The city of Elbeuf-sur-Seine hosted the 68th and final edition of the
Grand Prix des Nations. Photo ©: Pete
Geyer |
The course began with a few turns and a roundabout. Photo ©:
Pete Geyer
|
Jean-Marie Leblanc continues to prepare his successor as director of the
Tour de France, Christian Prudhomme. Photo ©:
Pete Geyer |
Aussie Ben Day (Mr. Bookmaker.com-Palmans) finished 12th at 3:55 back.
Photo ©: Pete Geyer |
Bradley McGee (FdJeux.com) accelerates from the start house on his way to
8th place. Photo ©: Pete Geyer |
Bradley Wiggins (Credit Agricole) cruises along the Seine en route to a
17th place, 6:16 back. Photo ©: Pete
Geyer |
Christophe Moreau (Credit Agricole) approaches the halfway point on his
way to an 11th place finish. Photo ©:
Pete Geyer |
Dominique Cornu of Belgium's R.L.V.B. team looks back at his winning time
in the U23 event. Photo ©: Pete Geyer |
French time trial champion Eddy Seigneur (R.A.G.T. Semences-MG Rover) rode
to a solid 5th place, earning a spot on the French team in the Verona time
trial. Photo ©: Pete Geyer |
American Adam Switters used the GP des Nations to qualify for the World's
time trial event (Juniors) and will also ride the Juniors road race. Photo
©: Pete Geyer |
Jens Voigt (Team CSC), who won the event in 2001, finished 6th at 1:45
back. Photo ©: Pete Geyer |
Jose Ivan Gutierrez (Iles Balears) rode superbly to finish 3rd. Photo ©:
Pete Geyer |
Michael Rogers (Quick Step-Davitamon) wore his world champion jersey for
the first time and finished 4th. Photo ©:
Pete Geyer |
American Saul Raisin finished 17th in the U23 event, not good enough to
earn a spot in the time trial at the World's in Verona, but he will ride
the road race, then move up to Credit Agricole's elite squad for 2005.
Photo ©: Pete Geyer |
Timothy Duggan finished a strong 11th in the U23 event, at just 1:37 back
and as second-best American earned a spot in the Verona time trial. Photo
©: Pete Geyer |
Tyler Farrar, already qualified for a U.S. U23 time trial spot at Verona,
confirmed his strong form after his recent Tour de l'Avenir stage win by
finishing 5th at just :46 back. Photo ©:
Pete Geyer |
Uwe Peschel (Gerolsteiner), looking to repeat his 2002 win in this event
and wearing #7, powered to a 7-second lead at the halfway point.... Photo
©: Pete Geyer |
...but Peschel's friend and teammate Michael Rich (Gerolsteiner), winner
in 2003, was the man in second after 27 kilometers. Photo ©:
Pete Geyer |
Peschel flew along the final straightaway and recorded the best time to
that point. Photo ©: Pete Geyer |
Michael Rich drives it home and beats Peschel by just 9 seconds to repeat
as champion in the final GP des Nations. Photo ©:
Pete Geyer |
