Welcome back to the surroundings of Paris, where the 2nd stage of this year's Paris - Nice is about to start. We are currently in Saint-Germain-en-Laye, about 20km North-West of Paris. About 45,000 people are living here - and today there are quite some cycling fans on top of that. If they were here to do some sightseeing, they'd probably visit the Sainte-Croix church or Victor Hugo's former home, but for the moment everyone's crowded close to the start line.
Given that we want to reach Nice by the end of the race, we have to head South - and that's today's stage's main direction. There will be a first intermediate sprint in Malesherbes after 110.4km, with a category 3 KoM following just 5km later. The Côte de Buthiers will decide on our first KoM jersey wearer!
The riders will then reach the slightly uphill final straight in Nemours for the first time after about 145km, but will then have to ride an additional lap of 47km. Roughly 10km into this lap, we'll have the second intermediate sprint in La Madeleine-sur-Loing, before we'll hopefully get to see a first Sprint Royal back in Nemours!
Nemours is a small town of just 13k inhabitants approximately, situated close to the Canal du Loing and the Loing river. Besides the gothic style Saint-Jean-Baptiste church and the castle, the place is known for the Treaty of Nemours, deciding to expel all Huguenots from France...
Let's hope nobody has to leave the country or even just the race today, but let's rather take a look at the bookmakers' favorites for stage number 2. Given its almost pan-flat nature, that is obviously a list of sprinter - with the "Big Three" topping it: Coquard, Gaviria and Ewan are first, followed by Samolenkov, Lo Cicero and Hsu. Stallaert, Silvestre, Van der Sande and race leader Kemboi get one star and should be "dangerous outsiders".
Kemboi will definitely have a hard time defending the race lead, with all but Stallaert and Van der Sande being less than 20" back, and if Silvestre or Lo Cicero take the win, not even 2nd place would be enough to keep the jersey.
But enough theory now, let's jump right into the action!
The riders are getting ready, and it looks like everyone wants to be in the front row today! I guess we can expect some attacks right from the gun then...
And indeed, while the race director is still waving the flag indicating that the neutralized part is over, Turner is the first to take the initiative! To the crowd's delight, he's closely followed by home rider Dujardin.
We also get an attack from Jungels, with Atkins and Eekhoff trying to follow, but Zwift are immediately making clear they're having none of this. Narvaez and Sureda shut this move down, and actually furiously change the leading duo!
We don't know what Zwift's DS actually had in mind, as there's no attack from them - nor did they manage to catch the early breakaway. On the contrary; once they finally give up the chase, it's top baroudeur Nych riding away from the pack!
The Russian quickly joins Dujardin up front, while Turner - the weakest rouleur of the three - is already struggling and loses some meters on a gentle incline.
However, he'd make it back eventually, as the pack is definitely taking it easy now. We have teammates of the three top sprinters and of the GC leader doing the work - Gayral, Koumpetsos, Sendeku and Knox.
After 45km, the trio has established a 2'30" gap, which wouldn't grow much beyond that mark. Still the same quartet setting the pace in the pack, which rides at about the same speed as the escapees now.
Then something really unexpected happened, so our cameras unfortunately missed most of it. The breakaway actually didn't cooperate well - and was very quickly swallowed by the pack, only about 25km after the last images.
But Nych immediately tries again - this time going solo! It might be that he felt he didn't get enough support by the two others - who are much weaker on the flat than him - and finally concluded it was better to get rid of them and try his luck alone. We'll never know whether that's true, but that's the current race situation with 120km to go!
Nych quickly establishes a 2 minute gap again just 5km later - and then Dekker decides that the speed of the pack is way too low, so he tries to catch up to the Russian! So we finally, finally get that long anticipated attack by Zwift!
With about 10km to go to the first intermediate sprint, the Dutchman joins the leader, and so we now finally, finally have the "breakaway of the day".
Of the two, Nych is a way stronger rouleur and handles the bumps a bit better, but Dekker is the faster sprinter - although with weaker acceleration. So the intermediate sprints could be interesting...
None of them is within reach of the GC lead only with bonus seconds from the two sprints, though - but one of them is very likely to become our first KoM jersey wearer.
The intermediate sprint in Malesherbes goes to faster sprinter Dekker - he went first, then Nych overtook him with his stronger acceleration, but the Dutchman finally had the higher top speed. Still 2" available though, and sprint trains are shaping up in the peloton!
All the big guns are indeed fighting for those last bonus seconds, and it's Ewan taking those narrowly ahead of Gaviria. Which means that the Australian reduces his GC deficit to 6" - if he wins the stage, the leader jersey is his!
So the full result of that sprint is:
1. Dekker - 6 (6)
2. Nych - 4 (4)
3. Ewan - 2 (2)
Nych then is able to take his revenge on the day's sole KoM sprint, the cat. 3 hill Côte de Buthiers. He'll wear the KoM jersey tomorrow!
