Norwegian Alexander Kristoff of Katusha has won Stage One of the Paris-Nice race.
World Champion Michael Kwiatkowski ahead by three tenths of a second from Rohan Dennis, was in the lead for a stage of 192kms from Saint-Rémy-lès-Chevreuse to Contres.
First to attack was Jonathan Hivert who had a lead of a minute after 21kms and 2.50 after 35.8kms and took the first sprint and climb of the day.
However, he was caught by Tommy Voeckler of Europcar and Anthony Delaplace of Bretagne Seche Enviroment, who got two minutes clear of the peloton and were 3.25 ahead with 81kms gone.
Through the feedzone and the lead of the duo was 5.29 on a cloudy day but down to 4.20 with 85kms to go.
The gap dropped to under three minutes before the peloton realised that the gap was dropping too quickly and they let it go up to over three minutes before knocking off another minute to leave Voeckler and Delaplace with a lead of 1.50 with 66kms to go.
The average speed of 34kmh on flat roads ensured that Voeckler and Delaplace still had a lead of 1.25 with 41.3kms left.
Voeckler launched an attack with Delaplace in his wheel to put some time back in their lead and it had gone out to 1.46 with twenty one kilometres left.
Two kilometres later and Tom Boonen of Etixx Quick Step hit the deck, holding his shoulder. The Belgian received medical attention but his race was over.
Deplace took the second sprint with ten kilometres left, followed by Voeckler and Geraint Thomas of Team Sky who jumped out of the peloton who were 1.19 further down the road.
Team Sky were driving things on the front of the peloton but Delaplace and Voeckler were working well together and were still 51 seconds ahead with six kilometres to go.
Lotto, Sky, who had Sir Bradley Wiggins urging others to do some work and Katusha, tried to close the gap but on flat straightish roads.
The gap was down to thirty seconds with four kilometres left and continued to fall.
With two kilometres left, the duo were in sight and six hundred metres later, they were caught after a superb effort.
Under the flam rouge and Orica GreenEdge were on the front, trying to set up Michael Matthews. There was an attack down the middle but Matthews started the sprint with Bouhanni, Degenkolb and Alexander Kristoff who won in 5.15.18 ahead of Nacer Bouhanni and Bryan Coquard, followed by Haussler, Nizzolo, Rojas, Hofland, Bonifazio, Ben Swift and Matthews.
Kristoff said: "I am really happy to have won my first Paris-Nice stage. "I just went and managed to get on Bouhanni's wheel and then get past him. I did not know if I had won or not but I am happy to have won."
Michal Kwiatkowski continues to lead the race with his three tenths of a second lead over Rohan Dennis.