Welcome to Paris (kind of, we’re actually in Orsonville some km outside of the actual city) for the first stage of this year’s Race to the Sun. It’s one for the sprinters to get the race going before we could have the first GC relevant hilly stage tomorrow. This year the whole profile is one for the puncheurs who can also TT a bit as we don’t have a single mountain stage on offer.
It took well into the stage until two riders were able to get away from the peloton. Poljanec and Weiss are the lucky ones.
Poljanec easily wins the first intermediate sprint.
Farantakis wins the sprint for 3rd from the peloton.
The break is over with 25 km to go. The next sprint point is 11 km away.
Bonifazio is the fastest there. Groves and Farantakis take the remaining points.
The late intermediate sprint messed up the preparation for the finale. Groenewegen has his helpers in front but is still trying to get their wheels.
It’s getting even messier with 2.7 km to go. Farantakis in around 8th position is the placed sprinter at the moment.
We had some nice leadouts so far this season and when coming round the last corner the teams finally get it right. The best positions have Aniolkowski, Groves (with Bonifazio on his wheel) and Groenewegen. Hsu has some room to gain positions on the right, he’s bringing Rodenberg with him.
Aniolkowski on the left is the first to launch his sprint with 700 m to go. He has Groves on his wheel. The only other sprint captain in the front row is Groenewegen on the far right with Hsu on his wheel. Everyone else will pray the leadouts in the middle of the road get out of the way soon.
Aniolkowski is still in the lead with 300 m to go.
And he brings it home!
Groves beats Groenewegen for 2nd. Yates finishes in 4th. Hsu, Zingle, Kalaba, Bonifazio, Farantakis and Banaszek complete the top 10.
Congratulations to Aniolkowski who once again shows how good a sprinter he is!
Weiss is rewarded for his breakaway attempt with the white jersey.
[PT] Paris - Nice 
