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Paris-Nice Stage 2 – Live coverage

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(Image credit: ASO / Paris-Nice)

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Barguil disqualified from Paris-Nice for drafting

Nibali loses time but survives first test at Paris-Nice

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Hello and welcome to our live coverage of stage 2 of Paris-Nice, which runs 166.5km from Chevreuse to Chalette-sur-Loing.

It should be one for the sprinters today. There are three classified climbs in the first half of the stage but the final 45km is pretty much pan flat.

It looks like it could be another windy day out there as the peloton head south down central France. Here's Lotto Soudal sprinter Caleb Ewan's opinion on the stage.

Today's stage kicks off in 20 minutes.

Max Schachmann (Bora-Hansgrohe) won yesterday's opening stage after attacking late on with Dylan Teuns to catch Tiesj Benoot and Julian Alaphilippe, who had attacked earlier on. Read our report here.

Of course, the other big news of the day was the disqualification of French champion Warren Barguil. The Arkéa-Samsic man was caught in a crash mid-stage, and later drafted his team car while attempting to make it back to the peloton.

166km remaining

162km remaining

Heavy rain at the start.

Hivert and Díaz arer over a minute up the road now.

150km remaining

Find out how to watch the race with our handy guide.

Here's our latest pro bike feature – from one of the men who was on the attack yesterday, Tiesj Benoot.

131km remaining

Some coronavirus updates related to the race coming through...

114km remaining

The rain has now started up again as the break approaches the day's second climb. Their advantage is down to 1:45.

Our latest 'Introducing' feature is about Deceuninck-QuickStep neo-pro Ian Garrison. Read our Q&A with the American below.

99km remaining

Race organisation have confirmed the measure reported earlier – that the race will be held 'behind closed doors' with a buffer zone between public and riders.

The two breakaway men are closing in on the third and final climb of the day, another third-category hill – the Cote du Pressoir.

And yes, it's another four points for Hivert over the top.

A shot of the two-man break in the awful conditions earlier on today.

77km remaining

Bora-Hansgrohe lead the peloton.

65km remaining

And now it's over for the break, after just over 100km out front. There's only one intermediate sprint between now and the finish to fight for in any case.

60km remaining

55km remaining

A look at the moment the break was caught.

50km remaining

44km remaining

Now it's Groupama-FDJ in control as the crosswinds threaten over the next few kilometres.

Teams are trying their best to force something in the exposed areas, but it looks like the wind isn't fierce enough to blow the race up.

33km remaining

A number of riders have missed a split at the rear of the peloton.

A group of around 15-20 have dropped back.

Several small groups chase the peloton.

28km remaining

Sam Bennett is among another group to get dropped from the peloton.

The wind has really picked up here with echelons forming.

Nairo Quintana has just been caught in a crash and drops away from the lead peloton. He takes a bike from his brother and teammate Dayer. Diego Rosa drops back to try and help him get back.

Qunintana and Alaphilippe are in the same group, chasing a minute down on the lead grroup. The race has shattered.

See more

19km remaining

The lead group is only around 30-35 riders. Nibali, race leader Schachmann, Romain Bardet, Sergio Higuita and Thibaut Pinot are among the big names up there.

45 seconds between the Quintana-Alaphilippe group (the third on the road) and the leaders. Tiesj Benoot is also in that chase group.

14km remaining

Some names in the lead group: Pinot, Küng; Stuyven, Pedersen, Nibali; Vanmarcke, Higuita; Viviani; Sagan, Ackermann, Schachmann; Bardet; Matthews; Politt, Würtz Schmidt; Nizzolo

10km remaining

Sagan, Ackermann, Schachmann, Stuyven, Nibali, Higuita are among the riders in the front group.

8km remaining

Quintana and Alaphilippe are 1:25 down now.

15 seconds between the first two groups.

3km remaining

Pedersen drops back after his work on the front.

17 seconds between the front two groups.

1km remaining

Bora and ISN open the sprint.

Sagan leads out Ackermann.

Nizzolo comes from behind Ackermann as the German runs out of gas.

Nizzolo takes the win!

The NTT man takes victory ahead of Ackermann and Stuyven.

Nibali and Schachmann lost three seconds to Higuita at the end there as the group split during the sprint.

Quintana and Alaphilippe trail in 1:26 down.

Stage 2 result

General classification after stage 2

Here's what Nizzolo had to say after the finish.

Nizzolo wins the sprint to the line.

EF Pro Cycling had a good day. Here's team boss Jonathan Vaughters on the stage.

Race leader Max Schachmann had another good day at Paris-Nice. Here's what he had to say after the finish.

And here's world champion Mads Pedersen, who put in a lot of work in the wind today.

Our brief race report with a photo gallery and stage results are up. Click here to look.

Keep checking the site through the evening for more news and reaction from stage 2 of Paris-Nice.

That's all from us today. Come back tomorrow for more live coverage of Paris-Nice!

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