Italian Giacomo Nizzolo (NTT) removed the second stage from Paris-Nice on Monday at Châlette-sur-Loing (Loiret), where the public was sidelined from the finish line to comply with the instructions related to the coronavirus .
The German Maximilian Schachmann (Bora), winner the day before at Plaisir (Yvelines), retained the leader's jersey after this lowland stage which cost the Colombian Nairo Quintana, the favorite of the event, dearly and to the French Julian Alaphilippe .
The day after the exclusion of his teammate and champion of France Warren Barguil, fallen then sheltered by a car, Quintana was caught in a fall 25 kilometers from the finish while the peloton was already driving at high speed. On arrival, his delay amounted to almost a minute and a half (1'26 '') just like for Alaphilippe, who was delayed by a puncture at the entrance to the last 30 kilometers.
Pinot loose 20 seconds
In the final, the Slovakian Peter Sagan (Bora) caused a new break which notably outdistanced Thibaut Pinot. The leader of Groupama-FDJ lost less than 20 seconds. On the other hand, the Colombian Sergio Higuita and the Italian Vincenzo Nibali, who finished in the leading group reduced to a dozen runners, carried out an excellent operation for the general classification.
Nizzolo (31), who has won the Giro points classification twice, this time ahead of the German Pascal Ackermann and the Belgian Jasper Stuyven.
Tuesday, the third stage connects Châlette-sur-Loing (Loiret) to La Châtre (Indre) on a plain route of 212.5 kilometers.