Cycling: Demare wins Paris-Nice first stage, Matthews holds lead
France's Arnaud Demare of the FDJ team won a sprint finish for the first stage of Paris-Nice race.
VENDOME (AFP) - France s Arnaud Demare of the FDJ team won a sprint finish for the first stage of the Paris-Nice race on Monday as Australia s Michael Matthews of Orica holds the race lead.
Demare, junior world champion in 2011 and French champion in 2014, crossed ahead of Britain s Ben Swift and France s Nacer Bouhanni after the 198km stage between Conde-sur-Vesgre and Vendome.
Swift launched the sprint but was caught with Demare, 24, claiming his second success of the season after winning a stage in the Tour of the Mediterranean last month.
Tuesday s second stage will favour the sprinters, covering 213.5km from Contres to Commentry in central France.
