Nazon streak stays alive at Criterium International
- By John Wilcockson
- Published Mar. 27, 2004
The Cours Aristide Briand in Charleville-Mezières is not as long or as wide as the Champs-Élysées in Paris, but French sprinter Jean-Patrick Nazon likes them both. He was won the most important sprints of his career on the two avenues, and he continued that run on Saturday in the opening stage of the two-day Critérium International.
Last July, on a sultry summer’s day, Nazon took the final stage of the Tour de France thanks more to his bustling style than his erratic finishing speed. That gave this 6-foot, 163-pound rider a half-length verdict over his inherently faster Aussie rivals Baden Cooke and Robbie McEwen.
Eight months after the Tour climax, on a sunny, but frigid Saturday afternoon in Charleville, Nazon again used his physical strength to bludgeon out a big win. This time, the challenge of an under-the-weather Cooke faded with 50 meters to go and Fdjeux.com’s Aussie star crossed the line in sixth. As for McEwen, the Lotto-Domo sprinter was absent, having not yet recovered from the sickness that forced him out of Paris-Nice earlier this month.
It was the third year ruining that a Nazon has won at Charleville. Last year, it was La Boulangère’s Damien Nazon, Jean-Patrick’s older brother, who easily beat German Patrik Sinkewitz of Quick Step. And in 2002, Jean-Patrick, then with La Française des Jeux, made his breakthrough at this level in defeating Italian speedster Angelo Furlan. This Saturday, Nazon was a clear winner over two Gerolsteiner men: Markus Zberg of Switzerland and Peter Wrolich of Austria.
In his days at La Française des Jeux (now Fdjeux.com), Nazon was said to be a difficult man to manage, so he was let go at the end of 2002 by team boss Marc Madiot. And it was only at a much-reduced salary that Nazon was picked up a year ago by the minor French team, Jean Delatour. That squad mutated this year into the even weaker RAGT-Rover outfit, which didn’t have enough euros to keep Nazon after his Tour success. So now he is at AG2R, his third team in three years.
AG2R is happy to have him because, at 27, Nazon is at the right point in his life to take over the sprinting mantle from the French team’s aging Estonian rider Jaan Kirsipuu.
Nazon, of course, won’t keep his yellow leader’s jersey at this Critérium International, which closes Sunday with an intense morning stage of nine climbs in less than 100km followed by an individual time trial of 8.3km.
Last year, the climbing stage was the one that determined the overall victory for French veteran Laurent Brochard of AG2R. And in 2002 it came down to the time trial, which saw Spaniard Alberto Martinez of Euskaltel take a one-second overall win from Lance Armstrong.
Being aware of how close the verdict can be in this race, Armstrong tried to get a little insurance on Saturday. Heading into the day’s third intermediate sprint at Novion-Porcien, the U.S. Postal leader shot out of the peloton in an attempt to snaffle a two-second bonus, six minutes behind the stage’s marathon solo breakaway, Guillaume Auger of the winless RAGT team. Armstrong was chased by a sharp Alex Vinokourov of T-Mobile, who took the two seconds, leaving the American with just one.
That single second might make all the difference come Sunday afternoon.
Photo Gallery
Results
1. Jean-Patrick Nazon (F), Ag2R Prevoyance, 4:58:15
2. Marcus Zberg (Swi), Gerolsteiner, 00:00
3. Peter Wrolich (A), Gerolsteiner, 00:00
4. Thor Hushovd (Nor), Crédit Agricole, 00:00
5. Alexandre Usov (Blr), Phonak, 00:00
6. Baden Cooke (Aus), FDJeux.com, 00:00
7. Jens Voigt (G), CSC, 00:00
