Orica-GreenEDGE’s Michael Matthews retains yellow jersey in ice and snow of Paris-Nice

AUSTRALIAN Michael Matthews holds the overall lead after France’s Arnaud Demare won a sprint finish in snow on the first full stage of Paris-Nice.

Australia's Michael Matthews rides in the pack wearing the overall leader's yellow jersey during the first stage of the 74th edition of the Paris-Nice cycling race between Conde-sur-Vesgre and Vendome on March 7, 2016. / AFP / KENZO TRIBOUILLARD

AUSTRALIAN Michael Matthews held the overall lead after France’s Arnaud Demare won a sprint finish as snow fell on the first stage of the Paris-Nice race yesterday.

FDJ rider 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 of ‘The Race to the Sun’ between Conde-sur-Vesgre and Vendome, southwest of Paris.

Swift launched the sprint but was caught with 24-year-old Demare claiming his second success of the season after a stage in the Tour of the Mediterranean last month.

“It’s a victory that I’ve waited a long time for,” said Demare, whose dream remains success on the Paris-Roubaix on April 9.

“There were a lot of setbacks last season. I put a lot in last year and it didn’t pay off. I put in even more this winter. The legs are good, I’m ready to challenge.”

Riders had to tackle demanding conditions with freezing temperatures, snowfall and sections of dirt roads.

“It was important not be trapped by the cold during the stage. We knew there was a cross wind and we reacted straight away,” said Demare.

Prologue winner Matthews crossed in fifth to hold the leader’s yellow jersey. The 25-year-old world championship silver medallist leads by three seconds thanks to two intermediate bonus seconds.

Matthews and the rest of the riders faced bitterly cold conditions.

“It was a hard day all day,” said Matthews.

“But I’m not afraid of extreme conditions.

“It would be nice to win a stage but the jersey was the main focus.”

The Orica team leader added: “The final lap was tougher than I expected. I saw that some of the general classification guys were up there so I had to make the effort to chase them.

“Maybe it took away some of my energy for the sprint.

“My team worked all day and I found myself a bit isolated in the final lap. I had to keep an eye on the general classification guys.” Tuesday’s second stage will favour the sprinters, covering 213.5km from Contres to Commentry in central France.