Paris Nice 2008 - Podium

Despite the unholy row between the UCI and Paris Nice organisers, the ASO, the 2008 edition of the 'Race to the Sun' saw some great racing. The race was under the aegis of the French Cycling Federation. much against the UCI's wishes and will once more become centre stage when the ASO hold Paris Roubaix, and then the argument will cross borders to involve the Belgian Federation for Liege Bastogne Liege.

In our ProTourNews poll - 'Paris Nice Row, Who is at fault?'
You voted; The ASO 16%, The UCI 38%, Both equally 41%, Other 4%

The 2008 Paris Nice Podium - left to right, Thor Hushovd (Sprints), Yaroslav Popovych (3rd overall), Davide Rebellin (Yellow, winner), Rinaldo Nocentini (2nd spot), Robert Gesink (White, young rider) and Clement Lhotellerie (Polka Dot, Mountains prize)

The race itself was full of action and was won by Davide Rebellin (Gerolsteiner), and there were stage wins for Thor Hushovd in the prologue, Gert Steegman's on stages one and two, followed by wins for Kjell Carlstrom, Cadel Evans on Mount Ventoux, Carlos Barredo, Sylvain Chavanel and finally Luis Leon Sanchez.

Rides of the race came from Rabobank's Robert Geesink and Clément Lhotellerie. Geesink held the Yellow jersey for a few days and then had to fight to keep the young rider's jersey from Luis-Leon Sanchez. Clément Lhotellerie of the Continental squad Skil-Shimano, won the climbers competition and rode strongly at the head of the race on many occasions.

Check team and rider reaction to the race

General Classification
1. Davide Rebellin (ITA/GST) 29hr 02min 48sec
2. Rinaldo Nocentini (ITA/A2R) at 0:03
3. Yaroslav Popovych (UKR/SIL) 0:48
4. Robert Gesink (NED/RAB) 0:51
5. Luis Leon Sanchez (ESP/GCE) 1:09
6. Juan Manuel Garate (ESP/QST) 1:12
7. Gorka Verdugo (ESP/EUS) 2:17
8. Carlos Barredo (ESP/QST) 2:24
9. Sylvain Chavanel (FRA/COF) 2:39
10. Alexander Efimkin (RUS/QST) 3:21

Sprint Green Jersey
1 Thor Hushovd Credit Agricole 89 Pts
2 Luis-Leon Sanchez Caisse D’Epargne 71 Pts
3 Davide Rebellin Gerolsteiner 69 Pts
4 Carlos Barredo Quick Step 61 Pts
5 Karsten Kroon Team CSC 59 Pts
6 Maxime Monfort Cofidis Credit Par Telephone 58 Pts
7 Matteo Tosatto Quick Step 58 Pts
8 Sylvain Chavanel Cofidis Credit Par Telephone 55 Pts
9 Pierre Rolland Credit Agricole 54 Pts
10 Christophe Moreau Agritubel 53 Pts

Mountains Ploka Dot Jersey
1 Clément Lhotellerie Skil-Shimano 79 Pts
2 Chris Sorensen Team CSC 28 Pts
3 Bobby Julich Team CSC20 Pts
4 Kjell Carlström Liquigas 19 Pts
5 Rémi Pauriol Credit Agricole 16 Pts
6 Benat Intxausti Saunier Duval - Scott 16 Pts
7 José Benitez Saunier Duval - Scott 16 Pts
8 Thierry Hupond Skil-Shimano 15 Pts
9 Damiano Cunego Lampre 13 Pts
10 Robert Gesink Rabobank 11 Pts

Young Rider White Jersey
1 Robert Gesink Rabobank 29h 03' 39"
2 Luis-Leon Sanchez Caisse D’Epargne 29h 03' 57"
3 Clément Lhotellerie Skil-Shimano 29h 06' 59"
4 Simon Spilak Lampre 29h 07' 11"
5 Pierre Rolland Credit Agricole 29h 07' 30"
6 Maxime Monfort Cofidis Credit Par Telephone 29h 08' 12"
7 Trent Lowe Slipstream Chipotle 29h 16' 41"
8 Yann Huguet Cofidis Credit Par Telephone 29h 19' 25"
9 Igor Anton Euskaltel - Euskadi 29h 32' 42"
10 Aurélien Passeron Saunier Duval - Scott 29h 39' 01"

Teams
1. Quick Step 87h 11' 40"
2. Credit Agricole 87h 18' 27" + 06' 47"
3. Cofidis Credit Par Telephone 87h 25' 34" + 13' 54"
4. Silence - Lotto 87h 29' 31" + 17' 51"
5. Caisse D’epargne 87h 40' 56" + 29' 16"
6. Liquigas 87h 43' 42" + 32' 02"
7. Lampre 87h 44' 06" + 32' 26"
8. Team Csc 87h 45' 15" + 33' 35"
9. Euskaltel - Euskadi 87h 51' 44" + 40' 04"
10. Ag2r-La Mondiale 87h 54' 37" + 42' 57"