8. Steffen Radochla (G), Illes Balears-Banesto, 00:00
9. Gutierrez José Ivan (Sp), Illes Balears-Banesto, 00:00
10. Igor Abakoumov (B), Chocolade Jacques-Wincor Nixdo, 00:00
11. Manuele Mori (I), Saunier Duval, 00:00
12. Vicente Reynes (Sp), Illes Balears-Banesto, 00:00
13. Stefan Van Dijk (Nl), Lotto-Domo, 00:00
14. Eric Baumann (G), T-Mobile, 00:00
15. Sylvain Chavanel (F), Brioches La Boulangere, 00:00
16. Gerrit Glomser (A), Saeco, 00:00
17. Gustavo Cesar Veloso (Sp), Relax Bodysol, 00:00
18. Arvesen Kurt-asle (Nor), CSC, 00:00
19. Dmitriy Fofonov (Kaz), Cofidis, 00:00
20. Nacor Burgos (Sp), Relax Bodysol, 00:00
21. Mikel Pradera (Sp), Illes Balears-Banesto, 00:00
22. Maxim Rudenko (Ukr), Chocolade Jacques-Wincor Nixdo, 00:00
23. Patrik Sinkewitz (G), Quick Step-Davitamon, 00:00
24. Constantino Zaballa (Sp), Saunier Duval, 00:00
25. Philippe Gilbert (B), FDJeux.com, 00:00
26. Vladimir Gusev (Rus), CSC, 00:00
27. Martinez José Alberto (Sp), Relax Bodysol, 00:00
28. Laurent Brochard (F), Ag2R Prevoyance, 00:00
29. FÖrster Robert (G), Gerolsteiner, 00:00
30. Evgeni Petrov (Rus), Saeco, 00:00
31. David Canada (Sp), Saunier Duval, 00:00
32. Patrice Halgand (F), Crédit Agricole, 00:00
33. Gorka Gonzalez (Sp), Euskaltel-Euskadi, 00:00
34. Luis Sanchez (Sp), Liberty-Seguras, 00:00
35. Unai Yus (Sp), Brioches La Boulangere, 00:00
36. Koldo Fernandez (Sp), Euskaltel-Euskadi, 00:00
37. Blaudzun Michaël (Dk), CSC, 00:00
38. Alexandre Botcharov (Rus), Crédit Agricole, 00:00
39. Laszlo Bodrogi (Hun), Quick Step-Davitamon, 00:00
40. Gustavo Domingez (Sp), Relax Bodysol, 00:00
41. Franck Bouyer (F), Brioches La Boulangere, 00:00
42. Dominguez Juan Carlos (Sp), Saunier Duval, 00:00
43. Jurgen Van Goolen (B), Quick Step-Davitamon, 00:00
44. Michael Albasini (Swi), Phonak, 00:00
45. Isidro Nozal (Sp), Liberty-Seguras, 00:00
46. Danilo Di Luca (I), Saeco, 00:00
47. Davide Rebellin (I), Gerolsteiner, 00:00
48. Alexandre Vinokourov (Kaz), T-Mobile, 00:00
49. Nicolas Portal (F), Ag2R Prevoyance, 00:00
50. Inaki Isasi (Sp), Euskaltel-Euskadi, 00:00
51. Barry Michaël (CAN), U.S. Postal Service, 00:00
52. Jan Hruska (Cz), Liberty-Seguras, 00:00
53. Nicolas Jalabert (F), Phonak, 00:00
54. Torsten Hiekmann (G), T-Mobile, 00:00
55. David Loosli (Swi), Saeco, 00:00
56. David De La Fuente (Sp), Saunier Duval, 00:00
57. Carlos Barredo (Sp), Liberty-Seguras, 00:00
58. Christophe Brandt (B), Lotto-Domo, 00:00
59. Iker Camano (Sp), Euskaltel-Euskadi, 00:00
60. Pedro Horrillo (Sp), Quick Step-Davitamon, 00:00
61. Bobby Julich (USA), CSC, 00:00
62. Alexandre Moos (Swi), Phonak, 00:00
63. Pineau Jérôme (F), Brioches La Boulangere, 00:00
64. Bradley Mc Gee (Aus), FDJeux.com, 00:00
65. Lance Armstrong (USA), U.S. Postal Service, 00:00
66. Pena Victor Hugo (Col), U.S. Postal Service, 00:00
67. Ronny Scholz (Swi), Gerolsteiner, 00:00
68. Yuriy Krivtsov (Ukr), Ag2R Prevoyance, 00:00
69. Benjamin Noval Gonzalez (Sp), U.S. Postal Service, 00:00
70. Clain Médéric (F), Cofidis, 00:00
71. David Millar (GB), Cofidis, 00:00
72. LÖvkvist Thomas (SWE), FDJeux.com, 00:00
73. Christophe Rinero (F), R.A.G.T. Semences-MG Rover, 00:00
74. Ludovic Turpin (F), Ag2R Prevoyance, 00:00
75. Christian Werner (G), T-Mobile, 00:00
76. Daniel Schnider (Swi), Phonak, 00:00
77. Rik Verbrugghe (B), Lotto-Domo, 00:00
78. David Moncoutie (F), Cofidis, 00:00
79. Rubiera José Luis (Sp), U.S. Postal Service, 00:00
80. Floyd Landis (USA), U.S. Postal Service, 00:00
81. Mercado Juan Miguel (Sp), Quick Step-Davitamon, 00:00
82. Mark Scanlon (IRL), Ag2R Prevoyance, 00:00
83. Korff André (G), T-Mobile, 00:00
84. Azevedo José (P), U.S. Postal Service, 00:00
