France's Arnaud Demare of the FDJ team won a sprint finish for the first stage of the Paris-Nice race on Monday as Australia's Michael Matthews of Orica holds the race lead.

Demare, junior world champion in 2011 and French champion in 2014, crossed ahead of Britain's Ben Swift and France's Nacer Bouhanni after the 198km stage between Conde-sur-Vesgre and Vendome.

Swift launched the sprint but was caught with Demare, 24, claiming his second success of the season after winning a stage in the Tour of the Mediterranean last month.

Tuesday's second stage will favour the sprinters, covering 213.5km from Contres to Commentry in central France.
Source: AFP