# 2008 Paris–Nice

The 2008 Paris–Nice was the 66th edition of the Paris–Nice cycle race and was held from 9 March to 16 March 2008. The race started in Amilly and finished in Nice. The race was won by Italian Davide Rebellin from Gerolsteiner, 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 Astana, the team of the 2007 edition winner Alberto Contador, due to "damage caused by the team during the 2007 Tour de France".

## Teams

Each team started the race with eight riders. The following 20 UCI ProTour and UCI Professional Continental teams were selected to the 2008 Paris–Nice:
* Ag2r–La Mondiale
* Agritubel
* Bouygues Télécom
* Caisse d'Epargne
* Cofidis
* Crédit Agricole
* Euskaltel–Euskadi
* Française des Jeux
* Gerolsteiner
* Lampre
* Liquigas
* Quick-Step
* Rabobank
* Saunier Duval–Scott
* Silence–Lotto
* Skil–Shimano
* Slipstream–Chipotle
* Team CSC
* Team High Road
* Team Milram
Astana was 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".

## Route

Stage characteristics and winners :
| Stage | Date | Course | Distance | Type | Winner |
| P | 9 March | Amilly | 4.6 km (2.9 mi) | Individual time trial | Thor Hushovd (NOR) |
| 1 | 10 March | La Chapelotte to Nevers | 184.5 km (114.6 mi) | Flat stage | Gert Steegmans (BEL) |
| 2 | 11 March | Nevers to Belleville | 201 km (125 mi) | Hilly stage | Gert Steegmans (BEL) |
| 3 | 12 March | Fleurie to Saint-Étienne | 165.5 km (102.8 mi) | Medium mountain stage | Kjell Carlström (FIN) |
| 4 | 13 March | Montélimar to Mont Ventoux | 176 km (109 mi) | Mountain stage | Cadel Evans (AUS) |
| 5 | 14 March | Althen-des-Paluds to Sisteron | 172.5 km (107.2 mi) | Hilly stage | Carlos Barredo (ESP) |
| 6 | 15 March | Sisteron to Cannes | 206 km (128 mi) | Hilly stage | Sylvain Chavanel (FRA) |
| 7 | 16 March | Nice to Nice | 119 km (74 mi) | Mountain stage | Luis León Sánchez (ESP) |

## Stages
### Prologue
#### 9 March 2008 — Amilly, 4.6 km (2.9 mi) (ITT)

| | Cyclist | Team | Time |
| 1 | Thor Hushovd (NOR) | Crédit Agricole | 5' 28" |
| 2 | Markel Irizar (ESP) | Euskaltel–Euskadi | + 4" |
| 3 | Stefan Schumacher (GER) | Gerolsteiner | + 5" |
| 4 | Bradley McGee (AUS) | Team CSC | s.t. |
| 5 | William Bonnet (FRA) | Crédit Agricole | + 6" |
| | Cyclist | Team | Time |
| 1 | Thor Hushovd (NOR) | Crédit Agricole | 5' 28" |
| 2 | Markel Irizar (ESP) | Euskaltel–Euskadi | + 4" |
| 3 | Stefan Schumacher (GER) | Gerolsteiner | + 5" |
| 4 | Bradley McGee (AUS) | Team CSC | s.t. |
| 5 | William Bonnet (FRA) | Crédit Agricole | + 6" |

### Stage 1
#### 10 March 2008 — La Chapelotte to Nevers, 93.5 km (58.1 mi)

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 (57 mi) and started in La Chapelotte instead.
| | Cyclist | Team | Time |
| 1 | Gert Steegmans (BEL) | Quick-Step | 2h 21' 29" |
| 2 | Jérôme Pineau (FRA) | Bouygues Télécom | + 2" |
| 3 | Thor Hushovd (NOR) | Crédit Agricole | s.t. |
| 4 | Philippe Gilbert (BEL) | Française des Jeux | s.t. |
| 5 | Karsten Kroon (NED) | Team CSC | s.t. |
| | Cyclist | Team | Time |
| 1 | Thor Hushovd (NOR) | Crédit Agricole | 2h 26' 55" |
| 2 | Gert Steegmans (BEL) | Quick-Step | + 6" |
| 3 | Jérôme Pineau (FRA) | Bouygues Télécom | + 12" |
| 4 | Karsten Kroon (NED) | Team CSC | s.t. |
| 5 | Andriy Hryvko (UKR) | Team Milram | + 17" |

