Belgium’s Tim Merlier powered to a dominant victory on Stage 2 of Paris-Nice on Monday, securing his second win in as many days, with a flawless sprint finish in Bellegarde.
Merlier, who also claimed victory in the opening stage, showcased his impressive speed, leaving his rivals in his wake. The reigning European champion’s victory marks his sixth win of the season, further solidifying his strong start to the race.
French Riders Finish Behind Merlier
Emilien Jeannière of TotalEnergies and Hugo Page from Intermarché-Wanty secured second and third places, respectively. Mads Pedersen (Lidl-Trek) and Alexander Kristoff (Uno-X Mobility) rounded out the top five. However, Page was later relegated for an irregular sprint, pushing Pedersen and Kristoff up one position each.
Crashes and Mechanical Trouble Affect Race
The race was marred by several crashes, including one that left Merlier chasing back into the peloton after being hit by another rider. “There was a crash ahead of me, and I couldn’t brake in time. Someone hit me from behind, breaking my wheel, so I had to change my bike,” Merlier explained after the race.
Despite the setbacks, Merlier remained upbeat about his chances of holding onto the yellow jersey. Ahead of Stage 3’s team time trial, he joked, “It’s probably the end of my yellow jersey stint, but we’ll try our best as a team.”
Jonas Abrahamsen Leads Breakaway
The race saw a significant crash 42 kilometers from the finish, which disrupted the peloton. Several riders were forced off the road, with Florian Sénéchal (Arkéa–B&B Hotels) requiring medical attention. Amidst the chaos, Jonas Abrahamsen of Uno-X Mobility, one of the breakaway riders, managed to stay clear of the pack and held a one-minute lead as the race entered its final phase.
As Abrahamsen approached the final 20 kilometers, teams like Visma-Lease a Bike moved to the front, organizing for the upcoming sprint. Abrahamsen earned six bonus seconds as he passed the first line of the finishing circuit.
Abrahamsen Caught, Merlier Clinches Win
Abrahamsen’s lead was slowly chipped away by the peloton, and he was eventually caught with just 2.5 kilometers remaining. As the peloton surged toward the finish line, teams such as Visma-Lease a Bike, Lidl-Trek, and Soudal Quick-Step all jockeyed for position. However, Merlier’s speed proved unstoppable, and he powered to his second consecutive stage victory.
Stage 2 Results – Paris-Nice 2025 (Montesson > Bellegarde, 183 km):
- Tim Merlier (BEL) Soudal Quick-Step – 4:11:29
- Emilien Jeannière (FRA) TotalEnergies
- Mads Pedersen (DEN) Lidl-Trek
- Alexander Kristoff (NOR) Uno-X Mobility
- Timo Kielich (BEL) Alpecin-Deceuninck
- Axel Zingle (FRA) Visma-Lease a Bike
- Arnaud Démare (FRA) Arkéa-B&B Hotels
- Matevz Govekar (SLO) Bahrain Victorious
- Fabio Jakobsen (NED) Picnic PostNL
- Cees Bol (NED) Astana Qazaqstan
General Classification After Stage 2:
- Tim Merlier (BEL) Soudal Quick-Step – 7:43:12
- Arnaud Démare (FRA) Arkéa-B&B Hotels, +14s
- Jhonatan Narváez (ECU) UAE Team Emirates-XRG, same time
- Matteo Jorgensen (USA) Visma-Lease a Bike, same time
- Jhontan Narváez (ECU) UAE Team Emirates-CRG, same time
- Jonas Abrahamsen (NOR) Uno-X Mobility, same time
- Mads Pedersen (DEN) Lidl-Trek, +16s
- Mick van Dijke (NED) Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe, same time
- Alberto Dainese (ITA) Tudor Pro Cycling, same time
- Magnus Sheffield (USA) Ineos Grenadiers, +18s
Merlier’s consistent performances on the opening stages of Paris-Nice have positioned him as a strong contender for the overall victory, with the next stages sure to provide further challenges.
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