The organizers of Paris-Nice are doing without a prologue and further time trials this year and want to liven up the race above all with an exciting course of the stages. The first part of the day around Mantes-La-Jolie caused a lot of action in the field, especially in the last kilometers.
The race was initially marked by an early escape attempt by Frenchman Christophe Laborie (Brittany-Seche), which never had any chance of success. The field was already together a good twenty kilometers before the finish line when a fall split the peloton in two. Among others, John Degenkolb (Giant-Shimano), Gianni Meersman (Omega Pharma-QuickStep) and the eventual winner Nacer Bouhanni (FDJ.fr) were lucky.
The three fast drivers were able to stay in the lead in the slipstream of their colleagues. In the last few kilometers it was mainly Giant-Shimano who provided the pace in the field. Degenkolb was promising up to the 500 meter mark in the race. However, he was then unable to parry a maneuver by Bouhannis. He tried to get past him from his slipstream and to stand up to the Frenchman. However, he did not succeed in this, nor did Meersman, who had previously opened the sprint.
Bouhanni thus also takes over the overall lead. As in the daily classification, Degenkolb follows in second place.
Result
1. Nacer Bouhanni (FDJ.fr) 3:53:11
2. John Degenkolb (Giant Shimano) 0:00:00
3. Gianni Meersman (Omega Pharma-QuickStep) 0:00:00
4. Jose Joaquin Rojas Gil (Movistar) 0:00:00
5. Tyler Farrar (Garmin Sharp) 0:00:00
Total
1. Nacer Bouhanni (FDJ.fr) 3:53:01
2. Gianni Meersman (Omega Pharma-QuickStep) 0:00:01
3. John Degenkolb (Giant Shimano) 0:00:04
4. Greg Van Avermaet (BMC) 0:00:08
5. Geraint Thomas (Sky) 0:00:09
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