2008 Paris–Nice


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, 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 on to 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, 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">Amilly, Loiret">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 1 Results

Stage 2 - March 11, 2008: [Nevers] > Belleville">Belleville, Rhône">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]

Jersey progress

;Jersey wearers when one rider is leading two or more competitions:
Only 86 riders finished the race of the 160 that started. Almost 40 riders abandoned during the last stage.
StageCyclistTeamReason
DNF1Groin injury due to crash
DNS2Losing 13:25 on the first stage
DNF2
DNF2
DNF2
DNF2
DNS3Skil-Shimano
DNF3
DNF3
DNF3Skil-Shimano
DNS4
DNS5
DNS5
DNS5Slipstream ChipotleFinished 21:07 after Evans, on the 4th stage
DNF5
DNF5
DNF5
DNF5
DNF5
DNF5
DNF5
DNF5Injury due to crash
DNF5
DNF5
DNF5Agritubel
DNF5
DNF5Skil-Shimano
DNF5Skil-Shimano
DNS6
DNS6
DNF6Skil-Shimano
DNF6Slipstream Chipotle
DNF6Agritubel
DNF6
DNF6
DNF6
DNF6
DNF6
DNF7Slipstream Chipotle
DNF7
DNF7Agritubel
DNF7Agritubel
DNF7
DNF7
DNF7
DNF7
DNF7
DNF7
DNF7Team High Road
DNF7Team High Road
DNF7Team High Road
DNF7Team High Road
DNF7Team High Road
DNF7Team High Road
DNF7Team High Road
DNF7
DNF7
DNF7
DNF7
DNF7
DNF7
DNF7
DNF7
DNF7
DNF7
DNF7
DNF7
DNF7
DNF7
DNF7
DNF7
DNF7
DNF7
DNF7

Teams and cyclists

The following 20 UCI ProTour and UCI Professional Continental teams were selected to the 2008 Paris–Nice:
NationUCI
Code		Team Name
ALM
AGR
BTL
GCE
COF
C.A
EUS
FDJ
GST
LAM
LIQ
QST
RAB
SDV
SIL
SKS
TSL
CSC
THR
MRM

The 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".
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