Riding in France, in the national champion’s jersey, brings with it much pressure – particularly when you’re aged just 22 and already being touted as your country’s newest star.

But Nacer Bouhanni, a former boxer, is apparently made of stern stuff, as he lived up to expectations and outlined his precocious talent with victory in stage one of Paris-Nice.

Bouhanni first remained in the leading group when crosswinds battered the peloton in the final ten kilometres – with sprint rivals Tom Boonen (Omega Pharma-Quickstep) and Marcel Kittel (Argos-Shimano) among those cut adrift.

And the Frenchman showed the sort of drive which it is hoped will bring him  more success, claiming he was unaware of what was going on behind him as he prepared for the sprint.

Even then, he faced some serious talent with Cannondale’s Elia Viviani and Italian legend, Alessandro Petacchi, then riding in the colours of Lampre-Merida, also competing for honours.

But Bouhanni outsprinted them both, picking up a ten-second time bonus for the win in the process, which earned him the leader’s jersey too.