Mattan is looking to regain his form of 2001
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Belgium's Nico Mattan won Sunday's prologue time trial in the Paris-Nice race.
The Cofidis rider was two seconds quicker than American Tyler Hamilton of the CSC team over the 4.8km course.
Mattan's Cofidis team-mate Philippe Gaumont was three seconds further back in joint third place along with Australian Stuart O'Grady.
Mattan, 31, had a disappointing time last year, falling to 149 in the world rankings.
It followed a promising 2001 season where he had wins in the Paris-Nice prologue, the Three Days of La Panne, GP Ouest-France and the Tour du Piedmont.
He will take a slender advantage into Monday's first stage, a 191.5km ride from Auxerre to Paray-le-Monial.
Race co-favourite Dario Frigo of Italy, the 2001 champion, is six seconds behind Mattan with Frenchman Laurent Brochard a further second behind.
Paris-Nice race prologue time-trial
1 Nico Mattan (Bel) Colfidis 5min 47sec
2 Tyler Hamilton (USA) Team CSC at 0.02
3 Philippe Gaumont (Fra) Cofidis 0.05
4 Stuart O'Grady (Aus) Credit Agricole same time
5 Fabian Cancellara (Swi) Fassa Bortolo s/t
6 Dario Frigo (Ita) Fassa Bortolo 0.06
7 Mikel Pradera (Spa) ONCE-Eroski s/t
8 Sandy Casar (Fra) FDJeux.com 0.07
9 Laurent Brochard (Fra) Ag2R Prevoyance s/t
10 Alexandre Vinokourov (Kaz) Team Telekom 0.08
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