Saint-Cyr-l'École (France) (AFP)
The Irishman Sam Bennett (Deceuninck) won the 1st stage of Paris-Nice, Sunday at Saint-Cyr-l'Ecole (Yvelines), ahead of the French champion Arnaud Démare.
Sam Bennett, already winner of two stages in the UAE Tour, donned the first yellow jersey of the event which is due to end next Sunday.
The Irishman was clearly ahead of his rivals in the sprint, on an uphill slope, at the end of the 166 kilometers.
Démare, second, was just ahead of the 2019 world champion, the Danish Mads Pedersen.
The race lost on its first day the Australian Richie Porte, one of its former winners (2013 and 2015).
Victim of a fall that occurred before the last 30 kilometers, Porte subsequently retired.
Monday, the second stage promises to be favorable to sprinters again between Oinville-sur-Montcient (Yvelines) and Amilly (Loiret), on a plain course of 188 kilometers often exposed to the wind.
© 2021 AFP