Paris-Nice

Many were expecting strong winds and possibly echelons at the start of the second stage, but what they got in the end was one of the most quiet and uneventful stages in recent memory. The first attacks came from the gun, but the two riders that got away managed to stay up the road for some odd 15 kilometers before being reeled in.

A bit later, another rider tried his chance and opened a 40-second gap before the peloton brought him back. From that moment on, the leg between Thoiry and Montargis was a long and slow procession, which came to life only in the final ten kilometers. A series of roundabouts made things more nervous, but in the end a bunch sprint decided the winner, who was Arvid de Kleijn (Tudor Pro Cycling).

Remco Evenepoel came home with the peloton and remained fifth in the general classification ahead of the team time trial in Auxerre, which promises to reshuffle the standings and create some significant gaps between the yellow jersey contenders.

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