his first stage on Paris-Nice 13 years ago.
12:43Two former national champions in the break
There are two former national champions in the break: Nicolas Vogondy was French champion in 2002 and Alexandr Kolobnev was Russian champion in 2004.
12:34Baldato a Paris-Nice specialist
Fabio Baldato has always been at his best on Paris-Nice, having won four stages in the past on the "Race to the sun". The veteran Italian won two stages in 1994, one in 1995 and one in 2000. Only one other rider in the race can boast a higher profile: Tom Booen, with five stage wins.
12:28Classification of the Cote de la Pouege
Classification at the top of the Cote de la Pouege (km 59):
1. Haussler 2. Vogondy 3. Baldato
The lead reaches 8:45 at Lubersac
Tke lead of the four breakaways at the first intermediate sprint in Lubersac was 8:45.
12:26Classification of the sprint in Lubersac
Classification of the first intermediate sprint of the day at Lubersac (km 54.5):
1. Kolobnev 2. Haussler 3. Vogondy
Classification at the top of the Cote de la Grande Renaudie
Classification at the top of the Cote de la Grande Renaudie (km 48.5):
1. Haussler. 2. Vogondy 3. Kolobnev.
The gap reaches 5:45
The gap between the four leaders - Baldato, Haussler, Kolobnev and Vogondy - and the peloton reaches 5:45 at kilometre 35.
11:52Kai Reus calls it quits
Young Dutchman Kai Reus (Rabobank) has given up.
11:40Sprints of the day
There are two intermediate sprints on today’s stage:
Km 54.5 - Lubersac
Km 178 - Sousceyrac.
Climbs on the day’s menu
Today’s stage is the first really hilly ride since the start with four climbs, including a second category one near the finish:
Kilometre 14.5 - Cote de St Hilaire-Bonneval
Km 48.5 - Cote de la Grande Renaude
Km 59 - Cote de la Pouege
Km 173.5 - Cote du Fangas.
The four lead by 4:25
The gap between the four escapees and the main bunch at kilometre 14.5 was 4:25. The Liquigas team-mates of race leader Franco Pellizotti are leading the chase.
11:35Classification on the Cote de St Hilaire
Classification at the top of the Cote de St Hilaire-Bonneval (3rd cat) at kilometre 14.5
1. Haussler
2. Baldato
3. Vogondy
Four men in the lead
Three riders, Fabio Baldato (Lampre), Alexandr Kolobnev (CSC) and Heinrich Hassler (Gerolsteiner) broke clear after two kilometres. They were later joined by Nicolas Vogondy (Agritubel). Their lead at kilometre 9.5 was 1:15
10:57Real start given at 10:55
After seven kilometres in the streets of Limoges, the actual start of today’s stage was given at 10:55. A rider from Agritubel attacked on the flag but was instantly caught.
10:52Start given
The start of the 3rd stage was given at 10:40 to 159 riders. The weather is forecast to be sunny and warm all the way to the picturesque village of Maurs.
10:50Welcome on the 3rd stage of Paris-Nice
www.letour.fr welcomes you on the 215.5-kms 3rd stage of Paris-Nice between Limoges and Maurs. Stay connected for the first serious test of this edition.