Dylan Groenewegen has won the second stage in Paris-Nice in an impressive way. The 24-year-old rider from Amsterdam was superior in the bunch sprint in Vierzon and sprinted to his fifth win of the year. Groenewegen’s victory is also the sixth victory for Team LottoNL-Jumbo this season.

For a long time, the 187,5 kilometre long stage from Orzonville to Vierzon was a calm stage with an average of just 33 kilometres per hour during the first three hours. The stage was eventually spiced up by Lars Boom, who was in the leading group. After a part of this group, which initially consisted of six riders, was chased down, Boom helped ensure that the remainder of the leading group was caught in the final. Groenewegen was then perfectly positioned by Robert Gesink, Paul Martens, Tom Leezer, Amund Grondahl Jansen and Timo Roosen.

Groenewegen thought it was a nice victory. “It was a difficult sprint. The last two hundred metres went uphill. The boys perfectly dropped me off for the last corner. I was well positioned for the sprint. I just went full throttle and nobody was able to keep up with me. I am very happy with this victory, because I beat a lot of good sprinters, like Viviani, Démare and Greipel. It’s always good to be able to beat those top guys. I am very grateful for my teammates, because without them this would never have been possible.”