Mads Pedersen wins chaotic sprint on Stage 2 of Paris-Nice

Former world champion Mads Pedersen won a chaotic mass bunch sprint for the finish line at Fontainebleau on Monday to take stage two of the Paris-Nice and claim the overall lead

The 'Race to the Sun' dashes from Paris down the Rhone valley to the French Riviera and its eight stages pack in a variety of challenges and terrain and is seen as a mini Tour de France.

Monday's second stage ended outside Fontainebleau gardens and a crash just ahead of the finale smashed what should have been a regular bunch sprint, as Pedersen took advantage to sprint early and edge out Jumbo's Olav Kooij and another Dane Magnus Cort.

Team UAE Emirates superstar Tadej Pogacar showed his maverick side again bursting out of the peloton at 74km to win a six second bonus in an intermediate sprint for a second consecutive day that leaves the Slovenian second in the overall rankings.

The race pitches Pogacar against Tour de France champion Jonas Vingegaard, supported by Australian Rohan Dennis and the powerful Jumbo outfit.

Paris-Nice presents a rare team time-trial in open wind-exposed plains Tuesday, with entire teams racing together against the clock over a 32km route likely to produce gaps in the standings.

The race then continues its road south through the Rhone Valley and its hilly surroundings before two mountain stages around Riviera city Nice.

VIDEO: 2023 Paris-Nice Stage 2 Highlights

2023 Paris-Nice Stage 2 Top 10

1  PEDERSEN Mads Trek - Segafredo 3:28:57
2  KOOIJ Olav Jumbo-Visma 0:00
3  CORT Magnus EF Education-EasyPost 0:00
4  MCLAY Daniel Team Arkéa Samsic 0:00
5  TAMINIAUX Lionel Alpecin-Deceuninck 0:00
6  MATTHEWS Michael Team Jayco AlUla 0:00
7  VAN DEN BERG Marijn EF Education-EasyPost 0:00
8  BOL Cees Astana Qazaqstan Team 0:00
9  RENARD Alexis Cofidis 0:00
10  DÉMARE Arnaud Groupama - FDJ 0:00

2023 Paris-Nice GC after Stage 2

1  PEDERSEN Mads Trek - Segafredo 7:19:35
2  POGACAR Tadej UAE Team Emirates 0:02
3  MERLIER Tim Soudal - Quick Step 0:04
4  KOOIJ Olav Jumbo-Visma 0:08
5  BENNETT Sam BORA - hansgrohe ,,
6  MATTHEWS Michael Team Jayco AlUla 0:10
7  CORT Magnus EF Education-EasyPost ,,
8  LATOUR Pierre TotalEnergies ,,
9  GODON Dorian AG2R Citroën Team 0:12
10  VAN HOOYDONCK Nathan Jumbo-Visma ,,