1998 Paris–Nice

The 1998 Paris–Nice was the 56th edition of the Paris–Nice cycle race and was held from 8 March to 15 March 1998. The race started in Suresnes and finished in Nice. The race was won by Frank Vandenbroucke of the Mapei team.

1998 Paris–Nice

Race details
Dates	8–15 March 1998
Stages	8
Distance	1,295 km (804.7 mi)
Winning time	31h 45' 03"
Results
Winner Frank Vandenbroucke (BEL) (Mapei–Bricobi)   Second Laurent Jalabert (FRA) (ONCE)   Third Marcelino García (ESP) (ONCE)

The race saw the professional comeback of Lance Armstrong after receiving treatment for testicular cancer. He finished 23rd in the prologue, but pulled out the next day, with his return to racing in jeopardy. He would later win seven consecutive Tour de France titles, only to be stripped of all results following a lengthy investigation into his doping practices.

Teams

Eighteen teams, containing a total of 144 riders, participated in the race:

• ONCE
• Saeco–Cannondale
• Festina–Lotus
• U.S. Postal Service
• Mapei–Bricobi
• Casino–Ag2r
• GAN
• Rabobank
• Team Telekom
• Team Polti
• Française des Jeux
• Cofidis
• Banesto
• Lotto–Mobistar
• Kelme–Costa Blanca
• Riso Scotti–MG Maglificio
• BigMat–Auber 93
• Mutuelle de Seine-et-Marne

Route

Stage characteristics and winners

Stage	Date	Course	Distance	Type		Winner
1	8 March	Suresnes to Paris	10.2 km (6.3 mi)		Individual time trial	Frank Vandenbroucke (BEL)
2	9 March	Montereau to Sens	170.2 km (105.8 mi)			David Etxebarria (ESP)
3	10 March	Sens to Nevers	195.8 km (121.7 mi)			Tom Steels (BEL)
4	11 March	Nevers to Vichy	194.5 km (120.9 mi)			Tom Steels (BEL)
5	12 March	Cusset to Col de la République	113 km (70 mi)			Frank Vandenbroucke (BEL)
6	13 March	Montélimar to Sisteron	189 km (117 mi)			Andrei Tchmil (BEL)
7	14 March	Sisteron to Cannes	223 km (139 mi)			Andrei Tchmil (BEL)
8	15 March	Nice to Nice	161.4 km (100.3 mi)			Christophe Capelle (FRA)

General classification

Final general classification Rank Rider Team Time 1 Frank Vandenbroucke (BEL) Mapei–Bricobi 31h 45' 03" 2 Laurent Jalabert (FRA) ONCE + 40" 3 Marcelino García (ESP) ONCE + 48" 4 Alex Zülle (SUI) Festina–Lotus + 59" 5 Rodolfo Massi (ITA) Casino–Ag2r + 1' 11" 6 Christophe Moreau (FRA) Festina–Lotus + 1' 14" 7 Mikel Zarrabeitia (ESP) ONCE + 1' 25" 8 Laurent Dufaux (SUI) Festina–Lotus + 1' 29" 9 Peter Luttenberger (AUT) Rabobank + 1' 29" 10 Roberto Heras (ESP) Kelme–Costa Blanca + 1' 45"

Further reading

• "Stage 1, Suresnes - Paris, ITT 10.2 kms". Cycling News.
• "Stage 2: Montereau - Sens, 170.2 kms". Cycling News.
• "Stage 3: Sens - Nevers, 195.8 kms". Cycling News.
• "Stage 4: Nevers - Vichy, 194.5 kms". Cycling News.
• "Before the Start". Cycling News.
• "Stage 6: Montelimar-Sisteron, 189 kms". Cycling News.
• "Stage 7, Sisteron - Cannes, 223 kms". Cycling News.
• "Stage 8, Nice - Nice, 161.4 kms". Cycling News.
• "Guide Historique 2014" [Historic Guide 2014] (PDF). L'Equipe (in French). p. 61. Archived from the original (PDF) on 27 March 2014.
• "Zulle se enfrenta a Jalabert" [Zulle confronts Jalabert] (PDF). El Mundo Deportivo (in Spanish). 8 March 1998. p. 51.
• "Vandenbroucke, de blanco" [Vandenbroucke, in white] (PDF). El Mundo Deportivo (in Spanish). 9 March 1998. p. 50.
• "David Etxebarria firma un triunfo de prestigio" [David Etxebarria signs a prestigious victory] (PDF). El Mundo Deportivo (in Spanish). 10 March 1998. p. 38.
• "Jalabert se muestra peleon" [Jalabert is quarrelsome] (PDF). El Mundo Deportivo (in Spanish). 11 March 1998. p. 35.
• "Steels, al sprint en Paris-Niza" [Steels, al sprint and Paris-Niza] (PDF). El Mundo Deportivo (in Spanish). 12 March 1998. p. 42.
• "Vandenbroucke convence" [Vandenbroucke convinces] (PDF). El Mundo Deportivo (in Spanish). 13 March 1998. p. 36.
• "Tchmil, en la Paris-Niza" [Tchmil, in Paris-Nice] (PDF). El Mundo Deportivo (in Spanish). 14 March 1998. p. 41.
• "Lideres con sabor a triunfo" [Leaders with a taste of triumph] (PDF). El Mundo Deportivo (in Spanish). 15 March 1998. p. 43.
• "Vandenbroucke no falla" [Vandenbroucke does not miss] (PDF). El Mundo Deportivo (in Spanish). 16 March 1998. p. 53.