Paris-Nice 2017: Démare bests Alaphilippe in sprint-à-deux
At 148.5 kilometres, stage 1 in Paris-Nice is marked by echelons. After sensational racing Alaphilippe attacks on a 6% climb in the deep finale. Démare jumps to his wheel and the Milan-San Remo winner bests his compatriot on the line. Along with Alaphilippe, Dan Martin, Sergio Henao and Tony Gallopin are the best performing GC-favourites. (Slideshow route/profile)
Results 1st stage Paris-Nice
1. Arnaud Démare (fra)
2. Julian Alaphilippe (fra) s.t.
3. Alexander Kristoff (nor) + 0.09
4. Philippe Gilbert (bel) s.t.
5. Romain Hardy (fra) s.t.
6. Daniel Martin (irl) s.t.
7. Tony Gallopin (fra) s.t.
8. Marco Haller (aut) s.t.
9. Sergio Henao (col) s.t.
10. Rudy Molard (fra) s.t.
GC after 1st stage
1. Arnaud Démare (fra)
2. Julian Alaphilippe (fra) + 0.04
3. Alexander Kristoff (nor) + 0.15
4. Philippe Gilbert (bel) + 0.16
5. Tony Gallopin (fra) + 0.17
6. Romain Hardy (fra) + 0.18
6. Daniel Martin (irl) + 0.19
8. Marco Haller (aut) s.t.
9. Sergio Henao (col) s.t.
10. Rudy Molard (fra) s.t.
16. Richie Porte (aus) + 0.57
17. Ilnur Zakarin (rus) s.t.
19. Warren Barguil (fra) + 1.13
20. Alberto Contador (spa) + 1.14
22. Ion Izagirre (spa) s.t.
32. Nicolas Roche (irl) + 2.07
36. Steven Kruijswijk (nld) + 2.28
Race report
Once the flag is dropped a group with Sylvain Chavanel, Romain Hardy, Gatis Smukulis and Kristijan Koren braves the rainy and windy conditions. The gap balloons to 6 minutes, while Romain Hardy snatches most KOM-points on the first climb up the Côte de Senlisse.
When cross winds break the peloton into pieces, the lead goes down fast. Kristoff, Kittel, Rowe, Gilbert, Coquard, Gallopin, Greipel, Ion Izagirre, Sergio Henao, Dan Martin and Alaphilippe are in the first group – Bardet, Porte, Contador, Zakarin and most other GC-favourites wind up in the second.
Due to the acceleration the front group is caught by the first group, while the GC-favourites are chasing at 1 minute for quite a while without getting closer. In the meantime, the KOM-points on top of the second Côte de Senlisse-climb are for Hardy, too.
Izagirre is dropped from the first group when he stumbles into the fields.
At the last climb Alaphilippe attacks and Démare jumps to his wheel. The Milan-San Remo winner claims a convincing win in the ensuing sprint, showing he is ready to roll in the 2017 season.
After having missed the crucial split to begin with, Contador loses ground on his direct GC-opponents Porte, Bardet and Zakarin in the last kilometres.
Romain Bardet was disqualified after the race, he received illegal assistance from his team car.
Check out today’s route.
Paris-Nice 2017 stage 1: Route maps, height profiles, and more
Click on the images to zoom
Arnaud DemareJulian Alaphilippe
Watch the highlights of recent races here:
Related articles Favourites - Paris-Nice 2017 Overview - Paris-Nice 2017 De la Cruz wins ahead of Contador, Henao overall winner - Paris-Nice 2017 Porte climbs to victory in Queen Stage, Sergio Henao new leader - Paris-Nice 2017 Simon Yates solos to victory, Alaphilippe still in yellow - Paris-Nice 2017 Greipel outsprints Démare and Groenewegen, Alaphilippe still leader - Paris-Nice 2017 Alaphilippe powers to victory and leaders jersey in ITT - Paris-Nice 2017 Sam Bennett outsprints Kristoff and Degenkolb - Paris-Nice 2017 Colbrelli outsprints Degenkolb after rain soaked race - Paris-Nice 2017 Route stage 2: Rochefort en Yvelines – Amilly (Loiret) - Paris-Nice 2017 Route stage 3: Chablis – Chalon sur Saône - Paris-Nice 2017 Route stage 4: Beaujeu – Mont Brouilly - Paris-Nice 2017 Route stage 5: Quincié en Beaujolais – Bourg de Péage - Paris-Nice 2017 Route stage 6: Aubagne – Fayence - Paris-Nice 2017 Route stage 7: Nice – Col de la Couillole - Paris-Nice 2017 Route stage 8: Nice – Nice - Paris-Nice 2017 More articles Tour de Romandie 2024: Nys wins from breakaway to take yellow
Tour de Romandie 2024 Route stage 3: Oron ITT
Tour de Romandie 2024 Route stage 2: Fribourg – Les Marécottes
Tour de Romandie 2024: Riders
Tour de Romandie 2024 Route stage 4: Saillon - Leysin
Tour de Romandie 2024 Route stage 5: Vernier - Vernier
Giro 2024: The Route
Giro 2024: Riders
Giro 2024 Route stage 1: Turin - Turin
Giro 2024 Favourites stage 1: Hilly race for pink
Giro 2024 Route stage 2: San Fransesco al Campo - Oropa
Giro 2024 Favourites stage 2: The King of Oropa
Giro 2024 Route stage 3: Novara - Fossano
Giro 2024 Favourites stage 3: For fast finishers #1
Giro 2024 Route stage 4: Acqui Terme - Andora
Giro 2024 Favourites stage 4: Mini Milan-Sanremo
Giro 2024 Route stage 5: Genoa - Lucca
Giro 2024 Favourites stage 5: For fast finishers #2
Giro 2024 Route stage 6: Viareggio - Rapolano Terme
Giro 2024 Route stage 8: Spoleto - Prati di Tivo
Giro 2024 Route stage 15: Manerba del Garda - Livigno
Giro 2024 Route stage 16: Livigno - Monte Pana
Giro 2024 Route stage 17: Selva di Val Gardena – Passo Brocon
Giro 2024 Route stage 19: Mortegliano - Sappada
Giro 2024 Route stage 20: Alpago – Bassano del Grappa
Cycling Calendar 2024
Liège–Bastogne–Liège Femmes 2024: Brown wins six-up sprint
Tour de France 2024: The Route
Tour de France 2024: Riders
Tour de France 2024 Route stage 1: Florence - Rimini
Vuelta 2024: The Route
Like our Facebook page and stay on top of all pro-race information!