85. Gilles Bouvard (F), R.A.G.T. Semences-MG Rover, 00:00
86. Aketza Pena (Sp), Euskaltel-Euskadi, 00:00
87. Johann Tschopp (Swi), Phonak, 00:00
88. Stefano Casagranda (I), Saeco, 00:00
89. Elias Jose Miguel (Sp), Relax Bodysol, 00:00
90. Thomas Ziegler (G), Gerolsteiner, 00:00
91. Oliver Zaugg (Swi), Saunier Duval, 00:00
92. Samuel Dumoulin (F), Ag2R Prevoyance, 00:00
93. Andreas Matzbacher (A), Saeco, 00:00
94. Frank Schleck (Lux), CSC, 00:00
95. Georg Totschnig (A), Gerolsteiner, 00:00
96. Tyler Hamilton (USA), Phonak, 00:00
97. Joan Horrach (Sp), Illes Balears-Banesto, 00:00
98. Rubens Bertogliati (Swi), Saunier Duval, 00:00
99. KlÖden Andréas (G), T-Mobile, 00:00
100. Jorg Jaksche (G), CSC, 00:00
101. Bessy Frédéric (F), Cofidis, 00:00
102. Moises Duenas (Sp), Relax Bodysol, 00:00
103. Markel Irizar (Sp), Euskaltel-Euskadi, 00:00
104. Sven Montgomery (Swi), Gerolsteiner, 00:00
105. Josu Silloniz (Sp), Euskaltel-Euskadi, 00:00
106. Mickael Pichon (F), Brioches La Boulangere, 00:00
107. Eddy Mazzoleni (I), Saeco, 00:00
108. Rafael Diaz (Sp), Liberty-Seguras, 00:00
109. Piotr Wadecki (Pol), Lotto-Domo, 00:00
110. Gorka Arrizabalaga (Sp), Euskaltel-Euskadi, 00:00
111. Antonio Tauler (Sp), Illes Balears-Banesto, 00:00
112. Richard Virenque (F), Quick Step-Davitamon, 00:00
113. Benoit Poilvet (F), Crédit Agricole, 00:00
114. Pierrick Fedrigo (F), Crédit Agricole, 00:00
115. Christophe Edaleine (F), Cofidis, 00:00
116. Eric Berthou (F), R.A.G.T. Semences-MG Rover, 00:00
117. Jimmi Madsen (Dk), CSC, 00:00
118. Laurent Dufaux (Swi), Quick Step-Davitamon, 00:00
119. Alvaro Gonzalez Galdeano (Sp), Liberty-Seguras, 00:00
120. Yoann Le Boulanger (F), R.A.G.T. Semences-MG Rover, 00:00
121. Anthony Charteau (F), Brioches La Boulangere, 00:00
122. Marco Fertonani (I), Phonak, 00:00
123. Matthew White (Aus), Cofidis, 00:00
124. Serguei Yakovlev (Kaz), T-Mobile, 00:00
125. Denys Kostyuk (Ukr), Chocolade Jacques-Wincor Nixdo, 00:00
126. Dariusz Baranowski (Pol), Liberty-Seguras, 00:00
127. Andrey Kashechkin (Kaz), Crédit Agricole, 00:00
128. Florent Brard (F), Chocolade Jacques-Wincor Nixdo, 00:00
129. Alessandro Spezialetti (I), Saeco, 00:00
130. Cezary Zamana (Pol), Chocolade Jacques-Wincor Nixdo, 00:00
131. Stephane Goubert (F), Ag2R Prevoyance, 00:00
132. Benoit Salmon (F), Crédit Agricole, 00:00
133. Robin Jean-cyril (F), FDJeux.com, 00:00
134. Nicolas Vogondy (F), FDJeux.com, 00:00
135. Niels Scheuneman (Nl), Relax Bodysol, 00:00
136. Andoni Aranaga (Sp), Chocolade Jacques-Wincor Nixdo, 00:00
137. Sandy Casar (F), FDJeux.com, 00:00
138. Buffaz Mickaël (F), R.A.G.T. Semences-MG Rover, 01:23
139. Guillaume Auger (F), R.A.G.T. Semences-MG Rover, 01:23
140. Bradley Wiggins (GB), Crédit Agricole, 01:45
141. Koos Moerenhout (Nl), Lotto-Domo, 04:24
142. Roy Jérémy (F), FDJeux.com, 04:24
143. Christophe Detilloux (B), Lotto-Domo, 04:24
144. Michael Blanchy (B), Chocolade Jacques-Wincor Nixdo, 04:24
145. Nick Gates (Aus), Lotto-Domo, 04:24
146. Cobo Juan Jose (Sp), Saunier Duval, 04:24
147. Eddy Seigneur (F), R.A.G.T. Semences-MG Rover, 04:24
148. Nicolas Reynaud (F), R.A.G.T. Semences-MG Rover, 04:24
149. Ivan Mayoz (Sp), Relax Bodysol, 04:24
150. Ief Verbrugghe (B), Lotto-Domo, 04:24
151. Laurent Lefevre (F), Brioches La Boulangere, 16:24
152. Joseba Beloki (Sp), Brioches La Boulangere, 16:24
FILED UNDER: Race Report / Race Result / Road
John Wilcockson
Former VeloNews editor at large John Wilcockson has reported on the Tour de France for more than forty years. He is also the author of a dozen books, including 23 Days in July, one of ESPN’s “Top 10 Sports Books of the Year.”