Paris - Nice 2016: Démare sprints to victory in thrilling finale, Matthews retains GC lead
At 195 kilometres, stage 1 in Paris-Nice is mostly flat and the finale offers a few stretches of unpaved roads. Yet, the race boils down to a bunch sprint with Arnaud Démare fastest, besting Ben Swift and Nacer Bouhanni. Michael Matthews retains the overall lead. (Slideshow route/profile)
Results 1st stage Paris-Nice
1. Arnaud Démare (fra)
2. Ben Swift (gbr) s.t.
3. Nacer Bouhanni (fra) s.t.
4. Adrien Petit (fra) s.t.
5. Michael Matthews (aus) s.t.
6. Tom Boonen (bel) s.t.
7. Sep Vanmarcke (bel) s.t.
8. Simon Geschke (ger) s.t.
9. Jonas Van Genechten (bel) s.t.
10. Geraint Thomas (gbr) s.t.
GC after stage 1
1. Michael Matthews (aus)
2. Tom Dumoulin (nld) + 0.03
3. Patrick Bevin (nzl) + 0.04
4. Ion Izagirre (spa) + 0.08
5. Geraint Thomas (gbr) s.t.
6. Lieuwe Westra (nld) + 0.09
7. Dries Devenyns (bel) + 0.10
8. Richie Porte (aus) + 0.12
9. Arnaud Démare (fra)+ 0.14
10. Wilco Kelderman (nld) + 0.15
13. Rafal Majka (pol) + 0.16
14. Tim Wellens (bel) + 0.17
16. Tony Gallopin (fra) + 0.18
17. Alberto Contador (spa) s.t.
19. Ilnur Zakarin (rus) + 0.19
29. Romain Bardet (fra) + 0.27
31. Sergio Henao (col) + 0.28
40. Rui Costa (por) + 0.34
Race report
Once the flag is dropped Thomas de Gendt, Perrig Quemeneur, Thierry Hupond and reigning French champion Steven Tronet are off. The quartet races to a 10 minutes lead in less than an hour. Then the peloton wakes up.
The chasing peloton is split in two when Sky ups the pace with 30 kms left. Most GC guys are in the first group, but Rui Costa, Simon Spilak en Jerome Coppel are not. In no time they are over 1 minute down on the first chasing group.
Shortly after the first stretch of pavé the escapees are reeled in, while at the sector of Chemin du Tertre de la Motte Pierre-Luc Perichon goes solo. At the passage on the line he enjoys a 0’15”, while leader Michael Matthews wins the sprint of the chasing group, thus taking a 2 seconds time bonus. The group of dropped riders hooks up.
With 9 kms to go Perichon is brought back.
Despite attacks the race boils down to a bunch sprint. It looks like Ben Swift is heading for glory, but at the eleventh hour Arnaud Démare outsprints him. Swift second, Bouhanni third.
Paris – Nice 2016 stage 1: Route maps, height profile, and more
Click on the images to zoom
Arnaud Demare
Watch the highlights of recent races here:
Related articles Favourites - Paris - Nice 2016 Overview - Paris-Nice 2016 Wellens takes stage 7, Thomas wins Race to the Sun - Paris - Nice 2016 Ilnur Zakarin takes stage 6, Geraint Thomas new leader - Paris - Nice 2016 Lutsenko solos to victory, Matthews retains overall lead - Paris - Nice 2016 Sprint victory Bouhanni in stage 4, Matthews still in the lead - Paris - Nice 2016 Stage 3 cancelled due to snow - Paris - Nice 2016 Matthews cements lead with victory in stage 2 - Paris - Nice 2016 Michael Matthews takes prologue and yellow jersey - Paris - Nice 2016 Route prologue: Conflans-St.-Honoraire - Conflans-St.-Honoraire - Paris - Nice 2016 Route stage 2: Contres – Commentry - Paris - Nice 2016 Route stage 3: Cusset – Mont Brouilly - Paris - Nice 2016 Route stage 4: Juliénas – Romans sur Isère - Paris - Nice 2016 Route stage 5: Saint Paul Trois Châteaux – Salon de Provence - Paris - Nice 2016 Route stage 6: Nice – La Madone d’Utelle - Paris - Nice 2016 Route stage 7: Nice – Nice - Paris - Nice 2016 More articles Tour of the Alps 2021 Route stage 4: Naturns – Pieve di Bono
Liège-Bastogne-Liège 2021: The Route
Liège-Bastogne-Liège 2021: Riders
Liège-Bastogne-Liège Femmes 2021: The Route
Tour de Romandie 2021: The Route
Tour de Romandie 2021: Riders
Tour de Romandie 2021 Route prologue: Oron-la-Ville
Tour de Romandie 2021 Route stage 1: Aigle - Martigny
Tour de Romandie 2021 Route stage 2: La Neuveville - Saint-Imier
Tour de Romandie 2021 Route stage 3: Estavayer - Estavayer
Tour de Romandie 2021 Route stage 4: Sion - Thyon 2000
Giro 2021: The Route
Giro 2021: Riders
Giro 2021: GC Favourites
Giro 2021 Route stage 1: Turin - Turin
Giro 2021 Favourites stage 1: Ganna's dash for pink
Giro 2021 Route stage 2: Stupinigi – Novara
Giro 2021 Favourites stage 2: First fast finishers showdown
Giro 2021 Route stage 3: Biella – Canale
Giro 2021 Favourites stage 3: Strong sprinters or late attackers
Giro 2021 Route stage 4: Piacenza - Sestola
Giro 2021 Favourites stage 4: Bike handling in intriguing finale
Giro 2021 Route stage 5: Modena - Cattolica
Giro 2021 Favourites stage 5: Back to the fast men
Tour of the Alps 2021: Riders
Tour of the Alps 2021 Route stage 5: Idroland – Riva del Garda
Tour de France 2021: The Route
Tour de France 2021: Riders
Cycling Calendar 2021
Vuelta 2021: The Route
Like our Facebook page and stay on top of all pro-race information!