He took victory on yesterday's opening 221 kilometre stage relegating multi-grand Tour stage winner Nacer Bouhanni and this years Milan San Remo and Paris Roubaix winner John Degenkolb to the minor placings.
The Bora-Argon 18 rider holds a 3 second lead going into today’s 180 kilometre stage.
The 24 year old hasn’t raced since his spectacular high speed crash in Belgium last month.
