As it happened: Bunch sprint decides crash-marred Paris-Nice stage two

Hello and welcome to stage two of Paris-Nice. 

You join us for what is expected to be another day for the sprinters at Paris-Nice, with a flat parcours featuring only a couple of small categorised climbs.

Matters are rarely that straightforward at Paris-Nice, however. The exposed roads that this stage takes place on are often affected by strong winds, and has in past editions produced echelon racing and crosswind chaos.

Will that be the case today? While conditions certainly aren’t ideal, with rain in the air and cold temperatures, there are no signs of any strong winds yet.

Here's the scene from Montesson at the stage's start. 

And here are the riders at the start of the neutralised zone. They will be officially racing soon.

We’re down one rider at the start today. Kasper Asgreen fell ill overnight and has decided to pull out. It’s been a quiet start to life at EF Education-EasyPost for the Dane, who moved from Soudal-QuickStep this year.

184KM TO GO

And they're off!

Three riders have attacked, including two of them who were up the road yesterday: Alexandre Delettre (Team TotalEnergies) and Samuel Fernández (Caja Rural - Seguros RGA).

This time they’re accompanied not by Taco Van der Hoorn, but another renowned breakaway specialist of similar calibre - Jonas Abrahamsen, who was the star of the breakaways at last year’s Tour de France.

The peloton seems happy to let this one go, and have allowed them a lead of over a minute already.

One rider who isn't happy though is Bert Van Lerberghe. He's also attacked out the peloton and is trying to bridge up. 

Van Lerberghe's efforts are short-lived. He's back in the peloton.

A flat tyre for Josh Tarling in the peloton, but he'll expend no energy rejoining with the pace in the peloton low.

170KM TO GO

The peloton has allowed the leading trio a lead of three minutes. 

Delettre is wearing the polka-dot jersey in the break today, having claimed the most mointains points yesterday. Here he is collecting his prize yesterday.

Whereas yesterday’s parcours was rolling, this one is much flatter. Though there are a couple of categorised climbs, neither are much longer than a kilometre, and there’s barely a lump in the road elsewhere.

The first of those climbs, Côte des Mesnuls, is coming up in about 10km.

160KM TO GO

As they were yesterday, the peloton is being careful not to let this break get too big a gap. Having let it grow out to 3 minutes, they've brought them back to closer to 2-30.

Here's the break being formed a little earlier. As you can tell from their attire, it's cold out there today. 

The gap's come down some more now, to 2-15.

The road is about to tilt uphill as they near Côte des Mesnuls. The official climb only lasts 1.2km (at a manageable 5.6%), but it does drag for a few kilometres before then.

150KM TO GO

They're on the climb now, and the gap between the leaders and the peloton is 2-30.

CÔTE DES MESNULS

The leaders have crested the climb, and Delettre has increased his lead in the KOM classification by being first over the line ahead of Abrahamsen and Fernández. 

Here’s the updated KOM classification:

1 Alexandre Delettre (9 points)

2 Samuel Fernández (5 points)

3 Matteo Jorgenson (3 points)

4 Julian Alaphilippe (2 points)

5 Jonas Abrahamsen (2 points)

6 Taco Van der Horn (2 points)

7 Florian Lipowitz (1 point)

Grey skies at Paris-Nice today.

140KM TO GO

2-15 currently is the gap. The race is in a holding pattern. 

Soudal-QuickStep are leading the peloton, controlling matters for their sprinter Tim Merlier. Merlier is aiming for a second victory in two days, and a sixth of the season, after comfortably winning yesterday’s sprint. At this rate, it’d take a brave punter to bet against him.

Paris-Nice isn’t the only World Tour stage race happening today. Over in Italy, it’s the opening day of Tirreno-Adriatico, where the likes of Adam Yates, Juan Ayuso and Filippo Ganna are duking it out in a time trial. You can follow all the action here.

CÔTE DE LA VILLENEUVE

The riders are now on the second and final categorised climb of the day, Côte de la Villeneuve. It's easier than the last, climbing at just 3.5% for 1km.

Once again Delettre takes the points, from Abrahamsen and Fernández.

130KM TO GO

Their lead has come down a little more, to 1-50.

Here are the updated KOM standings, which, with no more climbs to come, will remain the same come the end of the stage (provided nobody DNFs). Delettre is all set to be in polka-dots again tomorrow. 

1 Alexandre Delettre (12 points)

2 Samuel Fernández (6 points)

3 Jonas Abrahameon (4 points)

4 Matteo Jorgenson (3 points)

5 Julian Alaphilippe (2 points)

6 Taco van der Hoorn (2 points)

1 Florian Lipowitz (1 point)

The three riders in the break. This is a cold day to be out off the front of the race, though the extra effort being made may have the advantage of keeping them warmer.

120KM TO GO

Just 1-20 now for the three leaders over the peloton. This is playing out in much the same way as yesterday's stage, with the break not being granted much of an advantage by a peloton determined to keep things under control. 

