The sprinting specialist needed all of his nous and experience to accelerate clear at the end of the 199.5 kilometres stage from Quincie-en-Beaujolais.

It came after a series of roundabouts, turns and a tricky climb into a headwind played havoc among the sprinting trains.

The Lotto-Soudal rider edged clear and eventually won by over a bike length in 4 hours 43min 35sec in front of French FDJ rival Aranud Démare.

Dylan Groenewegen of The Netherlands, riding for LottoNL-Jumbo, secured third place as all of the leading riders were awarded the same time.

Overnight race leader Julian Alaphilippe remains in the yellow jersey position after finishing safely in the peloton in 19th position today.

The Quick-Step Floors rider lies 33sec in front of fellow Frenchman Tony Gallopin, of Lotto-Soudal.

Gorka Isagirre of Spain and Movistar is 47sec off the leading pace.

No Frenchman has won Paris-Nice since Laurent Jalabert in 1997.

Elsewhere, Geraint Thomas of Britain won the first individual stage of the Tirreno-Adriatico, a second International Cycling Union (UCI) WorldTour event which is underway.