In extremely cold weather conditions with temperatures around 2°C, the 165 riders of this 63rd edition of Paris-Nice took off at 12h23 for the 186km of stage 1 between Etampes and Chabris. After a rather calm start of the peloton, Jimmy Casper (COF) managed to win the first climb of the day at km 9,5 (Côte De Graviers ; Cat 3) ahead of Ventoso (SDV) and Bichot (FDJ). The first sprint of the day in Neuville-aux-Bois at km 42 then went to Fred Rodriguez (DVL), beating Dekker (RAB) and Pineau (BTL).

The first breakaway attempt came after 44kms when Fabien Sanchez took off, rapidly caught by Igor Gonzalez de galdeano (LSW). From then on, the gap started growing and reached 5’45 at km 82 when a fall concerning around 15 riders occurred in the pack. Robert Hunter (PHO) was forced to withdraw of the race injured.
The advantage of the two leading riders reached a maximum 7’55 at the entry of Lamotte Beuvron (km 101) while the CSC, Quickstep and Liquigas teams took command of the peloton.

From then on, the gap dropped down dramatically: 3’ at km 157, 2’ with 25km to go and finally 1’20 with 20km to go. At the second intermediate sprint of the day, Sanchez beat Gonzalez de Galdeano and Erik Dekker (RAB). The escapees were eventually caught at km 175,5. The pace eased up even more in the peloton, and with 10km to go, a huge fall hit the riders and broke the main bunch into several groups. Among the front riders were: Boonen (QSD), Valverde (IBA), Dekker and Voeckler (BTL). The Frenchman even gave it a go in the last kilometres but was rapidly caught by the hungry bunch led by the Quickstep boys. Stage win was to be decided in a massed sprint. Tom Boonen proved to be the fastest, eventually winning ahead of Pagliarini (LIQ) and Kirsipuu (C.A.).

Thanks to precious bonus seconds earned during the intermediate sprints, Erik Dekker captured the overall leadership ahead of Jens Voigt (CSC) and Fabian Cancellara (FAS).

Tom Boonen (QST, stage winner)

“It was a really tricky last part to the stage, especially with the fall in the final kilometres. I found myself in the leading group without really noticing. I then took advantage of the excellent work from my team mates of Quickstep. Trenti and Hulsmans launched my sprint and everything went as planned. It’s a real satisfaction to win here but I also have other ambitions. From now on, I’m going to take it easily. My main goal now is Milan-San Remo.”