The Frenchman received the perfect lead out from his FDJ team-mates before finding space at the left hand side of the road.

He managed to hold off Katusha-Alpecin Norwegian rider Alexander Kristoff.

Another Frenchman, Cofidis' Nacer Bouhanni, took third place.

All three crossed the line in 4 hours 13min 53sec at the end of an undulating 171 kilometres stage from Saint-Chamond.

A bunch sprint appeared inevitable from a long way out although the breakaway led by Astana’s Alexey Lutsenko was only caught with three kilometres to go.

It marked the second win of the season for 2016 Milan-San Remo winner Démare after he also triumphed at Paris-Nice in March.

Belgium's Lotto-Soudal rider Thomas De Gendt maintain his overall lead following his opening stage victory yesterday.

He finished safely in bunch alongside most of the other contenders for the yellow jersey.

This included Britain and Team Sky's two-time defending champion Chris Froome, Spaniards Alberto Contador of Trek-Segafredo and Alejandro Valverde of Movistar and Australia's BMC star Richie Porte.

Tomorrow will mark a 184km flat stage from Le Chambon-sur-Lignon to Tullins.