Ag2r-La Mondiale entered Paris-Nice with a three-pronged attack on the overall classification. With Maxime Bouet and Hubert Dupont caught in the second group on yesterday's first stage, only Jean-Christophe Peraud remains a threat.

Being a French team, Paris-Nice has a significant importance for Ag2r-La Mondiale, and they entered the race with clear ambitions for a final overall result. With Jean-Christophe Peraud, winner on the Mont Faron in the Tour Mediteraneen, Maxime Bouet, 10th overall in the Tour of Oman, and in-form Hubert Dupont, the team had a number of possibilities.

At the end of yesterday's first stage, that abundance of GC threats was drastically reduced. OmegaPharma-QuickStep, Blanco and BMC accelerated dramatically in the crosswinds inside the final 20 kilometers. Being a small climber, Dupont has always had trouble in harsh conditions, and he was caught in the second group when the peloton split.

Disaster struck moments later when Maxime Bouet had a puncture. Despite being assisted by young teammate Romain Bardet, he had no chance to return to the front group, and his wheel change was completed just as the second group sped by.

With 5 riders in the second group, the team assisted Argos-Shimano in the chase of the front peloton, but their effort was in vain. In the end, Dupont and Bouet lost 1.53 and all hopes of a final top 10 finish.

Team manager Vincent Lavenu was clearly disappointed.

"We expected the best in this stage, but the day was not as good as we had hoped," he told after race. "We had a few problems with a minor fall from Samuel Dumoulin, and then we were disturbed by mechanical problems and punctures for Yauheni Hutarovich and Maxime who was assisted by Romain. It did not turn out as we would have liked, but such incidents are part of the game. Unlike other teams, we have not experienced serious incidents. Jean-Christophe Peraud remains in the game, and tomorrow will be better."

To add to the team's woes, sprinter Hutarovich missed out in the sprint and ended up 15th.

The team will look for better luck in today's 200,5 km flat stage. On paper, Hutarovich should be the team's man for a top result, but with a small rise in the final kilometer, the team may choose to look to Samuel Dumoulin if it ends up in a bunch sprint.