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As it happened: Late attack brought back for another sprint finish at stage two of Paris-Nice

MONTARGIS, FRANCE - MARCH 09: Luke Lamperti of United States and Team EF Education - EasyPost celebrates at podium as Yellow leader jersey winner during the 84th Paris-Nice 2026, Stage 2 a 187km stage from Epone to Montargis / #UCIWT / on March 09, 2026 in Montargis, France. (Photo by Szymon Gruchalski/Getty Images)

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Thanks for joining us today! We’ll be back again for the team time trial, the first real GC contest of the race, and a chance for those with the strongest teams (here’s looking at you, Visma-Lease a Bike) to really lay down a marker and gain some time. Be sure to tune in again once more.

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Unsurprisingly, Dan Hoole has been awarded the combativity prize, for his late attack that threatened to upend the whole stage.

Casper Pedersen will again ride in the polka-dot jersey tomorrow, having increased his lead today.

Soudal Quick-Step's Danish rider Casper Pedersen celebrates his white with red polka dots jersey for best climber on the podium after the 2nd stage of the Paris-Nice cycling race, 187 km between Épône and Montargis, on March 9, 2026. (Photo by Anne-Christine POUJOULAT / AFP)

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Max Kanter taking his prize for winning the stage on the podium.

XDS Astana Team's German rider Max Kanter celebrates on the podium after winning the 2nd stage of the Paris-Nice cycling race, 187 km between Épône and Montargis, on March 9, 2026. (Photo by Anne-Christine POUJOULAT / AFP)

(Image credit: Getty Images)

That was another disappointing day for Biniam Girmay. Despite all the work his NSN team did throughout the day, he fell out of contention towards the end, and could only manage 42nd at the finish.

Luke Lamperti is up on the podium, collecting his yellow jersey. He retains his overall lead – but only just. Him and Braet are on the same time after the latter claimed more seconds at the intermediate sprint, but Lamperti leads on countback.

That’s also a great result for Jasper Stuyven in third, his best since moving to Soudal-QuickStep for the new season. He seems to be approaching great form ahead of the classics, after illness forced him out of Opening Weekend.

That was also a great sprint from Pithie to take second place Having shown flashes of form Down Under and during Opening Weekend, it looks like the New Zealander is approaching his form of a couple of years ago.

XDS Astana Team's German rider Max Kanter (C) celebrates as he crosses the finish line to win the 2nd stage of the Paris-Nice cycling race, 187 km between Épône and Montargis, on March 9, 2026. (Photo by Anne-Christine POUJOULAT / AFP)

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Just like Lamperti yesterday, victory today must surely be the biggest of Max Kanter’s career. While the 28-year-old has been close before, this is his first at World Tour level.

MONTARGIS, FRANCE - MARCH 09: (L-R) Dorian Godon of France and Team INEOS Grenadiers, Laurence Pithie of New Zealand and Team Red Bull - BORA - hansgrohe, Jasper Stuyven of Belgium and Team Soudal Quick-Step, Max Kanter of Germany and Team XDS Astana and Luke Lamperti of United States and Team EF Education - EasyPost - Yellow leader jersey sprint at finish line to win the stage during the 84th Paris-Nice 2026, Stage 2 a 187km stage from Epone to Montargis / #UCIWT / on March 09, 2026 in Montargis, France. (Photo by Szymon Gruchalski/Getty Images)

(Image credit: Getty Images)

Lamperti was fifth. While not as impressive as yesterday, that should keep him in the yellow jersey.

Pithie was second, and Stuyven third.

Mike Teunissen was the man to lead out Kanter, and delivered the German expertly for the sprint. But Kanter was still left with a lot to do, and…

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