Gayral leads the pack across the line 3'25" later, picking up the final points:
About 75km left in the stage, 40km to the second intermediate sprint.
It's still the same teams - and mostly the same 4 riders - setting the pace in the pack. But it's a 4 vs. 2 situation, so the peloton clearly should take back the breakaway in time. 65km to go, so plenty of time to get there.
As the leading duo crosses the finish line in Nemours for the first time, the gap is down to about 1'30", with 47km to go and 15km to the second sprint point. If the peloton absolutely wants to make the catch by then, they probably could do so.
But they don't. One of the reasons might be that Ewan had a puncture, with ISA - Hexacta obviously not participating in the chase anymore.
This time, Nych is able to stay ahead; it looks like his superior flat skills are outweighing Dekker's faster sprint pace, as the latter looks much more tired.
It's a very close sprint for the final points (and seconds) again, and Gaviria narrowly misses out once more. This time, it's Coquard picking up 3rd place - which makes him draw level with Ewan in terms of GC deficit and points.
The group of fastmen that broke away from the pack only trails the leaders by 30" now, but they're waiting for their domestiques to catch up. Still, a 44" gap with more than 30km to go can't be enough for the breakaway, can it?
No, it can't. Dekker is reeled in by Bouglas, and Nych will suffer the same fate only seconds later. With 20km to go, that's a very early catch - let's see if we see some late attacks, or if the teams rather use this time well to set up some perfect sprint trains!
The top sprinters' helpers make sure nobody even thinks of attacking. Currently it's Karatzios setting a horrendous pace. We then have in order Pinot, Giannoutsos and Sendeku - clearly the climbers seem to be bored if they participate in that tempo forcing!
With 5km to go, some trains are indeed shaping up. We spot Isostar on the left, with ELCO - ABEA riding just right to them. Dainese and Kemboi are right behind Coquard.
Most sprinters are however following the ISA - Hexacta train in the middle of the road. We have lined up behind Ewan: Lo Cicero, Van der Sande, Hsu, Abdul Halil, Einhorn, Silvestre, Van der Kooij, Moser, Larsen and Garcia Cortina.
Stallaert is a bit lost in between - and Samolenkov is way, way back in the peloton and clearly won't have the time now to arrive up front!
The trains shape up really nicely with 3km to go! We can see Baska - Santos - Ewan, Rickaert - Peak - Gaviria, and Koumpetsos - Bouglas - Coquard.
However, of the remaining sprinters we only have Dainese left in Gaviria's wheel, and Kemboi following Coquard. Lo Cicero actually has lost Gaviria's wheel, and all those lined up behind him dropped back along with him!
2km left, and while the Isostar and ISA - Hexacta trains have swapped positions, they're still lined up in the same way.
The other sprinters are still out of contention - the fact that Pinot and Santos are dropping back, and that with Carr we have a not really gifted sprinter trying to keep up with Kemboi clearly doesn't help them to close the gap!
One kilometer later - and all that great previous work of setting up sprint trains seems to be in vain, given that the riders are all over the place now, but definitely no longer nicely lined up! A sharp turn 1.5km from the line surely didn't help to keep things together, but it's still crazy to see how easily they were disturbed.
So it's pretty much everyone on his own now on the final 1,000m - let's see who's got the best position right now!
Bouglas
Rickaert
Santos
Baska
Peak
Koumpetsos
Gaviria
Dainese
Ewan
Coquard
Osorio
Lecuisinier
Carr
Kemboi
Pszczolarski
Riabushenko is right behind Kemboi, but all other sprinters are definitely gone for today!
On the other hand, we have all the main GC riders in the next positions, so none of them is at risk of losing time today.
With 700m to go, it doesn't look that bad for Bouglas - who already took an unexpected stage podium earlier in the season! Santos is going strong as well, while Rickaert and Peak are rather losing ground.
And while Coquard was the last of the Top3 sprinters a few meters ago, he now has the best looking position, having already drawn level with Peak (he's the guy almost touching the fence, who doesn't even really look like sprinting right now).
Ewan is about to pass his leadout Baska, while Gaviria has taken his wheel. Dainese has to ride around Koumpetsos and has lost the Colombian's wheel.
We only have 3 teams in the Top 8 spots right now with just 500m to the line - and Bouglas is still leading! However, Coquard has moved up to 3rd, with Santos being in that ELCO - ABEA sandwich.
Rickaert and Peak at least are opening a lane now for Ewan and Gaviria, who could still be in contention for the win (and the race lead)!
On the other hand, Baska is closing the door for Kemboi, who is right behind him and wanted to go through between the Slovak and the fence. Dainese is almost level with Baska, but on the other side of the road, and just outside the picture.
