Races Road Paris-Nice: Démare wins stage 1 in Vendôme By Barry Ryan published 7 March 2016 Matthews maintains overall lead Comments Race Home Stages Prologue 6.1km | Conflans-Sainte-Honorine - Conflans-Sainte-Honorine Stage 1 195km | Condé-sur-Vesgre - Vendôme Stage 2 214km | Contres - Commentry Stage 3 165.5km | Cusset - Mont Brouilly Stage 4 193.5km | Juliénas - Romans-sur-Isère Stage 5 198km | Saint-Paul-Trois-Châteaux - Salon-de-Provence Stage 6 177km | Nice - La Madone d’Utelle Stage 7 141km | Nice - Nice View all Stages Race history Start list Image 1 of 136Arnaud Démare (FDJ) won stage 1 at Paris-NicePierre-Luc Perichon (Fortuneo-Vital Concept) attacks(Image credit: ASO)Tom Dumoulin leading Michael Matthews over the gravel roads(Image credit: ASO)Marcel Kittel struggling on the gravel roads(Image credit: ASO)Pierre Rolland waves from the podium(Image credit: ASO)Tom Boonen gives his take on the stage(Image credit: ASO)Alberto Contador is interviewed on stage(Image credit: ASO)Tony Gallopin waves from the podium(Image credit: ASO)Stage 1 of Paris-Nice gets underway(Image credit: ASO)The breakaway establishes itself early in the stage(Image credit: ASO)The four-man break early in the stage(Image credit: ASO)The break is given the time gap back to the peloton(Image credit: ASO)French champion Steven Tronet (Fortuneo-Vital Concept) and Thierry Hupond (Delko Marseille Provence KTM) lead the breakaway(Image credit: ASO)The breakaway working together in the colder conditions(Image credit: ASO)Snow falls on the breakaway(Image credit: ASO)The break goes under the first spring point in Bonneval(Image credit: ASO)Thomas De Gendt (Lotto-Soudal)(Image credit: ASO)A Lotto Soudal mechanic holding spare wheels in clear sight in case of mechanicals(Image credit: ASO)Passing through the Chemin du Tertre de la Motte(Image credit: ASO)The final sprint for victory(Image credit: ASO)Arnaud Démare (FDJ) celebrating his stage win(Image credit: ASO)Post race interview for Arnaud Démare (FDJ)(Image credit: ASO)Arnaud Démare (FDJ) on the podium(Image credit: ASO)KOM leader Jon Izaguirre (Movistar)(Image credit: ASO)Arnaud Démare (FDJ) winner of stage 1 Paris-NiceArnaud Démare (FDJ) Arnaud Démare (FDJ) stage 1 winner at Paris-NiceArnaud Démare (FDJ) victorious in the stage 1 sprint at Paris-NiceArnaud Démare (FDJ) wins the small group sprint, stage 1 Paris-NiceMichael Matthews (Orica-GreenEdge) ahead of the stage 1 start at Paris-NiceMichael Matthews (Orica-GreenEdge) wearing the leader's jersey Paris-NiceOrica-GreenEdge stage 1 Paris-NiceOrica-GreenEdge lead the peloton at the start of stage 1 Paris-NiceGeorg Preidler (Giant - Alpecin)(Image credit: Bettini)Pieter Serry (Etixx - Quick Step)(Image credit: Bettini)Riders in action on a gravel section during stage 1 at Paris-Nice(Image credit: Bettini)Marko Kump (Lampre - Merida) (Image credit: Bettini)Robert Kiserlovski (Tinkoff)(Image credit: Bettini)Wilco Kelderman (LottoNL-Jumbo) tackles the gravel during stage 1 at Paris-Nice(Image credit: Bettini)Tom Boonen in action during stage 1 at Paris-Nice.(Image credit: Bettini)Tom Boonen in action during stage 1 at Paris-Nice.(Image credit: Bettini)A Lotto rider on a gravel section during stage 1 at Paris-Nice.(Image credit: Bettini)Michael Matthews in yellow on the stage 1 podium at Paris-Nice.