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AFP, MONTARGIS, France
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Germany’s Max Kanter on Monday sprinted to victory in the second stage of Paris-Nice in Montargis as American Luke Lamperti kept the leader’s yellow jersey.
Astana’s Kanter powered clear of New Zealand’s Laurence Pithie and Belgium’s Jasper Stuyven in a nervy finale as the peloton caught Dutch rider Daan Hoole late after he had led for the final 20km.
“Am I dreaming? I must be dreaming, right?” Kanter said after crossing the finish line, having achieved, at 28, just the third victory of his career and the most significant. “I’m so happy. I’ve been waiting for this for so long. It’s a dream to win here, this race has such prestige.”
Germany’s Max Kanter of XDS Astana, front, crosses the finish line to win the second stage of Paris-Nice in Montargis, France, on Monday.
Photo: EPA
Traditionally the first two stages of the “Race to the Sun,” intended as a condensed version of the Tour de France, are destined for mass sprint finishes, but this year the elite sprinters have opted to compete instead in the rival Tirreno-Adriatico stage race in Italy.
That has created unexpected opportunities for those who work behind the scenes and have been suddenly thrust into the spotlight. On Sunday, Lamberti secured his first World Tour victory, narrowly retaining the race lead on Monday.
“Before coming here, I had a tough few weeks; I was sick,” Kanter said. “Even yesterday [Sunday], I really wasn’t feeling well, but sometimes things just fall into place and today was my day.”
The favorites, led by double Tour de France winner Jonas Vingegaard, should show themselves in the third stage, a 23.5km team time trial between Cosne-Cours-sur-Loire and Pouilly-sur-Loire in central France.
Spaniard Juan Ayuso, considered Vingegaard’s main rival for overall victory in Nice, grabbed four bonus seconds in the intermediate sprint.
