Belgium’s Tom Boonen on Monday won the 185-kilometre second stage of the Paris-Nice cycling classic in Orleans but Britain’s Bradley Wiggins moved up from second to take the leader’s yellow jersey.

Omega Pharma rider Boonen outsprinted 20 other riders to cross the line first, beating challengers including Spain’s Alejandro Valverde, Americans Levi Leipheimer and Tejay Van Garderen, as well as French champion Sylvain Chavanel.

The leading group broke away with 80 kilometres to go on a wind-affected route and put nearly two-and-a-half minutes between themselves and the chasing pack.

Spain’s Jose Joaquin Rojas and Germany’s John Degenkolb were second and third behind experienced Boonen, a former world champion in 2005 who has won the Paris-Roubaix classic three times.

Monday’s stage win was the 100th of the 31-year-old’s career and his fifth this season.

Sweden’s Gustav Larsson had been in yellow after the first stage time-trial, with Wiggins second just one second behind him. Britain’s Olympic champion from the Team Sky outfit, though, is now six seconds ahead of Leipheimer.

Simon Gerrans was the best-placed Australian, the GreenEdge rider finishing in the bunch and sits in 33rd place almost three minutes off the pace.

Boonen said it was never a given that they would hold off the chasing pack, even though his team was the best-represented in the breakaway.

“We even nearly fell off the back of the pack because of a roundabout and had a real battle to get back. The objective was to win the stage,” added Boonen, who insisted he was still at the top of his game and was confident of a great year ahead.

For his part, Wiggins also said it was an important stage for him.

“You’ve got to have the legs for a stage like this and a bit of luck to avoid any falls,” he added.

“They were pretty horrible conditions out there; it was cold, there was some sleet and rain around too but, most importantly, Geraint (Thomas) and myself stayed safe in that front group and managed to take the jersey.

“I’m in the shape of my life at the moment and that’s thanks to the coaching team behind me who have pushed me hard all winter.

“They’ve never let up and the goal is the Tour in July which is what we are working towards. But this is a big early-season target, it’s a big race in its own right and we’re here to win it.”

On Tuesday, the third stage takes the riders 194 kilometres from Vierzon to Vassiviere.