(Image credit: Bettini)Philippe Gilbert (BMC) on a gravel section during stage 1 at Paris-Nice.(Image credit: Bettini)Michael Matthews on the stage 1 podium at Paris-Nice.(Image credit: Bettini)Stijn Vandenbergh (Etixx-QuickStep) is helped back on the road.(Image credit: Tim de Waele/TDWSport.com)Etixx-QuickStep's Tom Boonen spends some time with the team car.(Image credit: Tim de Waele/TDWSport.com)Katusha's Pavel Kochetkov, Sergey Lagutin and Ilnur Zakarin(Image credit: Tim de Waele/TDWSport.com)Katusha's Simon Spilak and Cannondale's Andrew Talansky(Image credit: Tim de Waele/TDWSport.com)The peloton in action during stage 1 at Paris-Nice.(Image credit: Tim de Waele/TDWSport.com)Alexander Kristoff during stage 1 at Paris-Nice.(Image credit: Tim de Waele/TDWSport.com)Riders bundled up against the cold during stage 1 at Paris-Nice(Image credit: Tim de Waele/TDWSport.com)Katusha's Jacopo Guarnieri (Image credit: Tim de Waele/TDWSport.com)Etixx-QuickStep's Fabio Sabatini(Image credit: Tim de Waele/TDWSport.com)Katusha's Sergey Lagutin(Image credit: Tim de Waele/TDWSport.com)BMC's Ben Hermans(Image credit: Tim de Waele/TDWSport.com)Daryl Impey looking after race leader Michael Matthews (Orica-GreenEdge)(Image credit: Tim de Waele/TDWSport.com)Michael Matthews (Orica-GreenEdge) held onto yellow during stage 1 at Paris-Nice(Image credit: Tim de Waele/TDWSport.com)Snow falls on the peloton during stage 1 at Paris-Nice.(Image credit: Tim de Waele/TDWSport.com)Snow falls on the peloton during stage 1 at Paris-Nice.(Image credit: Tim de Waele/TDWSport.com)BMC's Marcus Burghardt back in action in France.(Image credit: Tim de Waele/TDWSport.com)Michael Matthews (Orica-GreenEdge) held onto yellow during stage 1 at Paris-Nice(Image credit: Tim de Waele/TDWSport.com)The peloton in action during stage 1 at Paris-Nice.(Image credit: Tim de Waele/TDWSport.com)Alberto Contador is bundled up against the cold during stage 1 at Paris-Nice.(Image credit: Tim de Waele/TDWSport.com)Etixx-QuickStep in the feedzone during stage 1 of Paris-Nice.(Image credit: Tim de Waele/TDWSport.com)AG2R in the feedzone during stage 1 of Paris-Nice.(Image credit: Tim de Waele/TDWSport.com)The peloton makes its way through the French countryside during Paris-Nice.(Image credit: Tim de Waele/TDWSport.com)A BMC rider gets service at the team car.(Image credit: Tim de Waele/TDWSport.com)Riders attack on the gravel roads during stage 1 at Paris-Nice(Image credit: Tim de Waele/TDWSport.com)The peloton rides on the gravel roads during stage 1 at Paris-Nice(Image credit: Tim de Waele/TDWSport.com)The gravel section at Paris-Nice caused some chaos.(Image credit: Tim de Waele/TDWSport.com)The peloton rides on the gravel roads during stage 1 at Paris-Nice(Image credit: Tim de Waele/TDWSport.com)Alexander Kristoff during stage 1 at Paris-Nice(Image credit: Tim de Waele/TDWSport.com)A team mechanic holds wheels for riders in the gravel section during stage 1 at Paris-Nice(Image credit: Tim de Waele/TDWSport.com)Tom Boonen in action during stage 1 at Paris-Nice.(Image credit: Tim de Waele/TDWSport.com)Andre Greipel covers the gravel during stage 1 at Paris-Nice.(Image credit: Tim de Waele/TDWSport.com)Mikael Cherel (AG2R La Mondiale)(Image credit: Tim de Waele/TDWSport.com)Ben Gastauer (AG2R La Mondiale)(Image credit: Tim de Waele/TDWSport.com)