Paris-Nice 2021: Bennett sprints to first yellow jersey

Results 1st stage Paris-Nice 2021

1. Sam Bennett (irl)
2. Mads Pedersen (den) s.t.
3. Arnaud Démare (fra) s.t.
4. Jasper Philipsen (bel) s.t.
5. Brian Cocquard (fra) s.t.
6. Pascal Ackermann (ger) s.t.
7. Phil Bauhaus (ger) s.t.
8. Christophe Laporte (fra) s.t.
9. André Greiper (ger) s.t.
10. Rudy Barbier (fra) s.t.

GC after stage 1
1. Sam Bennett (irl)
2. Arnaud Démare (fra) + 0.04
3. Michael Matthews (aus) + 0.05
4. Mads Pedersen (den) + 0.06
5. Ben Swift (gbr) + 0.09
6. Jasper Philipsen (bel) + 0.10
7. Brian Cocquard (fra) s.t.
8. Pascal Ackermann (ger) s.t.
9. Phil Bauhaus (ger) s.t.
10. Christophe Laporte (fra) s.t.

Race report
Fabien Doubey attacks after 16.5 kilometres and the 27-year old Frenchman opens up a gap of 5 minutes.

With 50 kilometres remaining the lead has fallen below 1 minute, and Philippe Gilbert, Stefano Oldani, Antony Perez and Christopher Lawless bridge across.

The attackers are brought back 27 kilometres before the finish. A next attack by Kobe Goosens is neutralised as well, while an attempt by Latour, Kragh Andersen, Teuns, Cattaneo, De la Cruz, Gautier and Sbaragli ends 11 kilometres before the finish.

Pascal Ackermann opens the sprint, but he fades away, while Sam Bennett follows the opposite path. The Irishman claims the race with a powerfull and well-timed performance. Obviously, he is the first GC leader.

Another interesting read: route 1st stage 2021 Paris-Nice.

Paris-Nice 2021 stage 1: route, profiles, more

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