With only one rider in front it was an easy day for the peloton. The Frenchman Arnaud Gérard got more than seven minutes advantage, but the bunch caught him already with 35 kilometres to go. A climb at eight kilometres from the finish line in Saint-Amand-Montrond caused excitement. Tony Martin attacked and was joined by Geraint Thomas, Lars Boom and Matti Breschel. Lotto Soudal riders Tony Gallopin and Tim Wellens realized the danger of the situation and responded. It was a short counter-attack, Orica and Lotto Soudal then had to organize the chase.

It was over for the escapees with one and a half kilometre to go. That was the sign for Adam Hansen to get to the front of the peloton with the rest of the Lotto Soudal train in his wheel. In the final metres, Greg Henderson did the lead-out for André Greipel. The German champion was launched with two hundred metres to go. Because of the headwind French champion Arnaud Démare could come close to Greipel, but he resisted and sprinted to his second victory of the season after winning the second stage in the Volta ao Algarve. With men like Degenkolb, Démare, Bouhanni, Kristoff and Matthews the competition was strong, but nobody could get over Greipel.

“Paris-Nice is a big race," he said. "Every victory is important, but a victory in a WorldTour race like here is very nice for the team and me. Yesterday all went wrong what could go wrong, and the whole team was determined to set things straight today.

"It was a different sprint preparation than usual because of the attack of Martin, Thomas and Boom, but thanks to the reaction of Tony Gallopin and Tim Wellens we maintained a good position. We came to the front with more than three kilometres to go, Orica obviously had a plan, but we got in their slipstream with 800 metres to go. I was afraid that Greg Henderson began the sprint too early with the headwind, but I could take over and leave the rest behind me.

"It was a bit of a headwind sprint. Arnaud (Demare) came in fast but I managed to hold my lead. It was a really nice bike race.  I'd like to give this victory to my mother, she has a very hard time at the moment. Don't give up! 

"It's important to win for the first time on Paris-Nice. It's a big race with some of the best sprinters in the peloton. Yesterday, we really didn't take part in the sprint. Today we wanted to do it better It's a team work, I win with them and I lose with them. So I was glad I was able to deliver today.

"It was a bit of the mess in the finale, we didn't really know what was happening when Martin, Thomas and Boom went. They are three great time trial riders but fortunately we didn't  lose our calm and we managed to catch them.

“The entire team rode a marvellous sprint and we achieved a goal by winning this stage. Winning is never easy, but now we can go to the other stages a bit more relaxed. We have the right spirit for tomorrow’s stage and the goals later in Paris-Nice.

"Tomorrow could be another chance but we already achieved our goal in this Paris-Nice with this stage win and we also have GC ambitions with Tony Gallopin and Tim Wellens."