Saintes-Maries-de-la-Mer (France) (AFP)

After 18 months of scarcity, Nacer Bouhanni (Arkéa-Samsic) garnered a second success in a week on the 1st stage of the Tour de la Provence, settled in sprint at Saintes-Maries-de-la-Mer despite fears of wind.

The French sprinter, recruited this winter by the Breton team, outstripped the Italians Jakub Mareczko (CCC) and Giacomo Nizzolo (NTT) to take the lead in the general classification with 4 seconds ahead, thanks to the bonuses, and above all to do the full of confidence after his stage victory on Friday on the Saudi Tour.

In the Camargue, the wind feared since the previous day has deflated. And even if near the open sea, there was no border - the bursting of the peloton into fans due to the gusts.

A scenario apprehended by several teams and in particular the Groupama-FDJ: "Even when there is no wind, in Saintes-Maries, there is always," warned its sports director Philippe Mauduit before the start.

The seven men in blue, white and red monopolized the outposts all afternoon. "To avoid the curbs and especially the falls with this very nervous finish," deciphered Pinot, who seeks to "resume automatisms for the future" after this first day of racing since his abandonment on the Tour in July.

The memory is fresh in the French team of the minute and 40 seconds squandered on arrival at Albi in July. This 10th stage had almost dashed the hopes of the Franc-Comtois, trapped by the wind like several other leaders (Fuglsang, Uran, Landa ...) even before the Pyrenees.

A gap in this aspect of the race that the climber is determined to erase. This is also one of the reasons that pushed him to line up for the first time in his career and soon 30 years on Paris-Nice (March 8-15), known for its gusts of wind.

After this inaugural sprint, the 2nd stage on Friday between Aubagne and La Ciotat (174.9 km) has more than 2,500 m of elevation gain and should create the first gaps with a brutal arrival at the top of the Route des Crêtes (3.4 km at 8%) and its passages at almost 20% conducive to punchers.

© 2020 AFP