Paris - Nice 2013 — Catena Cycling

This 71st edition of Paris-Nice "the race to the sun", consists of a prologue and 7 stages.

Final results 10/03/2013 :

1    Richie Porte    AUS       29h59'47"
2    Andrew Talansky USA       +55"
3    Jean-Christopge Péraud    FR    +1'21"
4    Tejay Van Garderen USA   +1'44"
5    Sylvain Chavanel FRA       +1'47"
6    Simon Špilak SLO          +1'48"
7    Diego Ulissi    IT        +1'54"
8    Lieuwe Westra    NL       +2'17"
9    Andreas Klöden DE          +2'22"
10 Peter Velits    SLW             +2'28"

General map :

Prologue - Sunday, March 3rd 2013 - Houilles - 2,9 km (1.8 mi)

Results :

1. Damien Gaudin (FR)
2. Sylvain Chavanel (FR)
3. Lieuwe Westra (NL)

First stage - Monday, March 4th 2013 - Saint-Germain-en-Laye > Nemours - 195 km (121.17 mi)

The Frenchman Nacer Bouhanni (FdJ) wins in a massive sprint.

1. Nacer Bouhanni (FR) 4h47'24"
2. Alessandro Petacchi (IT) +0"
3. Elia Viviani (IT) +0"

Second stage - Tuesday, March 5th 2013 - Vimory > Cérilly - 200,5 km (124.58 mi)

1. Marcel Kittel DE   5h42'18"
2. Elia Viviani IT   +0"
3. Leigh Howard AUS   +0"

Third stage - Wednseday, March 6th 2013 - Châtel-Guyon > Brioude - 171 km (106.25 mi)

During this stage, the cyclists will have to face a more hilly course.

Garmin-Sharp's Andrew Talansky won in cold and wet conditions. The seven-rider group that disputed the victory finished seven seconds clear of a chase group containing most of the other favourites.

1. Andrew Talansky    USA    4h06'15"
2. Davide Malacarne    ITA    +0
3. Gorka Izagirre    ESP    +0

Fourth Stage - Thursday, March 7 2013 - Brioude > Saint-Vallier - 199,5 km (123.96 mi)

This stage is even more hilly and includes the following climbs :
- Côte de Lachaud (2nd category - 4,8 km - 2.98 mi @ 5,6%)
- Côte de Condat (3rd category - 6,9 km - 4.28 mi @ 4,4%)
- Côte de la Chomasse (3rd category - 3,4 km - 2.11 mi @ 5,1%)
- Côte de Laprat (3rd category - 2,1 km - 1.3 mi @ 3,8%)
- Col du Rouvey (3rd category - 2,8 km - 1.73 mi @ 5,6%)
- Côte de Talencieux (2,9 km - 1.8 mi @ 8,1%)
- Côte de la Sizeranne (2,9 km - 1.8 mi @ 6,6%)

Michael Albasini (Orica GreenEdge) sprinted to victory, finishing ahead of Maxim Iglinskiy (Astana Pro Team) and Peter Velits (Omega Pharma-Quick Step). American Andrew Talansky (Garmin-Sharp) finished 6th and retained his three second lead in the race.

1. Michael Albasini    ZWI    4h55'41"
2. Maksim Iglinski    KAZ    +0"
3. Peter Velits    SLW    +0"

Fifth stage - Friday, March 8 2013 - Châteauneuf-du-Pape > la Montagne de Lure - 176 km (109.36 mi)

The first real mountain stage
- Col de Murs (2nd category - 10,3 km - 6.4 mi @ 4,3%)
- Côte d'Oppedette (2nd category - 7,1 km - 4.41 mi @ 4%)
- Côte de Saint-Martin-les-Eaux (3rd category - 2,7 km - 1.67 mi @ 3,7%)
- Col de la Mort d'Imbert (3rd category - 4,5 km - 2.79 mi @ 4,4%)
- Côte des Mourres (3rd category - 2,9 km - 1.8 mi @ 4,9%)
- Finish at the summit of the Montagne de Lure (1st category - 13,8 km - 8.57 mi @ 6,6%)

Australian Richie Porte produced an impressive performance to win on the Montagne de Lure. He also claimed the yellow jersey. Porte finished alone after breaking clear of the lead group with two kilometres remaining.

1 Richie Porte    AUS    4h50'54"
2 Denis Mensjov RUS     +26"
3 Andrew Talansky USA    +33"

Sixth stage - Saturday, March 9th 2013 - Manosque > Nice - 220 km (136.7 mi)

The longest stage in this race with arrival at the Promenade des Anglais in Nice, as usual.
Climbs :
- Côte du Bois de Rousset - 3rd category, 4,4 km - 2.73 mi @ 4,5%
- Côte des Tuillières - 2nd category, 2,2 km - 1.36 mi @ 7,8%
- Côte du Mont Méaulx - 3rd category, 1,7 km - 1.05 mi @ 4,3%
- Côte de Cabris - 1st category, 7,6 km - 4.72 mi @ 5,8%
- Col du Ferrier - 1st category, 4,3 km - 2.67 mi @ 6,8%

Sylvain Chavanel claimed this stage with a crafty sprint victory from a 60-rider front group.

1 Sylvain Chavanel    FRA 5:14:23
2 Philippe Gilbert    BEL +0
3 José Joaquín Rojas    ESP +0

7th and last stage - Sunday, March 10th 2013 - Nice > Col d'Eze - individual time trial - 9,6 km (5.96 mi)
Last year, this climb time trial on the Col d'Eze made his comeback in Paris-Nice.