300m to go, and it's still Bouglas in the lead! However, Coquard is clearly faster than his teammate and Santos, who he's about to overtake for 2nd now!
Ewan now actually is in Santos' slipstream - but given that he's got a much higher speed as well that isn't worth much. Gaviria hasn't left the Australian's wheel yet, but again has Dainese right behind him now.
Kemboi has finally found some space and is moving forward as well, with Lecuisinier fighting for a Top 10 spot too! Riabushenko is the other sprinter trying to gain some spots, currently in 12th position. In between are still Peak, Rickaert and Pszczolarski, with Baska clearly fading and dropping back.
100m later - and only 200m away from the line - Bouglas is still leading the race, and it's now a double lead for his team, with Coquard having left behind Santos!
There's already quite a gap behind this trio, which Ewan is desperately trying to close! Gaviria either has very strong nerves or just not the legs to overtake Ewan. Peak and Dainese are also fighting for some good stage places, but likely not the win.
Oh, Bouglas has cracked hard now! Just 100m later, he has already been left behind by both Coquard - the new leader - and an incredibly strong-going Santos!
Ewan can now see that the Greek is going slower and slower, and has at least the podium in sight - with Gaviria still sitting in his wheel.
Kemboi doesn't seem to have the legs to catch up with the front riders, while Lecuisinier is doing a great sprint as well, almost keeping up with the Kenyan's pace!
In the end, it's a clear win for Bryan Coquard - a win on home soil, augmented by the race lead, a fantastic result for him and his team!
It's a great team result for ISA - Hexacta as well, as an amazing Emerson Santos finishes 2nd, ahead of his lead sprinter Caleb Ewan!
A disappointed Fernando Gaviria only takes 4th place today - missing out on bonus second for the 3rd time in this stage. That messy sprint preparation on the final 2 kilometers clearly didn't work out in his favor.
For Alberto Dainese - still a developing rider - 5th place is a great result, and a sign of what to expect from him in the future!
In the background we can also see that Peak sat up on the final meters and will probably lose a few more positions - just to complement Isostar's bad-luck day.
Georgios Bouglas led the race until the last 150 meters, but those couple of meters were enough to make him drop to 6th. At least he manages to fend off (former) race leader Salem Kemboi, doing his lead sprinter a favor in terms of points jersey fight.
Aliaksandr Riabushenko won't be happy with his positioning, as he had a great speed on the closing meters, making him move up to 8th place - but he'll wonder what would have been possible if...
Benefitting from his good positioning is Pierre-Henri Lecuisinier, who not only avoided all troubles on the final kilometers, but even picked up some points today. Although it doesn't seem very likely that a GC rider will win the points jersey, those points could still be precious in the end.
His teammate Wojciech Pszczolarski wraps up today's Top 10, which Barnabas Peak narrowly misses out on.
In the end, most sprinters will be disappointed by a missed opportunity, given that they weren't even in contention for the top spots. All the GC favorites made it through safely, which is great news for the continuation of the race.
And let's be honest - the Top 3 sprinters being all on today's Top 4 spots is a good result - although the way to get there was really messy. Let's hope the teams learn something from today's sprint preparation, and do it better next time!
But now, let's stop talking about what went wrong, and let's celebrate those who did well!
And the one who did best today was Bryan Coquard! The Frenchman didn't lose his nerves when he was in a bad position for the final 1,000 meters - having lost contact with his leadouts - but made his way through the chaos and finally celebrated a commanding win!
Emerson Santos did much more than what would be expected from a leadout - by finishing 2nd. Despite a missed chance for the stage win, it's a good day for his team, with Caleb Ewan picking up the final podium spot.
Bryan Coquard is also leading the GC now, 12" ahead of Caleb Ewan - which is the difference in bonus seconds at the finish line, given that both picked up 2" at the intermediate sprints. Salem Kemboi has dropped down to 3rd, 14" back, having missed out on bonus seconds altogether.
Salem Kemboi at least gets a consolation price, as he keeps the green jersey. He now has a total of 34 points, leading 7 points ahead of Bryan Coquard. Chun Wing Leung and Emerson Santos both have 20 points for their 2nd places yesterday and today respectively.
As mentioned during the stage, Artem Nych gets the first KoM jersey of the race. He won today's sole KoM sprint ahead of David Dekker and Joshua Gayral - which obviously corresponds to the order in the KoM standings.
With no U25 rider gaining any bonus seconds today (nor losing time), the white jersey remains on Niklas Larsen's shoulders. He leads 5" ahead of Barnabas Peak and Petr Rikunov, who swapped positions due to today's stage places.
No changes as well in the team standings, where De Stijl Cycling continue to lead 8" ahead of Grieg-Maersk and 10" in front of Evonik - ELKO.
And with those images, we get to the end of today's broadcast. Tomorrow will likely see another chance for the sprinters - see you then!
Paris - Nice 