### Stage 2
#### 11 March 2008 — Nevers to Belleville, 201 km (125 mi)

| | Cyclist | Team | Time |
| 1 | Gert Steegmans (BEL) | Quick-Step | 5h 29' 47" |
| 2 | Thor Hushovd (NOR) | Crédit Agricole | s.t. |
| 3 | Sylvain Chavanel (FRA) | Cofidis | s.t. |
| 4 | Michael Albasini (SUI) | Liquigas | s.t. |
| 5 | Philippe Gilbert (BEL) | Française des Jeux | + 3" |
| | Cyclist | Team | Time |
| 1 | Thor Hushovd (NOR) | Crédit Agricole | 7h 56' 34" |
| 2 | Gert Steegmans (BEL) | Quick-Step | + 3" |
| 3 | Jérôme Pineau (FRA) | Bouygues Télécom | + 23" |
| 4 | Karsten Kroon (NED) | Team CSC | s.t. |
| 5 | Trent Lowe (AUS) | Slipstream–Chipotle | + 29" |

### Stage 3
#### 12 March 2008 — Fleurie to Saint-Étienne, 165.5 km (102.8 mi)

| | Cyclist | Team | Time |
| 1 | Kjell Carlström (FIN) | Liquigas | 4h 39' 14" |
| 2 | Clément Lhotellerie (FRA) | Skil–Shimano | s.t. |
| 3 | Pierre Rolland (FRA) | Crédit Agricole | + 43" |
| 4 | Davide Rebellin (ITA) | Gerolsteiner | s.t. |
| 5 | Roman Kreuziger (CZE) | Liquigas | s.t. |
| | Cyclist | Team | Time |
| 1 | Sylvain Chavanel (FRA) | Cofidis | 12h 37' 01" |
| 2 | Luis León Sánchez (ESP) | Caisse d'Epargne | + 3" |
| 3 | Gorka Verdugo (ESP) | Euskaltel–Euskadi | + 8" |
| 4 | Davide Rebellin (ITA) | Gerolsteiner | + 14" |
| 5 | Juan Manuel Gárate (ESP) | Quick-Step | + 18" |

### Stage 4
#### 13 March 2008 — Montélimar to Mont-Serein, 176 km (109 mi)

| | Cyclist | Team | Time |
| 1 | Cadel Evans (AUS) | Silence–Lotto | 4h 32' 56" |
| 2 | Robert Gesink (NED) | Rabobank | s.t. |
| 3 | Rinaldo Nocentini (ITA) | Ag2r–La Mondiale | + 33" |
| 4 | Davide Rebellin (ITA) | Gerolsteiner | s.t. |
| 5 | Fränk Schleck (LUX) | Team CSC | + 34" |
| | Cyclist | Team | Time |
| 1 | Robert Gesink (NED) | Rabobank | 17h 10' 12" |
| 2 | Davide Rebellin (ITA) | Gerolsteiner | + 32" |
| 3 | Rinaldo Nocentini (ITA) | Ag2r–La Mondiale | + 35" |
| 4 | Yaroslav Popovych (UKR) | Silence–Lotto | + 42" |
| 5 | Juan Manuel Gárate (ESP) | Quick-Step | + 1' 06" |

