Kanter masters Montargis
March 9 th 2026 - 17:33
Celebrated for its spectacular sprint finishes, Montargis crowned Max Kanter (XDS Astana) on day 2 of Paris-Nice 2026. The German sprinter powered to his biggest victory to date as he got the better of Laurence Pithie (Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe), already second in the same place two years ago. Jasper Stuyven (Soudal Quick-Step) rounded out the podium after a thrilling finale. Daan Hoole (Decathlon CMA CGM) launched a daring attack with 21 km remaining, only to be caught inside the last kilometre. Luke Lamperti (EF Education-EasyPost) completed the stage’s top 5 and retained the yellow and white leader’s jersey with the tightest margin; Vito Braet (Lotto Intermarché) is now level on time. The standings will be turned upside down on Wednesday with a team time trial set to kick off the GC battle between Cosne-Cours-sur-Loire and Pouilly-sur-Loire.
On the day after Luke Lamperti’s opening win in the Yvelines department, the peloton of the 84th edition of the Race to the Sun heads south, to reach Montargis with a 187 km stage 2 from Épône. They face 1,270m of elevation, with three cat-3 climbs and a flat run-in to a potential bunch sprint. The area is often windswept but the weather forecast announces moderate winds, with speeds around 10km/h.
Pedersen vs Le Berre, round 2
Jasha Sütterlin (Jayco AlUla) attacks as soon as the flag drops. After 7 kilometres of hard racing, he’s joined at the front by the polka dot jersey wearer Casper Pedersen (Soudal Quick-Step), his runner-up in the KOM standings Mathis Le Berre (TotalEnergies), as well as Matteo Vercher (TotalEnergies too). The four-man breakaway rapidly loses a member, as Sütterlin drops back to the peloton after 12 km.
Already on the move on day 1, Pedersen and Le Berre resume their battle for the KOM points. The Dane has a 1-point advantage as they face the first climb of the day, Côte des Mesnuls (km 30.3). And he makes the most of this first opportunity as he goes first over the top (3 points), ahead of Le Berre (2) and Vercher (1), who waits for the bunch after the summit.
Luke Lamperti’s EF Education-EasyPost and Biniam Girmay’s NSN are already in action at the front of the peloton to control the gap. The lead duo’s advantage hits a maximum of 2’25’’ at km 45.
Pedersen and Le Berre work together on the valley and battle on the ascents. The Dane makes the most of his strength to also go first up Côte de Villeconin (km 81) and Côte du Pressoir (km 113,4). His tally is up to 18 KOM points, compared to Le Berre’s 14.
A thrilling finale
After the last summit, Lotto Intermarché up the ante to catch the breakaway riders before the intermediate sprint in Fromont (46.1km to go). Pedersen and Le Berre are eventually caught just inside the last 60 kilometres, after 119 kilometres at the front.
A dozen kilometres later, Vito Braet (Lotto Intermarché) dominates the intermediate sprint ahead of Juan Ayuso (Lidl-Trek) and Luke Lamperti (EF Education-EasyPost). With the bonus seconds up for grabs (6, 4, and 2), the Belgian sprinter is level on time with the American overall leader. Ayuso trails by 8’’, like Pedersen and Orluis Alar (Movistar). The rest of the field have a gap of at least 12’’. The winner of the stage will take 10 bonus seconds.
The run-in to Montargis is disrupted by a crash with 34 km to go. Sprinters like Phil Bauhaus (Bahrain Victorious), Cees Bol (Decathlon CMA CGM) and Sandy Dujardin (TotalEnergies) are involved. They all get back to the bunch. With Bol affected by the crash, his lead-out man Daan Hoole attacks with 21 km to go. He rapidly opens a gap of 30’’, before Movistar react at the front the bunch.
Tudor, Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe and EF Education-EasyPost also participate in the chase. Hoole is eventually caught inside the last kilometre! Mike Teunissen (XDS Astana) then powers to the front to lead Max Kanter, who takes his biggest win to date ahead of Laurence Pithie (Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe) and Jasper Stuyven (Soudal Quick-Step). Luke Lamperti (EF Education-EasyPost) completes the top 5 and retains the leader’s jersey.
