2008 Paris-Nice

Infobox Cycling race report
name = 2008 Paris-Nice


image_caption =
image_size =
series =
race_no =
series_no =
date = March 9–March 16
stages = 7 & Prologue
distance = 1138.1
unit = km
time = 29h 02'48"
speed = 39.18
first = Davide Rebellin
first_nat = ITA
first_natvar =
first_team = Gerolsteiner
second = Rinaldo Nocentini
second_nat = ITA
second_natvar =
second_team = Ag2r-La Mondiale
third = Yaroslav Popovych
third_nat = UKR
third_natvar =
third_team = Silence-Lotto
points = Thor Hushovd
points_nat = NOR
points_natvar =
points_team = Crédit Agricole
mountains = Clément Lhotellerie
mountains_nat = FRA
mountains_natvar =
mountains_team = Skil-Shimano
youth = Robert Gesink
youth_nat = NED
youth_natvar =
youth_team = Rabobank
combination =
combination_nat =
combination_natvar =
combination_team =
sprints =
sprints_nat =
sprints_natvar =
sprints_team =
team = Quick Step
team_nat = BEL
team_natvar =The 2008 Paris-Nice, the 66th running of the race, took place from March 9 to March 16, 2008 and was won by Italian Davide Rebellin from Gerolsteiner, who finished second last year. The race started in Amilly and ended in Nice. The 2008 edition returned to the fabled climb of Mont Ventoux, with stage four finishing at the mountain's ski facility, Mont Serein. The Mont Ventoux stage saw a winning break by Cadel Evans and Robert Gesink Evans took the stage victory as Gesink moved into the overall lead. However, Gesink could not hold onto the lead in stage six when Rebellin attacked on the final descent and took enough time to move into the overall lead.

The event was marked by controversy before the race regarding the ongoing power struggle between ASO and UCI, excluding the race from the UCI ProTour calendar. The race organisers also decided to exclude Astana, the team of the 2007 edition winner Alberto Contador, due to "damage caused by the team during the 2007 Tour de France"."

Stages

= Prologue - March 9, 2008: Amilly, 4,6 km (ITT): =

Stage 1 - March 10, 2008: La Chapelotte > Nevers, 93.5 km:

This stage was originally supposed to start in Amilly, but because of a storm with gale force winds and rain, the route was shortened by 91 km and started in La Chapelotte instead.

Stage 2 - March 11, 2008: Nevers > Belleville, 201 km:

Stage 3 - March 12, 2008: Fleurie > Saint-Étienne, 165.5 km:

Stage 4 - March 13, 2008: Montélimar > Mont-Serein, 176 km:

Stage 5 - March 14, 2008: Althen-des-Paluds > Sisteron, 172,5 km:

Stage 6 - March 15, 2008: Sisteron > Cannes, 206 km:

Stage 7 - March 16, 2008: Nice > Nice, 119 km:

Final standings:

General classification

Teams and cyclists

The following 20 UCI ProTour and UCI Professional Continental teams were selected to the 2008 Paris-Nice:

The Astana Team is the only ProTour team not to be invited to this event because of the "damage caused by the team during the 2007 Tour de France"."cite web|url=http://www.letour.fr/2008/PNC/COURSE/docs/cp_2008_02_13_us.pdf|title=Press release - THE 20 TEAMS SELECTED |publisher=ASO |format=PDF |accessdate=2008-03-05]

References

External links

*Official|http://www.letour.fr/us/homepage_horscoursePNC.html
* [http://www.cyclingfans.com/arc03-11-08-03-16-08.html cyclingfans.com] Paris-Nice 2008 Live guide, photos, commentary.