Here’s Tim Merlier in the yellow jersey, earned after winning yesterday’s stage. The Belgian has a fine habit of winning the first bunch sprint of races - can he make it back-to-back victories today?

110KM TO GO

Still the gap remains steady, at about 1-20.

Wearing the green jersey on loan from Tim Merlier, having placed second in yesterday’s sprint, is Arnaud Démare. That impressive sprint shows he’s in great form again, and could be poised for a first win since September last year - and first at World Tour level since 2022.

As the race continues in it's relaxed, uneventful state, the gap is now being reported at nearer to two minutes again, at 1-50.

Danny van Poppel has abandoned the race. That’s unfortunate for the Red Bull-Bora Hansgrohe rider, who looked in great shape leading out Sam Welsford at the Tour Down Under bunch sprints, and had the chance to sprint for himself here.

100KM TO GO

The gap's come down some more as we enter the final 100km, to 1-20.

One rider hoping for better fortunes today is Mads Pedersen. The Dane finished down in 12th yesterday having been one of the favorites for the stage win, and afterwards, in his typically frank fashion, criticised his teammates for making mistakes in the lead-out.

Pedersen’s travails have not discouraged his Lidl-Trek team today. Here they are pulling at the front of the peloton.

90KM TO GO

The riders have passed the stage's halfway point, and the gap remains steady at about 1-20.

The trio's lead has dipped below one minute for the first time in a while.

The peloton is being led by one Lidl-Trek rider, and one Soudal-QuickStep rider, with a swarm of yellow Visma-Lease a Bike riders behind. 

Of those Visma riders, Victor Campanaerts is having a chat with some others. That he is able to to despite being so close to the front of the peloton confirms how calm things are. 

80KM TO GO

The gap's grown back to over a minute, but only just - it's at 1-03 as we enter 80km to go.

Here are those aforementioned Visma riders near the front of the peloton, surrounding and protecting their leader and race favourite Jonas Vingegaard. This has been a simple day for the Dane, which would not have been the case had the wind blown. 

It’s slow enough in the peloton for several riders to take comfort breaks. 

70KM TO GO

The gap's holding steady, at about a minute still.

A mechanical for Nicolas Vinokurov, Alexander's 22-year-old son who's competing for his Astana.

It was a slow bike change for Vinokourov, leaving him 1-40 behind the peloton. But that won't be a problem so long as the pace remains this slow.

Here’s Jonas Vingegaard in the peloton, who had some interesting things to say in an interview with Nieuwsblad. He indicated that he would not let his children take up bike racing, on account of it being too dangerous - something he knows all too well, having feared for his life after falling at last year’s Basque Country Tour horror crash.

Vingegaard has also talked about Visma-Lease a Bike’s strategy at Paris-Nice, downplaying potential tension between himself and defending champion Matteo Jorgenson, who yesterday picked up some bonus seconds. He described their relationship as ‘excellent’, and described himself as ‘not a selfish guy who only thinks of himself’.

“If he gets into a more promising position than me, I will gladly sacrifice myself."

60KM TO GO

Things are livening up now, as some jostling for position takes place. The breakaway riders have felt this change - their lead is now a mere 20 seconds.

Lidl, Visma, Ineos and Soudal are the four teams most prominent.

The pace is really up in the peloton now, as they fight for position ahead of a tight corner. 

As a consequence of this tension, a Guillame Martin has gone down going around that corner. 

Martin is back up with a new bike, and making his way back to the peloton. 

The peloton can see the break now, who will be caught soon.

Fernández has attacked the others, but he's only delaying the inevitable. 

Delettre has sat up and is back in the peloton, but Abrahamsen is fighting him.

Now Abrahamsen rides away from Fernández. He clearly wants to combativity award too. 

Fernández is back in the peloton, leaving just Abrahamsen out in front. 

50KM TO GO

Abrahamsen is actually going quicker now the other two have gone. He's building the lead again, up to 30 seconds. 

Martin is back in the peloton, aided by another decrease in the pace. 

CRASH

Big crash in the peloton.

Lots of riders have been held up, including the yellow jersey. But only a few have hit the deck hard. 

Samuel Leroux was the first man to go down, near the front of the peloton. He was also one of the hardest down, but is back up on his bike.

Florian Sénéchal is still seated on the ground however, and looks like he might be about to abandon. 

Lots of big names were held up by that crash, and are having to make their way to the peloton. Among them are Arnaud Démare, Santiago Buitrago and Lenny Martinez.

 Sénéchal is leaving the race.

Many of the riders held up by the crash are now back in the peloton.

40KM TO GO

Out ahead, meanwhile, Abrahamsen has grown his lead to over one minute, to 1-15. He could be out for a while longer yet, given how powerful a rider he is. 

Here's Abrahamsen out on his own. 

Arnaud Démare is the latest rider to get back into the peloton from that crash. He's in contention, but will be done a lead-out man following the withdrawal of Sénéchal.

