Mads Pedersen takes Paris-Nice overall lead after sprinting to stage two win

Tadej Pogačar also raises eyebrows as he gains seconds in an intermediate sprint – again

Paris-Nice 2023
(Image credit: Anne Christine Poujoulat / Getty)

Mads Pedersen took over the general classification lead in the 'Race to the Sun' after winning a chaotic sprint on stage two to Fontainebleau after 163.7km of racing.

The Trek-Segafredo rider beat Jumbo-Visma's Olav Kooij into second place, with Pedersen's fellow Dane Magnus Cort (EF Education-EasyPost) third after what was a hectic dash the the line. It saw Pedersen take over the race lead from Tim Merlier (Soudal-Quick Step) thanks to the 10 bonus seconds on offer.

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James Shrubsall

After cutting his teeth on local and national newspapers, James began at Cycling Weekly as a sub-editor in 2000 when the current office was literally all fields.

Eventually becoming chief sub-editor, in 2016 he switched to the job of full-time writer, and covers news, racing and features.

A lifelong cyclist and cycling fan, James's racing days (and most of his fitness) are now behind him. But he still rides regularly, both on the road and on the gravelly stuff.