Richie Porte loses more time at Paris-Nice as Sonny Colbrelli takes stage two sprint
Appalling weather conditions split the peloton into pieces, as the riders endure another tough day

Sonny Colbrelli wins Paris-Nice 2017 stage two.

Wind, rain and snow played their part on stage two of 2017 Paris-Nice on Monday, as the peloton was once again splintered with some big names caught out on the wrong side of splits – including Richie Porte (BMC).
Italian Sonny Colbrelli (Bahrain-Merida) took the stage victory in the reduced bunch sprint after the chaotic day, finishing just ahead of German John Degenkolb (Trek-Segafredo).
Stage one winner and race leader Arnaud Démare (FDJ) finished in third to retain the yellow jersey.
It was a repeat of the opening stage on Sunday, as crosswinds ripped up the peloton on the 195km stage from Rochefort-en-Yvelines to Amilly.
The dire conditions set the backdrop for some very aggressive and unpredictable racing, as various groups yo-yoed between each other, joining and splitting up again.
>>> Paris-Nice 2017: Latest news, reports and info
Just as they did on stage one, Quick-Step Floors used their combined experience in riding windy classics to contribute to forcing the pace of the front group, with around 20 riders staying out front and posing a danger after 50km.
Get The Leadout Newsletter
The latest race content, interviews, features, reviews and expert buying guides, direct to your inbox!
At that point, the group contained the likes of Marcel Kittel (Quick-Step Floors), André Greipel (Lotto-Soudal) and Ben Swift (UAE Team Emirates).
They were later caught by a second group, which included Team Sky's Luke Rowe and Sergio Henao.
As the pace eased up, and more riders caught back up to the front group, a unit of six men attacked off the front with 60km to go: Sven Erik Bystrom (Katusha-Alpecin), Tony Gallopin (Lotto-Soudal), Maarten Wynants (LottoNL-Jumbo), Philippe Gilbert (Quick-Step Floors), Evaldas Siskevicius (Delko–Marseille Provence KTM) and Marc Sarreau (FDJ).
The group put in a huge effort to stay away, building up a lead of over a minute with 40km to go. Sarreau punctured, leaving five out front. Sensing that his companions were fading with the final 20km, Gilbert launched a solo move with 17km to go.
>>> Teams tweet videos of dire weather on Paris-Nice stage two
The former world champion opened up a gap of around a minute, but was visibly flagging as the race turned into a block headwind, and was caught with 6.4km to go.
Several short-lived attacks were fired off from the bunch, but all were reeled in as what was left of the sprinters' teams controlled the action into the finale.
Colbrelli initially looked as though he had opened his sprint up too early, but he somehow managed to maintain his momentum to defy an impressive list of sprinters and take a memorable first win in his first year on a WorldTour team. His roar as he crossed the line showed just what it meant to him.
"It’s the greatest victory of my career," said Colbrelli after the victory. "It’s incredible. I managed a perfect sprint and to beat riders like Degenkolb or even Kittel just shows that. Of course I have Milan-San Remo in mind. Everyone knows that Paris-Nice is the perfect preparation for that race. But it’s not over yet, I still want to manage things this week."
Frenchman Démare now leads Julian Alaphilippe (Quick-Step Floors) by six seconds on the general classification, with Gilbert in third at 17 seconds.
>>> Romain Bardet ‘deeply sorry’ as he apologises to fans after Paris-Nice disqualification
Just as he did on Sunday, Porte found himself distanced from the front group, and quickly lost time. Porte crossed the line in a large group, 14 minutes and 16 seconds down on Colbrelli with his chance of taking overall victory looking all but over.
General classification hopes Alberto Contador (Trek-Segafredo), Daniel Martin (Quick-Step Floors), Sergio Henao (Team Sky) and Simon Yates (Orica-Scott) fared better, finishing in the front group.
French sprinter Nacer Bouhanni (Cofidis) was one of those riders who abandoned during the stage.
The 2017 Paris-Nice continues on Tuesday with stage three, a 190km trip from Chablis to Chalon-sur-Saône as the race continues to head southwards. There are two minor classified climbs in the second half of the stage, but – weather permitting – it should be a day for the sprinters.
