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Sam Bennett has won the opening stage of Paris-Nice today and also claimed the first yellow jersey of the 2021 'Race to the Sun'.
It's the first time an Irishman has led the week-long French race since Stephen Roche held the then leader's white jersey for two stages in 1990 before losing it to Miguel Indurain.
Sean Kelly went on a seven-in-a-row run of overall wins in the 1980s in Paris Nice, the final victory of which was in 1988.
Bennett (Deceuninck-QuickStep) was too fast for his rivals at the end of today's opening stage; some 165.8km staring and finishing in Saint-Cyr-L’École.
He wears the yellow jersey into tomorrow's stage 2 which may also end in a sprint as it is even flatted than today, though crosswinds may be a bigger feature tomorrow.
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It was Bennett's third win of the season as he had taken two victories at UAE Tour last month and he prevailed today despite Groupama-FDJ trying to dominate the front in the final for Arnaud Demare.
Indeed, Demare took up it very early in the uphill finish and for a moment it looked like Bennett was a little too far back. But in the end he showed he had the speed and strength to well beat all-comers.
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Bennett, sprinting on the hoods, came off the wheels, glance across at Demare and Pascal Ackermann (Bora-hansgrohe) and powered passed them.
He took a clear win, with time to take both hands off the bars; ahead of Demare and Mads Pedersen (Trek-Segafredo).
Bennett had been on the wheel of Pedersen deep inside the final kilometre and bumped Michael Matthews (Team BikeExchange) away when the Australian tried to take the wheel from him.
From that point, Bennett waited and waited while his rivals went too early and at the last Bennett appeared and took a stunning victory on the uphill finishing straight.
Lots more to come.
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