### Stage 5
#### 14 March 2008 — Althen-des-Paluds to Sisteron, 172.5 km (107.2 mi)

| | Cyclist | Team | Time |
| 1 | Carlos Barredo (ESP) | Quick-Step | 3h 58' 01" |
| 2 | Karsten Kroon (NED) | Team CSC | + 4" |
| 3 | Manuele Mori (ITA) | Saunier Duval–Scott | s.t. |
| 4 | Christophe Moreau (FRA) | Agritubel | s.t. |
| 5 | Pierre Rolland (FRA) | Crédit Agricole | s.t. |
| | Cyclist | Team | Time |
| 1 | Robert Gesink (NED) | Rabobank | 21h 10' 28" |
| 2 | Davide Rebellin (ITA) | Gerolsteiner | + 32" |
| 3 | Rinaldo Nocentini (ITA) | Ag2r–La Mondiale | + 35" |
| 4 | Yaroslav Popovych (UKR) | Silence–Lotto | + 42" |
| 5 | Juan Manuel Gárate (ESP) | Quick-Step | + 1' 06" |

### Stage 6
#### 15 March 2008 — Sisteron to Cannes, 206 km (128 mi)

| | Cyclist | Team | Time |
| 1 | Sylvain Chavanel (FRA) | Cofidis | 5h 00' 25" |
| 2 | Luis León Sánchez (ESP) | Caisse d'Epargne | + 2" |
| 3 | Bobby Julich (USA) | Team CSC | s.t. |
| 4 | Damiano Cunego (ITA) | Lampre | s.t. |
| 5 | Davide Rebellin (ITA) | Gerolsteiner | + 6" |
| | Cyclist | Team | Time |
| 1 | Davide Rebellin (ITA) | Gerolsteiner | 26h 11' 31" |
| 2 | Rinaldo Nocentini (ITA) | Ag2r–La Mondiale | + 3" |
| 3 | Yaroslav Popovych (UKR) | Silence–Lotto | + 48" |
| 4 | Robert Gesink (NED) | Rabobank | + 51" |
| 5 | Juan Manuel Gárate (ESP) | Quick-Step | + 1' 12" |

### Stage 7
#### 16 March 2008 — Nice to Nice, 119 km (74 mi)

| | Cyclist | Team | Time |
| 1 | Luis León Sánchez (ESP) | Caisse d'Epargne | 2h 51' 12" |
| 2 | Maxime Monfort (BEL) | Cofidis | s.t. |
| 3 | Carlos Barredo (ESP) | Quick-Step | s.t. |
| 4 | Christophe Moreau (FRA) | Agritubel | + 5" |
| 5 | Alexander Efimkin (RUS) | Quick-Step | s.t. |
| | Cyclist | Team | Time |
| 1 | Davide Rebellin (ITA) | Gerolsteiner | 29h 02' 48" |
| 2 | Rinaldo Nocentini (ITA) | Ag2r–La Mondiale | + 3" |
| 3 | Yaroslav Popovych (UKR) | Silence–Lotto | + 48" |
| 4 | Robert Gesink (NED) | Rabobank | + 51" |
| 5 | Luis León Sánchez (ESP) | Caisse d'Epargne | + 1' 09" |

## Final standings
### General classification

| | Cyclist | Team | Time |
| 1 | Davide Rebellin (ITA) | Gerolsteiner | 29h 02'48" |
| 2 | Rinaldo Nocentini (ITA) | Ag2r–La Mondiale | +3" |
| 3 | Yaroslav Popovych (UKR) | Silence–Lotto | +48" |
| 4 | Robert Gesink (NED) | Rabobank | +51" |
| 5 | Luis León Sánchez (ESP) | Caisse d'Epargne | +1'09" |
| 6 | Juan Manuel Gárate (ESP) | Quick-Step | +1'12" |
| 7 | Gorka Verdugo (ESP) | Euskaltel–Euskadi | +2'17" |
| 8 | Carlos Barredo (ESP) | Quick-Step | +2'24" |
| 9 | Sylvain Chavanel (FRA) | Cofidis | +2'39" |
| 10 | Alexander Efimkin (RUS) | Quick-Step | +3'21" |

