Stage winner Germany’s Andre Greipel celebrates on the podium after winning the second stage of the 73rd edition of the Paris-Nice cycling race between the Beauval zoo in Saint-Aignan and Saint-Amand-Montrond yesterday. (AFP)
AFP/Paris
Germany’s Andre Greipel won a sprint finish to the second stage of Paris-Nice yesterday with Polish world champion Michal Kwiatkowski holding onto the leader’s yellow jersey.
In what was a largely straight-forward 172-kilometre run down from the ZooParc at Beauval near Paris, the only breakaway bid came from Frenchman Arnaud Gerard. He kept the lead for 134 kilometres, but was easily reeled in by the peloton setting up the sprint finish.
Greipel dominated that to take the win ahead of Frenchman Arnaud Demare, with another German cyclist John Degenkolb taking third place ahead of Michael Matthews of Australia.
“Paris-Nice is a big race and it usually has quite a few top sprinters,” Greipel said. “I hadn’t competed in it for several years, so I am delighted.
“I was feeling sick for a few days but made a quick recovery because I was already doing well in the Tour of the Algarve (February).”
Kwiatkowski said that he had been surprised there had not been more attacks in the race so far but was delighted to be able to hold onto the lead.
The Race to the Sun continues today with a 179 kilometre stage from Saint-Amand-Montrond to Saint-Pourçain-sur-Sioule.
Contador staying at Tinkoff-Saxo till 2016
Two-time Tour de France winner Alberto Contador yesterday announced that he would extend his contract for a further year with the Tinkoff-Saxo team.
The Spaniard’s current contract with the team expires at the end of this season, but the 32-year-old will ride for an extra season before retiring.
“Hello all, happy to anounce that in 2016 will continue being rider of tinkoff saxo.!!!,” Contador wrote on his official Twitter account.
“I’m very happy that Alberto will lead Tinkoff-Saxo in 2016 as well, because I truly believe he is the best cyclist in the world and I am convinced he will continue to be so for a few more years,” said the team’s owner Oleg Tinkov in a statement. “Unfortunately, he decided he would retire at the end of next year which means he will race with my team for two full seasons. I would have, obviously, preferred him to stay longer but that was his personal decision.
“However, I am very proud that Alberto’s impressive career will conclude in my team and I hope he takes the Tinkoff-Saxo colours to the top step of the Tour de France podium in 2015 and 2016.”
Climb specialist Contador, who has won all three major tours, is due to take part in this week’s Tirreno-Adriatico stage race in Italy which starts today.
His main rivals in that will be reigning Tour de France champion Vincenzo Nibali and Giro d’Italia champion the Colombian climber Nairo Quintana, while Contador won the Tour of Spain last season. Contador is among the favourites for the 2015 Tour de France, which begins on July 4 in Utrecht. He previously won cycling’s biggest prize in 2007 and 2009 as well as the Tour of Spain in 2008, 2012 and 2014 and the Tour of Italy in 2008.
