Cycling: Tim Merlier won the start of the Paris – Nice long-distance race. The Belgian prevailed in the mass sprint ahead of Ireland's Sam Bennett and Denmark's Mads Pedersen.
Merlier wins, Pogacar tests
He just can't stop. Tadej pogacar (UAE) also attacked on the first stage Paris – Nice, although on the flat stage a bunch sprint was almost certain. The Slovenian not only sprinted six bonus seconds on the 169-kilometer section with start and finish in La Verrière, but also tore the field apart in the last climb. Ultimately, however, it came to the expected mass sprint, that of the Belgians Tim Merlier (Soudal – Quick-Step) ahead of the Irishman Sam Bennett (Bora – hansgrohe) and the Dane Mads pedersen (Trek – Segafredo) won.
Tim Merlier (Soudal-QuickStep) went to Stage 1 of Paris-Niza 2023 #ParisNice #ciclismo #Noticiclismo pic.twitter.com/ybHc8NFLiF
— NotiCiclismo ➡ #TirrenoAdriatico (@Noticiclismo1) March 5, 2023