Swedish champion enjoys the best of the conditions to take first yellow in the Race to the Sun; Wiggins just a second behind, despite riding in the rain
Gustav Erik Larsson (Vacansoleil-DCM) enjoyed the best of the conditions to take a rain-affected stage one time trial to start the 2012 Paris-Nice. As a relatively early starter, the Swedish champion rode on mostly dry roads, which were just a little damp from previous days’ rain, to complete the 9.4km course in 11’19”.
With around twenty of the 176 riders still to start, the rain began to fall again however, which got heavier and heavier, and made the course even more slippery for the race favourites. Despite this, second from last to start Bradley Wiggins (Team Sky) flew around the course just a second and a half slower than Larsson; although he looked as though he was taking great care, the former British champion was almost as fast as the man that had enjoyed the earlier dry weather.
In third place was Levi Leipheimer (Omega Pharma-Quick Step) who set out just ten minutes after Larsson and so enjoyed the same conditions.
"We made the right choice by starting in the middle of the field. It was much better than for the guys at the end,” admitted Larsson afterwards. “I wasn’t really sure of myself because it was only my second race this season. My legs were very hard, but as good as they were, it did it.
“Prologues are the best wins because you get to wear the yellow jersey,” he continued. “It’s a great start to the season for me. I hope to continue that good start. It’s a really good moment, it’s not the Olympics, it’s not the worlds, the Giro stage was pretty good. But Paris-Nice is a great race to be in the lead of.
“We will see how it goes for the jersey,” added the Swede. “It’s very hard when you get to the big mountains but we will try to hang on to it as long as possible.”
It may not just be the climbers that Larsson has to worry about threatening his yellow jersey however. An in-form Tom Boonen (Omega Pharma-Quick Step) finished in eleventh place, just 15 seconds down; with time bonuses on the finish line, and at the intermediate sprints, the Belgian is a possible candidate to take yellow on the flat second stage.
A dry-ish start is good for the early riders
The race began under overcast skies, with the roads a little damp and Alexandre Geniez (Project 1t4i) was the first to roll down the start ramp; seting a reasonable time of 12’10” for the 9.4km course. Fifth man to ride though, was Denis Menchov (Katusha), and he immediately knocked eight seconds off the time with 12’02”.
Menchov was only at the top for less than two minutes however, as Thomas Dekker (Garmin-Barracuda) flew around the course to lower the best time further to 11’56”. The Dutchman too, would find his stay in the hot seat to be a short one, as he was beaten by a succession of riders,
Sylvain Chavanel (Omega Pharma-Quick Step) lowered it further to 11’32”, but just twelve minutes later Thomas De Gendt (Vacansoleil-DCM) went fractionally faster than the former French champion with 11’31”
45 minutes later though, Larsson set out on the course; despite being fully six seconds slower than Vacansoleil-DCM teammate De Gendt at the top of the Côte des Dix-sept Tournants after just 1.8km, the Swede was much faster over the remainder of the course and finished twelve seconds faster, with a time of 11’19”
Ten minutes after Larsson, Leipheimer went close, finishing just four seconds behind, but he was the last rider to get near the Swedish champion until Wiggins almost an hour and a half later.
The rain returns, spells bad luck for the favourites, and disaster for a Classics man
As Ivan Basso (Liquigas-Cannondale) was the first of the final batch of big names set out, a light rain began to fall, worsening the conditions for the later riders. Spanish champion Luis Leon Sanchez (Rabobank) overcooked the first corner as the roads became slippery, and the rain began to get heavier as the final few riders approached their start times.
Ronde van Vlaanderen winner Nick Nuyens (Saxo Bank) came down hard however, and limped around the rest of the course to finish in last place, 6’11” behind Larsson. The Belgian was taken to local hospital straight away, but hopes to be able to continue the race.
“Luckily, there are no broken bones,” Nuyens explained. “But naturally, I'm sore and especially my hip took a hard beating in the crash. My preparations for the Ronde van Vlaanderen are only in danger if I'm unable to complete Paris-Nice so I'm really hoping that I'll be back in the saddle tomorrow.”
With the roads now very wet, the final starters - Bradley Wiggins (Team Sky), Andreas Kloden (RadioShack-Nissan), and Tony Martin (Omega Pharma-Quick Step) - had little chance, with getting around the course upright becoming the main priority.
Simon Gerrans (GreenEDGE) managed to salvage a respectable time, finishing just 23 seconds behind Larsson; but Wiggins’ speed was contradicting his conservative appearance.
The former British champion flew around the final wet corners to cross the line just a second and a half behind Larsson’s time to go into second place. Martin was rather more circumspect however, crossing the line 24 seconds back in his sodden rainbow jersey.
A good day for Vacansoleil-DCM saw De Gendt’s time at the top of the Côte des Dix-sept Tournants stand as the fastest, giving the Belgian the polka-dot mountain jersey to go with Larsson’s yellow and green ones. The white, young riders’ jersey was taken by fourth place Tejay Van Garderen (BMC Racing).
Result stage 1
1. Gustav Erik Larsson (Swe) Vacansoleil-DCM 9.4km in 11’19”
2. Bradley Wiggins (GBr) Team Sky @ 1s
3. Levi Leipheimer (USA) Omega Pharma-Quick Step @ 4s
4. Tejay Van Garderen (USA) BMC Racing @ 9s
5. Thomas De Gendt (Bel) Vacansoleil-DCM @ 12s
6. Sylvain Chavanel (Fra) Omega Pharma-Quick Step @ 12s
7. Rein Taaramäe (Est) Cofidis @ 13s
8. Markel Irizar (Spa) RadioShack-Nissan @ 13s
9. Rémi Pauriol (Fra) FDJ-BigMat @ 15s
10. Jérôme Coppel (Fra) Saur-Sojasun @ 15s