France's Damien Gaudin (EUC) won the Paris-Nice prologue in 3:37. 

Second behind Bradley Wiggins overall last year, Lieuwe Westra (VAC) is third fastest in 3:38.

Australia's Richie Porte (SKY) the last man out, has started.

New leader Damien Gaudin (EUC) told France Televisions he had carefuly prepared for this prologue with the aim to do as well as possible: "Without Cancellara or Lars Boom, I knew there was a chance. If I can win this, it's a dream".

French pursuit specialist Damien Gaudin (EUC) seizes the reins in 3:37.

French time trial champion Sylvain Chavanel (OQT) ousts Kelderman from top spot in 3:38. A great start by the Frenchman.

Germany's Marcel Kittel (ARG) is among the most talked about sprinters in this edition and he clocked a very decent 3:46.

Maxime Monfort (RLT) lost 40 seconds in his crash and admitted his chances in the overall classification were now in jeopardy: "My front wheel slipped. It's very frustrating as I took that corner with caution. I had top 5 ambitions but now with 40 seconds lost, it's going to be tricky," he told France Televisions.

RadioShack team leader Maxime Monfort is the first to crash on the prologue course today. The Belgian is quickly back on his bike.

Kelderman was the best young rider last season in the Criterium du Dauphine and the Tour of Denmark. Can he repeat the feat this week? The Dutchman, 6th in the Tour Downunder this season, faces strong opposition, notably from Tejay van Garderen.

Winner of the Paris-Nice prologue in 2007, David Millar clocks 3:49.

A pretty good time for the Belgian former world champion, winner of six stages on Paris-Nice.

France's Cyril Lemoine (SOJ) celebrated his 30th birthday with a very good time in 3:42.

Dutch prospect Wilco Kelderman (BLA), one of the two youngest riders in the peloton, beat Geoffrey Soupe's time by 0.06 seconds. 

It's a great race with a big goal for Tejay Van Garderen. It's also a must to prepare for the classics with a week of enormous workload. I was cautious in the corners like most riders. It's a very hard prologue. We can see exactly what the form is. It's a great effort.

The Belgian is six seconds behind Geoffrey Soupe. Gilbert is on Paris-Nice to gear up for the Spring classics.

Road world champion Philippe Gilbert (BMC) is on the course. Even though he sports the 101 bib, his team leader on this Paris-Nice is arguably American Tejay Van Garderen. 

Last year's winner Gustav Larsson of Sweden clocks a disappointing 3:48. It's the 37th current time for the former Olympic silver-medallist. 

Soupe's average speed is 47.67 kph.

Tony Gallopin (RLT) clocks the third fastest time in 3:40.

France's Geoffrey Soupe (FDJ) is now in the lead in 3:39. He is the first rider to break the 3:40 barrier. On Saturday, he told www.letour.fr he had serious ambitions about a course that suited his qualities.

The Omega Pharma Quick Step riders keep doing well as befits the time trial world champion team -- Nicolas Maes is 4th fastest in 3:42.

The Olympic bronze-medallist is 6th fastest in 3:43.

A pro since 2005, Peter Velits, the Slovakian time-trial champion, is taking part in his first Paris-Nice. A good start indeed!

The leader completed the course at 47.45 kph

In 3:40, Slovakia's Peter Velits (OPQ) takes over from Borut Bozic.

The former junior and under-23 Spanish time trial champion clocked 3:42.

The old man of the peloton at 41, Voigt clocked 3:52.

Jens Voigt (RLT) just started. The veteran German, who took the first yellow jersey of Paris-Nice in 2005, is one of three former prologue winners in the race this year with David Millar (2007) and Gustav Larsson (2012).  

50 riders have completed the course.

The weather is ideal for a prologue. Cool but sunny with a little breeze, gentle enough not to have an influence on the race.

Sprinters are indeed at ease on the Houilles course with two of them in the top ten right now: Jose Joaquin Rojas (MOV) and Nace Bouhanni (FDJ). The French champion, who rode on a normal road bike, showed the way to team-mate William Bonnet, who is currently second, three seconds behind Bozic.

Slovenia's Borut Bozic (AST) seizes the reins in 3:40.

L'Equipe traces back the history of Paris-Nice though the eyes of Thomas Voeckler, who took part in his first Race to the Sun in 2003. “It was important for me to be in the team. At the back of your mind, you're on Paris-Nice and it's almost like you earned your place for the Tour de France.” Philippe Bouvet also details the outside goals of this Paris-Nice, like the race for the Tour wild cards: “It's a chance to see how the pair Taaramae-Coppel works out at Cofidis. And since there...

Maarten Tjallingii (BLA) seizes the lead in 3:44.

French road champion Nacer Bouhanni (FDJ) confirms that the course suits sprinters. He set the fastest time in 3:47.

3:50 for France's Sebastien Minard (ALM), who improves the fastest time for 0.2 seconds.

Stijn Vandenbergh is in form as he finished second in the recent Omlopp Het Nieuwsblad.

Stijn Vandenbergh (OPQ) sets the fastest time in 3:50.

Bandiera clock the first time of the prologue in 3:55.

The first man in action today, Marco Bandiera (IAM), just started.

Welcome on the 71st edition of the Race to the Sun. We take off with a 2.9-kms prologue in the streets of Houilles, on the outskirts of Paris.