Merlier wins bunch sprint on opening day of Paris Nice 2025
March 9th Sunday, 1st stage: Le-Perray-en-Yvelines – Le-Perray-en-Yvelines – 156.1km
Tim Merlier (Soudal Quick-Step) was head and shoulders above the rest of the sprinters to win stage 1 of Paris-Nice 2025 and be the first leader of the 83rd edition of “the Race to the Sun”, replicating his efforts in the 2023 edition.
Stage one of the 2025 Paris-Nice bike race kicked off with a 156.1km route starting and ending in Le Perray-en-Yvelines. The stage though designated flat was turned out to be quite technical and contained three short but steep climbs, altogether posing a challenge for the sprinters to contain any breakaways.
Early in the stage, such a breakaway group formed, comprising Alexandre Delettre (TotalEnergies), Samuel Fernández (Caja Rural – Seguros RGA), and Taco van der Hoorn (Intermarché-Wanty). This trio managed to build a significant lead over the peloton, with their advantage growing to over two and half minutes aided by a lack of ambition in the peloton.
Despite a hold out by Fernández teh break’s glory came to an end with 50km remaining. The peloton continued on for a further 26 odd kilometres untroubled by breaks but on the final climb, the second ascent of Cote de Villiers-Saint-Frédéric, Julien Alaphilippe chanced his arm, accompanied by defending champion Matteo Jorgenson. Jorgenson managed to cross the summit first.
At 10km to go the Jorgenson was presetend with an opportunity to take valubalke bonus seconds and manged to secure 4″ after coming second to Jhonatan Narváez
(UAE Team Emirates – XRG) with Magnus Sheffield (INEOS Grenadiers) third.
Merlier, the European champion survived the traps of the day, perfectly navigated the last kilometre to fly past everyone and take his fifth success of the season. Arnaud Démare (Arkéa-B&B Hotels) and Alberto Dainese (Tudor) complete the podium of the day. Defending champion Matteo Jorgenson (Visma | Lease a Bike) although finishing deep in the bunch took a 4″ time bonus en route to start his defence in sixth place on GC.
