Arnaud Demare kicked off the second part of his season in the best possible way when he won today's first stage of the 4 Days of Dunkirk in commanding fashion. With the Tour de France being his big goal, however, the Frenchman claims that he is not as good as he was when he won the race overall 12 months ago.

One year ago Arnaud Demare completely dominated the 4 Days of Dunkirk when he won the three first stages on his way to the overall victory. Today he kicked off his title defence in the best possible way when he won today's opening leg of the race.

Demare finished off an excellent performance by his FDJ team that split the peloton to pieces in the crosswinds and controlled the peloton all day. However, they got a late scare when Sylvain Chavanel and Adried Petit attacked in the finale and the team had to use up Yoann Offredo and David Boucher to bring them back.

That left Demare with just William Bonnet to lead him out and he found himself far back when Giant-Shimano led out Ramon Sinkeldam. However, the Frenchman produced a fantastic sprint from afar and ended up not only passing Sinkeldam but beat him by more than two bike lengths.

The race marks the start of the second part of Demare's season following the classics but unlike last year, the Tour de France is his main goal. Hence, he claims that he is not yet as strong as he was when he won the race 12 months ago.

"In the end, it was quite hectic and I was worried when I found myself in fifteenth position 500 meters from the finish line," he told his team's website. "I produced a first sprint to get back into position and I continued my effort to pass all my rivals and take the win.

"My team was outstanding, knowing that we could get a success. We get on well, we did all the classics together. After Paris-Roubaix, I didn't touch the bike for 9 days. I went on vacation and cleared my head. Unlike last year, my goals are far away, so I'm less fit than in May 2013, but I won and so it is very encouraging. I owe it to my teammates."

"We wanted a bunch sprint so we controlled the race, " sports director Franck Pineau said. "With the wind, the selection was made naturally on the Casselberg which we did twice, and then in the long straights that followed. 

"The guys have done a tremendous job while Mickael Delage missed the boat due to a broken derailleur. The aim was to bring Arnaud to the last kilometer and as always, he had to finish it off when he sees his teammates have so much confidence in him."

The race continues with a stage that includes several pavé sectors which should do nothing to scare Demare as he finished 12th in this year's Paris-Roubaix.