Tim Merlier wins the first stage of the Paris Nice with start and finish in La Verrière , of 169.4 km.

The Belgian outsprinted Sam Bennett and Mads Pedersen.

With 12 km to go, Powless tries a long stretch which, however, is reached five kilometers later. On the occasion of the last flying finish line, 5.5 km from the finish, Tadej Pogacar sprints for the bonus seconds and takes Latour and Vingegaard with him. Pogacar, but the three are taken back thanks to the work of Soudal Quick Step.  

Merlier prevails in the sprint and leaves no way out for his opponents. To underline the fourth place of Kooij and the fifth of De Lie, while no Italian is placed in the top ten.

ARRIVAL ORDER:

1 MERLIER Tim Soudal - Quick Step

2 BENNETT Sam BORA - hansgrohe ,,

3 PEDERSEN Mads Trek - Segafredo ,,

4 KOOIJ Olav Jumbo-Visma ,,

5 DE LIE Arnaud Lotto Dstny ,,

6 MATTHEWS Michael Team Jayco AlUla ,,

7 COQUARD Bryan Cofidis ,,

8 GARCÍA CORTINA Iván Movistar Team ,,

9 GROVES Kaden Alpecin-Deceuninck ,,

10 DÉMARE Arnaud Groupama - FDJ ,,

Photo: Sprint Cycling Agency