Merlier wins sprint battle in Paris-Nice opener

Belgian sprinter Tim Merlier won a battle of the fast men to take the first stage of Paris-Nice in La Verriere.

Tadej Pogacar collected a bonus on the last climb to take a six-second advantage over the reigning Tour de France champion Jonas Vingegaard which could be useful in an eight-day race often decided by just a few seconds.

At the end of a winding and hilly 169.4 kilometre circuit in the Chevreuse Valley, west of Paris, Merlier, of Soudal-Quick Step, pulled away in the final metres.

Four other sprinters crossed the line shoulder-to-shoulder a bike length behind. Irishman Sam Bennett of Bora claimed second and Dane Mads Pedersen third.

The bonuses mean Merlier leads overall with Bennett and Pogacar four seconds behind.

"I can't say how great it was," said Merlier.

"Was hard day definitely," said Merlier. "A lot of stress in the peloton."

He joined Soudal, a team with a tradition of sprinters, this season and opened his campaign with a Tour of Oman stage victory followed by three at the UAE Tour.

"I'm having a fantastic start to the season, it's great for me and the team," said the 30-year-old Belgian, who will wear the leader's yellow jersey.

Soudal, a team that specialises in sprints, took control in the run in.

The two Tour de France winners, Slovenian Pogacar and Dane Vingegaard, were both active in the final 20 kilometres.