Paris-Nice 2018 Stage 2: Groenewegen sprints to victory, Démare retains yellow

At 187.5 kilometres, Paris-Nice's 2nd stage travels on flat to rolling roads from Orsonville to Vierzon. The race comes down to a sprint with Dylan Groenewegen outpowering Elia Viviani and André Greipel. Arnaud Demare holds on to the overall lead. (Slideshow route/profile)

Results 2nd stage 2018 Paris-Nice

1. Dylan Groenewegen (nld)
2. Elia Viviani (ita)
3. André Greipel (ger) s.t.
4. Phil Bauhaus (ger) s.t.
5. Arnaud Démare (fra) s.t.
6. Mike Teunissen (nld) s.t.
7. Alexander Kristoff (nor)
8. Jean-Pierre Drücker (lux) s.t.
9. John Degenkolb (ger) s.t.
10. Ivan Garcia Cortina (spa) s.t.

GC after 2nd stage
1. Arnaud Démare (fra)
2. Gorka Izagirre (spa) + 0.07
3. Christophe Laporte (fra) + 0.08
4. Julian Alaphilippe (fra) + 0.10
5. Mike Teunissen (nld) + 0.13
6. Tim Wellens (bel) s.t.
7. Tony Gallopin (fra) + 0.15
8. Esteban Chaves (col) s.t.
9. Ion Izagirre (spa) s.t.
10. Heinrich Haussler (aus) s.t.

11. Luis León Sánchez (spa) s.t.
12. Marc Soler (spa) s.t.
14. Wout Poels (nld) s.t.
19. Roman Kreuziger (cze) s.t.
20. Simon Yates (gbr) s.t.
21. Daniel Martin (irl) s.t.
25. Sergio Henao (col) s.t.
27. Robert Gesink (nld) s.t.
34. Bauke Mollema (nld) s.t.
48. Warren Barguil (fra) + 0.47
66. Ilnur Zakarin (rus) + 1.32
77. Jakob Fuglsang (den) + 1.51

Race report
The pack remains bunched for until the halfway point. Arnaud Démare grabs the opportunity to win the first intermediate sprint ahead of Julian Alaphilippe and Christophe Laporte. So Démare cements his lead and Alaphilippe becomes the best classified GC contender, especially since he will take 1 more second in the second intermediate sprint.

At km 90 Lars Boom, Oliver Naesen, Thomas De Gendt, Tiago Machado, Manuele Boaro and Anthony Delaplace break away from the bunch. The six race to a maximum lead of 40 seconds, but they are chased down and just before the catch Machado and Boaro push on together. The two widen the gap to 3 minutes before they are caught with 4 kms to go.

In the ensuing sprint Dylan Groenewegen overhauls Sam Bennett before he holds off Elia Viviani and André Greipel with ease.