The peloton is still reorganising itself post-crash. Merlier is out the back in the cars having taken a comfort break, while they’ve now fallen 1-25 behind Abrahamsen.

Here's the peloton a little earlier, during one of the fights for position ahead of a corner. 

30KM TO GO

The peloton can’t afford to leave it too late to chase down Abrahamsen. He still has a lead of 1-25 and is still looking strong.

Bike change for Lorenzo Milesi in the peloton.

The gap's getting bigger rather than smaller, and is now up to 1-30. Surely Abrahamsen can't pull off a surprise?

Abrahamsen is still making life hard for the peloton, retaining a lead of 1-30. 25km to go. 

Interestingly, in an interview recorded before the stage, Tim Merlier revealed that he struggles to sleep the night after a bunch sprint - which may explain why he so often wins the first bunch sprint of a stage race, but isn’t so strong in the following stages.

The peloton is at last making some inroads on Abrahamsen. His lead has dropped from 1-30 to 1-10 over the last few kilometres. 

20KM TO GO

Now his lead dips below one minute for the first time in a while, as he crosses the finish line for the first time. It's unlikey he'll still be out in front when he next crosses it

Some activity in the peloton as they approach the bell - there are bonus seconds available here.

Visma-Lease a Bike are leading it out.

Jorgenson wins the sprint - that's another four seconds he's gained. 

While he was sprinting for the seconds, further down the peloton was another crash. Two riders are down and clutching their shoulders - one of them is Luke Durbridge.

And now a PicnicPostNL rider has gone down going round a corner. He's back up though and chasing. 

The initial crash has caused some splits in the peloton.

Caja Rural's Gorka Sorarrain was the other rider down with Durbridge, while Barguil was the PicnicPostNL rider to fall after. 

Some big GC names have been caught out in the split - Almeida and Skjelmose are in a group chasing the peloton.

Gall and Romeo are also in this group.

O'Connor is also chasing, in a small group between those chaers behind him and the peloton.

These riders should all be OK, as the peloton aren't pressing on.

They still have Abrahamsen to catch, but amid all this activity, his lead has been drastically cut to a much more manageable 15 seconds.

Here are the results from the intermediate sprint. Mick van Dijke actually pipped Jorgenson at the line, meaning the American gains two rather than four seconds.

1 Jonas Abrahamsen 

2 Mick van Dijke

3 Matteo Jorgenson

Confirmation coming through that Durbridge has DNFed.

The pace is down in the peloton, and all those riders GC riders who were distenced are back. 

That's also allowed Abrahamsen to grow out his lead a little again, back up to 25 seconds.

10KM TO GO

Over 30 seconds again now for Abrahamsen. No team is taking responsibility to bring him back. 

Here's the crash that occured during the intermediate sprint.

With 8km to go, the gap's still not coming down. It's at 33 seconds. 

7km to go, it's still 31 seconds. 

There are teams at the front now setting a fast pace, including Visma-Lease a Bike, but they aren't making any inroads. 

The peloton is safely around the last sharp corner of the race. The final 6km is a long, straight run-in to the finish.

5KM TO GO

Soudal-QuickStep are on the front, and now the gap is starting to come down. It's at 24 seconds with 5km to go.

They're bearing down on Abrahamsen now, and are just 15 seconds away with 4km to go. This is surely going to be a sprint.

With 3km to go, the catch is about to be made.

That's it, Abrahamsen has been caught Chapeau, that was some effort.

2km to go, and lots of teams are neck-and-neck at the front of the peloton.

1KM TO GO

Final kilometre, still no one team in control.

Soudal move to the front.

Merlier sprints...

...Merlier wins!

TIM MERLIER WINS

Axel Zingle began the sprint from far our, with Merlier fourth in line. But when Merlier began his sprint he passed Demare, Pedersen and Zingle to take the win. 

Emilien Jeannière was second, Huge Page third.

Pedersen was much better positioned this time, but still faded to fourth after Merlier came around him.

That's two in two for Merlier then, a fourth successive bunch sprint victory following his back-to-back wins at the UAE Tour, and a 6th win of the season already. This is turning into a seriously good season for the Belgian, and it's getting hard to argue that he isn't the best sprinter in the world. 

Behind Merlier, second-place is a really good result for Emilien Jeannière. He looked delighted in a post-race interview, and this result continues a strong start to the season that has already seen him podium at Clasica de Almeria and Ename Samyn Classic. 

Huge Page is less happy with his third-place finish. He states in his post-race interview that he could have done his sprint better.

Not only did Merlier win again, he's the only rider from the top five yesterday to make the top five again today. His closest challengers from yesterday,  Démare, Dainese and Molano, were all some way down this time. 

News coming through that Page has been relegated from the sprint. That means Pedersen is bumped up from fourth to third. 

Thanks for joining us today. We'll be back tomorrow for a stage that won't be won by Tim Merlier - at least, not as an individual. It's the team time trial, and will be the first significant GC day of the race.