The Cycling Season is here

67th Paris-Nice
France, March 8-15, 2009
Many of cycling's purists still see Paris-Nice as the first major stage race of the sporting season. Now in its 67th year, the 'race to the sun' has a long and distinguished history and is the first objective for many of the peloton's stars.

And oh how it started with yesterdays upset in the prologue.
Contador: "I'm not the best time trialist in the world". Well he beat Wiggins who is the best time trialist in the world. "...Bradley Wiggins had believed so much in his ability to win the inaugural time trial of Paris-Nice that he was devastated after losing to Alberto Contador. He wasn't available for comments outside his team bus..."

Follow the results at the Paris-Nice Website
Today they ride 195.5km across the plains from Saint-Brisson-sur-Loire to La Chapelle-Saint-Ursin in the Stage 1.

LIVE written (ticker) commentary at Cyclingnews.com, LIVE audio at CyclingFans.com if you speak German.

Paris-Nice ‘66: A Legendary Clash
"...Whenever Jacques Anquetil and Raymond Poulidor lined up together for any race it was a sure bet that their exploits would be one of the main story lines. And so it was in 1966". (read the full story at the link).