Gustav Erik Larsson wins the first stage of the Paris-Nice 2012
Gustav Erik Larsson of Team Vacansoleil-DCM Pro Cycling secured the opening stage of the Paris-Nice 2012.
The 31-year-old managed to overcome the race’s favourite, Bradley Wiggins to grab his first victory of the new season.
He finished the 9.4 kilometre stage 1 of the race in the fastest time of 11 minutes and 19 seconds to grab the top podium spot.
Wiggins finished second with a deficit of one second, while Levi Leipheimer of Team Omega Pharma-Quick Step finished 4 seconds behind at the third position.
The Swedish national time trial champion was overwhelmed with the stage win and asserted that the victory will give a definite boost in his confidence for the coming races.
He noted, "Of course I am very happy with the win. It was a great course and the season started well for me. A great bonus when winning a prologue are all the jerseys and the lead in the general classification. I will work hard to defend that lead".
Hilaire Van Der Schueren, Team Vacansoleil-DCM’s Sporting Director, was pleased with his young gun’s performance.
He cited that the team has shown its splendid performance by claiming the opening stage of the UCI World Tour event for the second consecutive season.
Thomas De Gendt succeeded at the 2011 version of the race.
Hilaire explained, "I am really happy with this win after a lot of second places in the early season. Due to the weather we divided our time trial specialists over the schedule and that worked out fine".
Thomas De Gendt, Bart De Clercq and Sylvain Chavanel were the top three cyclists during the mountain’s category of the race.
Tejay Van Garderen, Rein Taaramae and Patrick Gretsch were the top three cyclists on the first day in Paris.
Larsson is now leading the stage 1 classifications with Bradley Wiggins and Levin Leipheimer at the second and third positions.
Tejay Van Garderen, Thomas De Gendt and Sylvain Chavanel achieved the next three spots during the 9.4 kilometre chase to Saint-Rémy-lès-Chevreuse.
Team Omega Pharma-Quick Step is dominating the team’s classifications while Team Vacansoleil-DCM is at the second and Team Sky Procycling is at the third position after the first stage.
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