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Michael Matthews first leader of 2016 Paris-Nice

The WorldTour returned after a month and a half recess on Sunday with the prologue time trial of the 74th Paris-Nice, with Orica-GreenEdge's Michael Matthews (Australia) claiming the first yellow jersey of the race.

March 6, 2016
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The WorldTour returned after a month and a half recess on Sunday with the prologue time trial of the 74th Paris-Nice, with Orica-GreenEdge’s Michael Matthews (Australia) claiming the first yellow jersey of the race. Tom Dumoulin (The Netherlands/Giant-Alpecin), the favourite over the 6.1-km, gently rising course in Conflans-Sainte-Honorine, slotted into second, one second down on Matthews’ 7:39.

Though the gaps are small, among the GC men Ion Izagirre (Spain/Movistar) had the best time after Dumoulin at +0:06. Geraint Thomas (Great Britain/Sky) and two-time winner Richie Porte (Australia/BMC) are well-placed at +0:07. Alberto Contador failed to impress with +0:16.

The surprise of the prologue was Patrick Bevin, Cannondale’s Kiwi, who placed third with +0:02.

Another surprise was the kit of Lotto-Soudal. The Belgian team is going with a new name, Lotto-Fix All, and a new uniform just for the Paris-Nice race.

Monday’s stage is one for the sprinters, though the fast men must negotiate four sections of gravel and a couple of hills in the last 23-km before the finish in Vendôme.

2016 Paris-Nice Prologue
1) Michael Matthews (Australia/Orica-GreenEdge) 7:39
2) Tom Dumoulin (The Netherlands/Giant-Alpecin) +0:01
3) Patrick Bevin (Cannondale/New Zealand) +0:02
90) Antoine Duchesne (Canada/Direct Energie) +0:33