Germany's Max Kanter sprinted to victory on stage two of Paris-Nice in Montargis on Monday as American Luke Lamperti retained the race leader's yellow jersey.

Kanter, riding for Astana, powered clear of New Zealander Laurence Pithie and Belgian Jasper Stuyven in a tense sprint finish.

Along the way, there was also an intermediate sprint, which Juan Ayuso almost won. The Lidl-Trek GC contender beat almost all the fastest riders, except for Vito Braet. Good for four bonus seconds.

The peloton only caught Dutch rider Daan Hoole in the closing kilometers after he had led the race for the final 20km.

Jonas Vingegaard Among Favorites For Time Trial Test

The general classification contenders, led by two-time Tour de France winner Jonas Vingegaard, are expected to emerge in Tuesday's third stage.

The 23.5km individual time trial runs between Cosne-Cours-sur-Loire and Pouilly-sur-Loire in central France.