## Jersey progress

| Stage (Winner) | General Classification | Points Classification | Mountains Classification | Young Rider Classification | Team Classification |
| 0Prologue (ITT) (Thor Hushovd) | Thor Hushovd | Thor Hushovd | no award | Andriy Hryvko | Crédit Agricole |
| 0Stage 1 (Gert Steegmans) | Thor Hushovd | Thor Hushovd | Dionisio Galparsoro | Andriy Hryvko | Quick-Step |
| 0Stage 2 (Gert Steegmans) | Thor Hushovd | Thor Hushovd | Thierry Hupond | Trent Lowe | Quick-Step |
| 0Stage 3 (Kjell Carlström) | Sylvain Chavanel | Thor Hushovd | Clément Lhotellerie | Luis León Sánchez | Quick-Step |
| 0Stage 4 (Cadel Evans) | Robert Gesink | Thor Hushovd | Clément Lhotellerie | Robert Gesink | Quick-Step |
| 0Stage 5 (Carlos Barredo) | Robert Gesink | Thor Hushovd | Clément Lhotellerie | Robert Gesink | Quick-Step |
| 0Stage 6 (Sylvain Chavanel) | Davide Rebellin | Thor Hushovd | Clément Lhotellerie | Robert Gesink | Quick-Step |
| 0Stage 7 (Luis León Sánchez) | Davide Rebellin | Thor Hushovd | Clément Lhotellerie | Robert Gesink | Quick-Step |
| 0Final | Davide Rebellin | Thor Hushovd | Clément Lhotellerie | Robert Gesink | Quick-Step |

### Jersey wearers when one rider is leading two or more competitions

* On stage 1, Markel Irizar wore the green jersey
* On stage 2, Karsten Kroon wore the green jersey
* On stage 3, Gert Steegmans wore the green jersey
* On stages 5 & 6, Luis León Sánchez wore the white jersey

