Robert Gesink has finished just outside the top ten in the first stage of Paris-Nice. The 31-year-old rider from Varsseveld sprinted to the thirteenth place on the tough cobbled finish in Meudon. Also, Amund Grondahl Jansen (23rd) was in the front group and is now second overall in the young rider classification.

The short but tough and tricky stage over 135 kilometres, with three climbs of the third category, was ridden in the rain of Paris. The riders of Team LottoNL-Jumbo were attentive all day to be able to start the last hill before the finish in the best possible way. Paul Martens was involved in a massive crash just before the climb, but only suffered some abrasions. Lars Boom made his season debut after a successful heart surgery and is mainly participating to get the necessary racing kilometres under his belt.

Sports-director Frans Maassen couldn’t complain too much about today’s outcome. “It wasn’t a bad day for us after all. Initially, we were going to try to play Dylan Groenewegen today, but during the stage he told us he suffered too much from the cold. He no longer insisted and mainly focused on tomorrow’s stage. Above all, it was a short but hectic stage including lots of rain. I have seen a good Robert and Amund. Tomorrow and the day after tomorrow we’ll go for Dylan again.”