Europcar’s Damien Gaudin has become the first Frenchman to win the Paris-Nice Prologue since Laurent Brochard 13 years ago; the three-time French Pursuit Champion completed the technical and winding 2.9km course through the streets of Houilles in 3minutes, 37seconds, to take an early lead in the eight day event which will conclude with the Time Trial climb of the Col d’Éze on Sunday, March 10. Gaudin beat Omega Pharma-Quick Step’s Sylvain Chavanel (the French National TT Champion) and third placed Lieuwe Westra (Vacansoleil-DCM, the Dutch TT Champion) by just one second.
Despite his numerous track successes, today marked the first road tour podium finish for Gaudin, which saw him comment post-event, ‘It’s just mad… I’ve been waiting for this for six years. Every year at the end of the season, I was telling myself, “It went well, only a win is missing… “ I’m a several times French Pursuit Champion and I know how to prepare for this type of efforts. I took many risks because I knew there was something to do today since Fabian Cancellara or Lars Boom were not here. Now I count on my mates to help me keep this jersey for a while. I can tell you one thing. I won’t have it in Nice, but I’ll hold it tomorrow at the start, and hopefully at the finish.’
Paris-Nice continues tomorrow with the 195km Saint-Germain-en-Laye to Nemours stage.