## Withdrawals

Only 86 riders finished the race of the 160 that started. Almost 40 riders abandoned during the last stage.
| | Stage | Cyclist | Team | Reason |
| DNF | 1 | Pierrick Fédrigo (FRA) | Bouygues Télécom | Groin injury due to crash |
| DNS | 2 | Óscar Pereiro (ESP) | Caisse d'Epargne | Losing 13:25 on the first stage |
| DNF | 2 | Dario Cioni (ITA) | Silence–Lotto | |
| DNF | 2 | Beñat Albizuri (ESP) | Euskaltel–Euskadi | |
| DNF | 2 | José Ángel Gómez Marchante (ESP) | Saunier Duval–Scott | |
| DNF | 2 | Arkaitz Durán (ESP) | Saunier Duval–Scott | |
| DNS | 3 | Roy Curvers (NED) | Skil–Shimano | |
| DNF | 3 | Mikaël Cherel (FRA) | Française des Jeux | |
| DNF | 3 | Christian Knees (GER) | Team Milram | |
| DNF | 3 | Robert Wagner (GER) | Skil–Shimano | |
| DNS | 4 | Philip Deignan (IRL) | Ag2r–La Mondiale | |
| DNS | 5 | Leonardo Bertagnolli (ITA) | Liquigas | |
| DNS | 5 | William Bonnet (FRA) | Crédit Agricole | |
| DNS | 5 | David Millar (GBR) | Slipstream–Chipotle | Finished 21:07 after Evans, on the 4th stage |
| DNF | 5 | Tom Stamsnijder (NED) | Gerolsteiner | |
| DNF | 5 | Carlo Westphal (GER) | Gerolsteiner | |
| DNF | 5 | Francesco Gavazzi (ITA) | Lampre | |
| DNF | 5 | Mario Aerts (BEL) | Silence–Lotto | |
| DNF | 5 | Johan Van Summeren (BEL) | Silence–Lotto | |
| DNF | 5 | Bradley McGee (AUS) | Team CSC | |
| DNF | 5 | Rémy Di Gregorio (FRA) | Française des Jeux | |
| DNF | 5 | Stef Clement (NED) | Bouygues Télécom | Injury due to crash |
| DNF | 5 | Samuel Dumoulin (FRA) | Cofidis | |
| DNF | 5 | Mathew Hayman (AUS) | Rabobank | |
| DNF | 5 | Freddy Bichot (FRA) | Agritubel | |
| DNF | 5 | Andriy Hryvko (UKR) | Team Milram | |
| DNF | 5 | Fumiyuki Beppu (JPN) | Skil–Shimano | |
| DNF | 5 | Tom Veelers (NED) | Skil–Shimano | |
| DNS | 6 | Sergio Ghisalberti (ITA) | Team Milram | |
| DNS | 6 | Simon Gerrans (AUS) | Crédit Agricole | |
| DNF | 6 | Albert Timmer (NED) | Skil–Shimano | |
| DNF | 6 | Tyler Farrar (USA) | Slipstream–Chipotle | |
| DNF | 6 | Eduardo Gonzalo (ESP) | Agritubel | |
| DNF | 6 | Matteo Carrara (ITA) | Quick-Step | |
| DNF | 6 | Bram Tankink (NED) | Rabobank | |
| DNF | 6 | Iouri Trofimov (RUS) | Bouygues Télécom | |
| DNF | 6 | Manuele Mori (ITA) | Saunier Duval–Scott | |
| DNF | 6 | Jason McCartney (USA) | Team CSC | |
| DNF | 7 | Thomas Peterson (USA) | Slipstream–Chipotle | |
| DNF | 7 | Markus Eichler (GER) | Team Milram | |
| DNF | 7 | Christophe Rinero (FRA) | Agritubel | |
| DNF | 7 | Kevin Ista (BEL) | Agritubel | |
| DNF | 7 | Kevin Hulsmans (BEL) | Quick-Step | |
| DNF | 7 | Gert Steegmans (BEL) | Quick-Step | |
| DNF | 7 | Sylvain Calzati (FRA) | Ag2r–La Mondiale | |
| DNF | 7 | Juan Antonio Flecha (ESP) | Rabobank | |
| DNF | 7 | Michiel Elijzen (NED) | Rabobank | |
| DNF | 7 | David Moncoutié (FRA) | Cofidis | |
| DNF | 7 | Marcel Sieberg (GER) | Team High Road | |
| DNF | 7 | Vicente Reynés (ESP) | Team High Road | |
| DNF | 7 | Craig Lewis (USA) | Team High Road | |
| DNF | 7 | Servais Knaven (NED) | Team High Road | |
| DNF | 7 | Andreas Klier (GER) | Team High Road | |
| DNF | 7 | André Greipel (GER) | Team High Road | |
| DNF | 7 | Bernhard Eisel (AUT) | Team High Road | |
| DNF | 7 | Johann Tschopp (SUI) | Bouygues Télécom | |
| DNF | 7 | Matthieu Sprick (FRA) | Bouygues Télécom | |
| DNF | 7 | Anthony Geslin (FRA) | Bouygues Télécom | |
| DNF | 7 | Juan José Cobo (ESP) | Saunier Duval–Scott | |
| DNF | 7 | Jelle Vanendert (BEL) | Française des Jeux | |
| DNF | 7 | Lilian Jégou (FRA) | Française des Jeux | |
| DNF | 7 | Markel Irizar (ESP) | Euskaltel–Euskadi | |
| DNF | 7 | Dionisio Galparsoro (ESP) | Euskaltel–Euskadi | |
| DNF | 7 | Lander Aperribai (ESP) | Euskaltel–Euskadi | |
| DNF | 7 | Fränk Schleck (LUX) | Team CSC | |
| DNF | 7 | Christophe Brandt (BEL) | Silence–Lotto | |
| DNF | 7 | Aleksandr Kuschynski (BLR) | Liquigas | |
| DNF | 7 | Roman Kreuziger (CZE) | Liquigas | |
| DNF | 7 | Enrico Franzoi (ITA) | Liquigas | |
| DNF | 7 | Massimiliano Mori (ITA) | Lampre | |
| DNF | 7 | Paolo Bossoni (ITA) | Lampre | |
| DNF | 7 | Matteo Bono (ITA) | Lampre | |
| DNF | 7 | Matthias Russ (GER) | Gerolsteiner | |
| DNF | 7 | Andrea Moletta (ITA) | Gerolsteiner | |