Groenewegen wins Paris-Nice stage 2, Demare in the lead
VIERZON, France (AP) Dylan Groenewegen of the Netherlands overpowered his fellow sprinters in the final section to win the second stage of the Paris-Nice on Monday.
The Lotto-Jumbo rider claimed his first stage victory in the weeklong race ahead of Elia Viviani of Italy. Andre Greipel of Germany completed the podium in the town of Vierzon.
French rider Andre Demare, who won the first stage, finished fifth and kept the leader's jersey, with a seven-second lead over Gorka Izagirre of Spain.
''The stage was fairly easy but it was a hard sprint with a small climb toward the end. It's really nice to beat the other favorites,'' Groenewegen said.
It was Groenewegen's fifth victory this season.
Viviani's Quick Step teammates set up the sprint in the finale but a split in the bunch thwarted their collective effort and the Italian could not match Groenewegen's power.
