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Paris - Nice 2010: Prologue

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Dutchman Lars Boom is leading the standings right now with a time of 10.56 minutes. The profile of the parcours is less flat than one could expect from looking at the map provided by the organiser.

There's a cobbled street right within the first kilometre of the parcours, slightly uphill, too, which doesn'tb make for a smooth start. After that, the road continues to climb, out of the small town into a forest.

A first rolling section comes after about 2 kilometres on a plateau.

AG2R's Tadej Valjavec is on the rolling part now, again through a forest.

His rival sprinter André Greipel (HTC) is now off the start ramp. Let's see how he does but this doesn't look like a sprinter's prologue - more one for strong rouleurs and climbers like the overall favourites.

Following up on Steegmans: Lance Armstrong just twittered that he possibly broke his collarbone...

Good performance by Chris Horner (Radioshack): 8th at the moment.

The sun is out now on the riders so weather-wise everything is fine.

Despite his big motor, Greipel is 43rd at the finish, 34 seconds behind.

Jakob Fuglsang (Saxo Bank) explained at the finish that it was important to start fast in this TT, using the big chainring, even though - or because of - the cobbled sector and the climb.

Garmin's Svein Tuft, by the way, finished eighth, at 20 seconds of Boom, who's still sitting on the hot chair.

The big guns are here now, Alejandro Valverde (Caisse d'Epargne) has left the start ramp.

David Millar (Garmin) is also preparing to start, a TT specialist who will have ambition on this course.

Schleck looks smooth and sharp already. The pre-race hype has been much around Contador and Valverde, maybe this has helped him tackle this race undisturbed.

Chavanel finished, 37th, while David Millar sets off.

Let's see what Levi Leipheimer (Radioshack) can do. Millar could be a candidate for the victory here today, if he can find his rythm right from the start over the cobbles.

There is quite a head wind on the last half of the parcours, when the riders return into town.

Here comes the big race favourite, Alberto Contador (Astana), dressed in his Spanish TT champion skinsuit. His earpiece doesn't work, though - he signalled it to his team car.

Jens Voigt (Saxo Bank) is also off.

Luis Leon Sanchez, the 2009 winner, is the lsat rider on the course. In ten minutes we'll know today's outcome!

Leiphiemer comes in strong... but gets second, biting his teeth!

Contador looks fast. He should be in good condition already after his Algarve win, and has declared wanting to win Paris-Nice again.

Sanchez also looks strong, while Kreuziger finishes.

Contador has Tony Martin in view...!

Here comes Contador... not the first place... third!

Boom should be jubilating by now.

Voigt gives it all and gets second! Great performance.

Ah, Sanchez could make it... here he comes...

No, too far away. Sanchez finishes ninth, and Lars Boom (Rabobank) takes the win! A surprise victor, but worthy nonetheless, congratulations!

Top five are all within 10 seconds, as Voigt is at three secs, Leipheimer at six with Contador.

That's all from us in France today; join us again tomorrow for the first stage of Paris-Nice from Saint-Arnoult to Contres. Au revoir!

1.Lars Boom (Rabobank) 10.56
2.Jens Voigt (Saxo Bank) 10.59
3.Levi Leipheimer (RadioShack) 11.02
4.Alberto Contador (Astana) 11.02
5.Peter Sagan (Liquigas) 11.06
6.Xavier Tondo (Cervelo) 11.07
7.David Millar (Garmin) 11.08
8.Luis Leon Sanchez (Caisse d'Epargne) 11.09
9.Roman Kreuziger (Liquigas) 11.09
10.Samuel Sanchez (Euskaltel) 11.12

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