The Danish Mads Pedersen (Trek Segafredo) became the new leader of the Paris-Nice on Monday by winning the sprint in the second stage, played between the French towns of Bazainville and Fontainebleau over 163.7 kilometers.
Pedersen (Tollose, 27 years old), who inherited the world champion's rainbow jersey from Alejandro Valverde in 2019, was the fastest in the finish by speed. He prevailed with a time of 3h29m67s, at an average of 47 km/h, ahead of the 21-year-old Dutchman Olav Kooij (Jumbo Visma) and another Dane, Magnus Cort (EF Education).
In a long, chaotic and messy finish, which included a fall 500 meters from the finish line, the favorites entered with the same time, and already watched weapons for the team time trial on Tuesday, which will begin to clarify the general.
A more ambitious day, the Slovenian Tadej Pogacar shaved 6 seconds in the intermediate sprint at La Chapelle-la-Reine, so he already has a small cushion of 12 seconds against Jonas Vingegaard in their duel for the yellow jersey.
Provisionally, Pedersen put on the leader's jersey with 2 seconds over Pogacar and 4 over the Belgian and winner of the first stage, the Belgian Tim Merlier (Soudal Quick Step).
A flat day and favorable for sprinting, in which a wind was feared that was never dangerous, although some fans were tried. Only two tacks along the way, the Cote de Granges-le-Roi (3rd), 1.4 km at 4.3%, and the Cote de Méréville (3rd), 860 meters at 4.4%.
The stage was enlivened by the king of the mountains, the Danish Jonas Gregaard (Uno X Pro Cycling), a brave loner who, oblivious to the wind, began to dream of something unattainable. The candy was going to be for the sprinters, whose teams brought down the adventure 53 kilometers from the finish line, when the Nordic cyclist gave up.
The platoon already rolled en bloc to Fontainebleau, at high speed, which prevented the fugitives from cheering up. At 12 from the finish line, Pogacar came on stage, with another warning for his rivals. He fought for the 6 second bonus and in the fight he beat a sprinter like Michel Matthews.
Pogacar wants the "Carrera del Sol" and he doesn't waste any crumbs, especially assuming that his team, the UAE Emirates, will lose time in time trial against Vingegaard's Jumbo Visma.
This Tuesday the favorites will have the first fight in the common effort of squads. The Tour-winning Dane will have the option to warn his number one enemy. The battle is served.
This Tuesday comes one of the key days of Paris Nice with the team time trial between Dampierre-en-Burly and Dampierre-en-Burly, with a 32.2 km route where differences can be opened between the men in the general.
