Tim Merlier sprints to victory in Paris-Nice first stage / Photo: Anne-Christine POUJOULAT - AFP
-
Nepal rescuers drill through debris towards trapped tunnel workers
-
Soundcore Liberty 5 Pro Review: Call Quality Redefines Value in Wireless Earbuds
-
Manhunt in Switzerland after fatal rave shooting
-
Lexus ES Review: Electric ES 350e Falls Short in Luxury Saloon Segment
-
'No' camp seen winning Iceland's EU referendum
-
Vietnamese coffee farmers ride China's durian wave
-
Nepal flood survivors return to ruins to salvage memories
-
Venezuela says retains 'sovereignty' in US oil deal
-
Killing of Palestinian children and teens by Israel surges in West Bank
-
NASA's Roman telescope set to launch on cosmic mapping mission
-
Educators keep 9/11 memory alive for next generation, 25 years on
-
Data center backlash scrambles US midterm politics
-
Venezuelans view US oil deal with doubt, hope
-
Emotional Federer inducted into tennis Hall of Fame
-
Gobena and Jepchirchir power to Sydney Marathon victories
-
Hovland takes solo lead as McIlroy surges at Tour Championship
-
Iceland in suspense after close EU vote
-
Djokovic 'prepared' for US Open bid for history
-
Wallabies hold on for victory in Argentina
-
Atletico down Sevilla to go top of La Liga
-
Juve notch second straight win, Fiorentina's centenary party falls flat
-
US deports right-wing provocateur Milo Yiannopoulos
-
Rybakina eases injury fears ahead of US Open
-
Niger junta says it is back in control after soldiers' mutiny
-
Djokovic kicks off latest Grand Slam quest under US Open lights
-
Erasmus calls Rennie barbs over Springbok scrumming 'nonsense'
-
'Sorry' De Zerbi won't panic after Spurs shambles
-
Lawrence's fifty leaves Pakistan facing record chase to level England series
-
UN, Nepal warn of climate threat after deadly floods
-
Netanyahu condemns settler attack in flashpoint West Bank village
-
USTA boss says structure of new player council not yet set
-
Munoz saves Iraola in Liverpool draw, big-spending Spurs lose again
-
Tiny Elversberg stun Leverkusen on Bundesliga debut, Dortmund beat Hamburg
-
Newcastle condemn dismal Spurs to second successive defeat
-
Three Texas Tech softball players hurt in jet ski collision
-
Matt Leinart assesses Arch Manning and the leading names in college football
-
Rural Tamil Nadu students present 64 technology projects at IIT-M research park
-
Cyberabad civic body demolishes 19 unauthorised structures
-
Tambaram civic groups seek action on eight long-pending issues
-
Tamil Nadu goalball team’s national silver highlights need for wider support
-
Chennai councillors unite across parties to demand ward development funds
-
Tamil Nadu and NUS agree to expand postgraduate and research links
-
Court orders JIPMER assessment of Durai Dayanidhi before money-laundering trial
-
India and China have not named two new border meeting sites
-
French campaign sharpens as far right accuses left over civil disobedience calls
-
Kolkata police register new FIR against Mamata Banerjee over rally timing
-
About 50 Karnataka travellers return from Nepal as 24 remain missing
-
Andhra Pradesh Speaker seeks stronger sports quota and school facilities
-
Baladi Map app turns Lebanon’s local problems into a public record
-
Thirty-seven Mumbai pilgrims return after Nepal flood disruption
Tim Merlier sprints to victory in Paris-Nice first stage
Belgian cyclist Tim Merlier won the first stage of Paris-Nice on Sunday, sprinting to the line to take an early lead in the general classification.
The Soudal Quick-Step rider clocked 3hrs 32mins 03secs as he comfortably outpaced his competitors in the final stretch of the flat 156.1km stage around the greater Paris region.
Frenchman Arnaud Demare and Italian Alberto Dainese came second and third, respectively.
"It's always nice to start a stage race and get a win. I'm very proud to win in Paris-Nice," said Merlier, 32.
"It's not up to me to say if I'm the best sprinter in the world. I just try to win as much as possible and to take my opportunities.
"We'll see what happens with the weather in the next days… If it's not too cold, like this, it's perfect."
Last year's champion Matteo Jorgenson of the United States came 46th, but the Visma rider did manage to claim a time bonus in the finale.
His Danish team-mate and two-time Tour de France winner Jonas Vingegaard placed 33rd, while fellow Dane and one of the other main challengers in Mads Pedersen finished 12th.
Monday's second stage will see the peloton leave the Paris area when they set off from Montesson and arrive in Bellegarde in the Centre-Val de Loire region, with a sprint finish again on the cards.
E.Qaddoumi--SF-PST
