Sam Bennett wins the final sprint and dresses up as a leader in Paris Nice after the first stage.
The prestigious French route, which usually reveals many clues about what later happens in the Tour de France , began with a nod to its other name: the ‘Carrera del Sol’.
The weather was good throughout the day, although Richie Porte , who suffered an accident with 30 kilometers to go to the finish line, was clouded. The winner of the 2013 and 2015 editions had to drop out.
Doubey (Total) was one of the great protagonists of this first stage because he traveled escaped for many minutes. In the absence of 50 km , Gilbert shook the tree and caused a small group, including Oldani, Péez and Lawless , to hunt down Doubey himself and take a few seconds ahead. They saved that rental until there were 10 km to go to the end
Sam Bennett, clutching his handles, finally buckled the win after swiping Ackermann’s wallet in the last few meters. Spectacular triumph for the Deceuninck rider, who adds his third success of the course after the two successes obtained in the Tour of the Emirates. Arnaud Demare (2nd) and Mads Pedersen (3rd) were outmatched by an Irishman in a state of grace.
This is how the Top 10 of the stage was:
Paris-Nice