Nacer Bouhanni opened his personal and FDJ's account when he beat John Degenkolb in the sprint on the 2nd stage of the Etoile de Besseges. Underlining the importance of beating such a great sprinter, the Frenchman was happy to announce that he had produced more watts than ever in a sprint and he praised his new lead-out train for its perfect start.

Yesterday Nacer Bouhanni was left frustrated when the peloton failed to catch the early breakaway on the opening stage of the Etoile de Besseges. Today he made amends on the first possible occasion when he won the second stage in a sprint finish.

The win was Bouhanni's first of the season and it was also the first for the team. Afterwards, he was happy to get the ball rolling already in his first race.

"We came here to win at least one stage with me and also to focus on the overall with Jeremy Roy and Arthur Vichot," he told Directvelo. "Today I am very happy with the outcome of the final kilometres. Sebastian [Chavanel] made his effort at the right time. He brought me into position. Degenkolb launched his sprint first. He opened up a gap of two to three bike lengths. Fortunately, I was able to pass him at the last minute, just enough to win.

Bouhanni revealed that he had actually set a personal record in the final sprint.

"The team worked well at the end," he said. "Laurent Pichon and Sebastien Chavanel brought me into position. When Laurent launch his sprint under the flamme rouge, I saw that he was strong. He stopped, Seb continued the effort to let me start at 200 metres. Degenkolb started a little earlier and I found myself shoulder to shoulder with him for 150m. Finally, I beat him by a half a wheel at the end of a beautiful sprint.

"In the sprint, I produced 1500 watts which is a record for me at the end of a race and this is something that reassures me. The hard work pays off."

Yesterday, FDJ had complained that the breakaway was allowed to take a shortcut on the route which saw the gap suddenly grow from 4 to 8 minutes. The team had blamed the commissaires for the mistake and Bouhanni was happy to take his revenge.

"I am satisfied," he said. "It is always a relief to take the first win of the season. The first stage was frustrating, my teammates did a lot of work for nothing. The commissaires who were responsible for the 22 seconds missing at the finish line in Beacaire, do not recognize their mistake and so it was better to win today.

"This victory is all the more important because I was really upset yesterday after the first stage. I had a problem in the final kilometres. We could not move forward. It had bothered me especially because the team pulled all day. It was well done!"

Today's stage was Bouhanni's first chance to do a sprint with new lead-out man Sebastien Chavanel and he was full of praise for his work.

"This winter I insisted on having Sebastien Chavanel at my side," he said. "Last year I felt that I did not have good enough support even though Geoffrey Soupe did a good job, and he will help me again this year. 

"Since January, I have been working on the train with my teammates. Last week, I went to Var with Laurent Pichon and Jacques Decrion for a specific job, especially on the track. Today we worked well together and it is very important for the future that we have already found our rhythms. And what I saw from Sebastien in the finale is also promising.

"This success helps to build confidence early in the season. In addition, it carries more weight to beat a great sprinter like Degenkolb."

Bouhanni faces a heavy race schedule but plans on taking another win before the race comes to an end on Sunday.

 "After Bessèges, I will do the Tour of Oman, GP Samyn, Paris-Nice, Nokere Koerese and Milan-San Remo where I have already seen the finale," he said. "It is the future, now we need to finish Etoile de Besseges and try to win again."

Sports director Franck Pineau explained that the team had taken a back seat today after yesterday's hard work.

"Having worked hard for nothing on Wednesday, we decided to be more patient today," he said. "We rode in the finale. Laurent Pichon and Sebastien Chavanel did a great job and Nacer won. He didn't beat a nobody but Nacer is not a nobody either. Here, we are happy, we have opened the account!"