Paris-Nice 2009 March 8-15th

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Stage 1:  Amilly - Amilly (ITT), 9.3km  Full Results and Report

Luis-Leon Sanchez (Caisse d'Epargne) was third just nine seconds back setting himself up for a run at the GC win	It looked like Bradley Wiggins (Garmin - Slipstream) was going to win the stage 1 TT ...	... That is until Alberto Contador (Astana) beat his best team by seven seconds. Contador's winning time for the wet 9.3 km course was 11'05" (50.346 km/h)
Alberto Contador in yellow.	Will he wear it the entire week?

Stage 2:  Saint-Brisson-sur-Loire - La Chapelle-Saint-Ursin, 195.5km  Full Results and Report

Cruising along through the French winter countryside	Race leader Alberto Contador was involved in a crash near the finish, but it didn't effect his overall lead	Heinrich Haussler (Cervelo TestTeam) jumped early and won a chaotic sprint finish ahead of 2nd Mark Renshaw (Columbia) and 3rd Mirco Lorenzetto (Lampre)
Your winner Heinrich Haussler (Ger) Cervelo TestTeam	Your overall leader, Aliberto Contador

Stage 3:  Orval - Vichy, 178km  Full Results and Report

Rabobank led by Juan Antonio Flecha (Spa), Sebastian Langeveld (Ned) and Juan Manuel Garate (Spa) decimated the peloton	Quick Step's Kevin Seeldrayers (Bel) and Sylvain Chavanel (Fra) also stepped up helping to form the winning break	Alberto Contador didn't make the split and without any Astana teammates around wasn't able to bridge the gap. He'd end up losing 1'04" to the break
The thrilling stage was capped off with a bunch sprint largely between two teams: 1st Sylvain Chavanel (Fra), 2nd Juan Antonio Flecha (Spa), 3rd Sebastian Langeveld (Ned)	Sylvain Chavanel on the podium in Vichy, delighted to win a classic stage at Paris-Nice and with the 33 second race lead he now holds

Stage 4:  Vichy - Saint-Etienne, 173.5km  Full Results and Report

Christian Vande Velde (USA) of Garmin - Slipstream attacked the break with 18 km to go	Sylvain Chavanel (Quick Step) under pressure from Alberto Contador (Astana) on the final climb	Christian Vande Velde (USA) of Garmin - Slipstream celebrates his solo victory
His rivals clawed back around 30 seconds from his race lead, but Sylvain Chavanel (Fra) Quick Step is still in Yellow by six seconds over Juan Manuel Garate (Spa) Rabobank

Stage 5:  Annonay - Vallon-Pont-d'Arc, 204km  Full Results and Report

The peloton rolling past a vineyard	The three-man break escaped early on and were never caught. L-R: Tony Martin (Ger) Team Columbia - Highroad, Jeremy Roy (Fra) Francaise Des Jeux, Thomas Voeckler (Fra) BBox Bouygues Telecom	With 6.7k to go, Roy made his move.
"I benefited from the mind games between them [Voeckler and Martin]" who were more concerned with each other rather than the Frenchman who had never won a pro race...	... until today, 1st Jeremy Roy (Fra) Francaise Des Jeux. Winning time for the 204k hilly/mountainous stage: 4.58.47 (40.966 km/h)	He waited six years for this moment. Breaking through at Paris-Nice makes it even sweeter.

Stage 6:  Saint-Paul-Trois-Chateaux - La Montagne de Lure, 182.5km  Full Results and Report

Le Mont Ventoux's little sister, Montagne de Lure, isn't tough in comparison, but Alberto Contador still beat his next competitor, Frank Schleck but almost minute.	With two mountainous stages remaining and a 1'13" lead on Luis-Leon Sanchez (Spa) Caisse d'Epargne, Contador should win the event provided he avoids a descending mishap.

Stage 7:    Full Results and Report

Stage 8:  Nice - Nice, 119km  Full Results and Report

1st Antonio Colom (Spa) Team Katusha wins the final stage of this year's Paris-Nice in 2.47.49 (42.546 km/h) ahead of Alberto Contador (Spa) Astana	Stage 8 winner: Antonio Colom (Spa) Team Katusha	GC Podium: L-to-R, 3rd Sylvain Chavanel (Fra) Quick Step @1.09, 1 Luis-Leon Sanchez (Spa) Caisse d'Epargne, 2nd Frank Schleck (Lux) Team Saxo Bank @1.00
Jerseys Podium - Young Rider: Kevin Seeldrayers (Bel) Quick Step, GC winner: Sanchez, Points winner: Sylvain Chavanel (Fra) Quick Step and KOM winner: Tony Martin (Ger) Team Columbia - Highroad