Tuesday’s stage two in the 73rd Paris – Nice stage race played out similar to the prior day with a group sprint deciding the day’s winner. Team Katusha’s Alexander Kristoff contested the sprint for 8th place on stage 2 and earned the green sprint jersey on the general classification. The win went to André Greipel (Lotto Soudal) at a time of 4:30.18.

"Today it didn't go as well as yesterday. I found myself too far from the action and I lost a lot of energy to try and make it back to the front. As a result I didn't have good enough legs to do a good sprint. In the intermediate sprint, I managed to take some points but I was not as well later on. I know there's another chance tomorrow and I will  try to get another one and to score points to try and keep this green jersey.

"Honestly, today I did not feel really good during the day. I felt tired a little bit, so in the final I missed some freshness in the legs. In the sprint I tried to do my best, but in that moment my legs did not answer as I wanted. A few guys passed me and I did not respond in the end. Anyway I am happy with the green jersey. Tomorrow is another day and I will try to take another chance. We will see," said team leader Alexander Kristoff.

The 172 km stage began in Zoo Parc de Beauval and ended in Saint-Aignan with 158 riders on course. It was another day of flat terrain and only Arnaud Gerard (Bretagne- Séché) made up the breakaway. His efforts were brought back, setting up another attack led by Tony Martin, but the peloton came together in the final and the group sprint followed with Greipel the clear winner.  Second and third places went to Arnaud Demare (FDJ.fr) and John Degenkolb (Team Giant-Alpecin).

The race lead still belongs to Michal Kwiatkowski (Etixx – Quick Step) who has worn the yellow jersey since his opening prologue win on Sunday. BMC’s Rohan Dennis and Degenkolb are second and third on the classification. While Kristoff rode in the green jersey today with Kwiatkowski the rightful owner in yellow, Alex’s strong sprint performances in stages 1 and 2 put him at the top of the leader board and earn him full rights to the jersey after stage 2.

Tomorrow brings stage 3 and one more for the sprinters before Thursday hits the mountains. At 179 km, the stage begins in Saint-Amand-Montrond and ends in Saint-Pourçain-sur-Sioule.