Result
Paris-Nice 2017, stage two: Rochefort-en-Yvelines to Amilly, 192.5km
1. Sonny Colbrelli (Ita) Bahrain-Merida, 4-20-59
2. John Degenkolb (Ger) Trek-Segafredo
3. Arnaud Démare (Fra) FDJ
4. Dylan Groenewegen (Ned) Lotto-Jumbo
5. Christophe Laporte (Fra) Cofidis
6. Matti Breschel (Den) Astana
7. Oliver Naesen (Bel) Ag2r La Mondiale
8. André Greipel (Ger) Lotto-Soudal
9. Alexander Kristoff (Nor) Katusha-Alpecin
10. Evaldas Siskevicius (Ltu) Delko Marseille Provence KTM
General classification after stage two
1. Arnaud Démare (Fra) FDJ, in 7-43-28
2. Julian Alaphilippe (Fra) Quick-Step Floors, at 6 secs
3. Philippe Gilbert (Bel) Quick-Step Floors, at 17 secs
4. Alexander Kristoff (Nor) Katusha-Alpecin, at 19 secs
5. Tony Gallopin (Fra) Lotto-Soudal, 1t 19 secs
6. Romain Hardy (Fra) Fortuneo-Vital Concept, at 21 secs
7. Daniel Martin (Irl) Quick-Step Floors, at 23 secs
8. Sergio Henao (Col) Team Sky at 23 secs
9. Rudy Molard (Fra) FDJ at 23 secs
10. Kristijan Koren (Slo) Cannondale-Drapac, at 31 secs
Other
19. Alberto Contador (Esp) Trek-Segafredo, at 1-18
21. Simon Yates (GBr) Orica-Scott, at 1-18
35. Richie Porte (Aus) BMC Racing, at 15-17
Thank you for reading 20 articles this month* Join now for unlimited access
Enjoy your first month for just £1 / $1 / €1
*Read 5 free articles per month without a subscription
Join now for unlimited access
Try first month for just £1 / $1 / €1
Nigel Wynn worked as associate editor on CyclingWeekly.com, he worked almost single-handedly on the Cycling Weekly website in its early days. His passion for cycling, his writing and his creativity, as well as his hard work and dedication, were the original driving force behind the website’s success. Without him, CyclingWeekly.com would certainly not exist on the size and scale that it enjoys today. Nigel sadly passed away, following a brave battle with a cancer-related illness, in 2018. He was a highly valued colleague, and more importantly, an exceptional person to work with - his presence is sorely missed.
-
Primoz Roglic's emphatic solo victory on the Volta a Catalunya final stage seals his general classification win
The Red Bull rider's dominance denied rival Juan Ayuso the overall victory on the final day
By Alex Lancaster-Lennox Published
-
200 skinny bike riders doing 50kph is still too much like a high-speed Where’s Wally: The case for colour-coded helmets
Will this bright idea ever gain the recognition it deserves?
By Michael Hutchinson Published
-
Jonas Vingegaard out of Volta a Catalunya after Paris-Nice crash
Visma-Lease a Bike say two-time Tour de France winner needs more time to recover from wrist injury sustained in France last week
By Tom Thewlis Published
-
Matteo Jorgenson aiming to 'set the bar higher' and target a Grand Tour after securing second Paris-Nice title
American explained that targeting a win in one of the sport's biggest three-week races was now the logical next step in his career
By Tom Thewlis Published
-
Matteo Jorgenson rules out Tour de France leadership after Jonas Vingegaard's withdrawal from Paris-Nice
The American is on the cusp of a second consecutive victory at the Race to the Sun
By Tom Thewlis Published
-
Mattias Skjelmose: 'Cycling is a relentless sport. One day you feel great, the next everything can change in a split second'
Lidl-Trek rider was forced to abandon Paris-Nice after a heavy crash on stage seven
By Tom Thewlis Last updated
-
'A tough day' - Mads Pedersen outsprints Josh Tarling to win Paris-Nice stage 6 after echelons chaos
Wind forces GC shake-up as Matteo Jorgenson holds race lead
By Tom Davidson Published
-
Jonas Vingegaard abandons Paris-Nice after stage 5 crash
Former Tour de France winner to recover from injuries at home
By Tom Davidson Published
-
'Given the circumstances, it's very impressive that he finished this stage' - Jonas Vingegaard crashes at Paris-Nice, loses 26 seconds on stage 5
Visma-Lease a Bike rider left with cut on lip and and ceded race lead on Thursday, understood to have hurt wrist
By Adam Becket Published
-
'The legs were on fire' - Lenny Martinez powers to victory on stage 5 of Paris-Nice as Matteo Jorgenson moves back into the race lead
American takes over the yellow jersey after Jonas Vingegaard ships time on steep final climb to La Côte-Saint-André
By Tom Thewlis Published