The Race
Known as The Race To The Sun, Paris-Nice is the first European stage-race tour and an important barometer for the rest of the season, essentially acting as the first real step on the road to the Tour de France. Over seven days, the riders will cover 1,187 kilometres, much of them over attacking terrain that organisers and fans will hope inspires a very close contest.
Last Year
A nail-biting finish into Nice for the second year in a row saw Sergio Henao hold onto victory by just two seconds from a charging Alberto Contador after what had been an exceptional day’s racing on the final stage. Contador attacked 50km out on the final stage and used the Col D’Eze to build a 50 second gap, putting him in the virtual lead of the race, but Henao’s strong decent coupled with Dave De La Cruz’s sprint finish for the win of the stage meant the Colombian took victory by two seconds.
How do you watch?
Eurosport Player and Eurosport in the UK and across Europe, although France 3 and Sporza will also have live coverage.
The Route
Stage 1: Chatou > Meudon, 135 km
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A short and sharp run through Paris and its outskirts, with the grand depart and finish in different suburbs – the former being Forqeux and the latter being Meudon. The finish has a sting in it, however; It’s a 1.9km climb to the finish that averages 6%, and is one for the puncheurs.
Stage 2: Orsonville > Vierzon 187 km
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A simpler assignment for the riders are the route south begins in earnest with what is a race across northern France towards a likely sprint finish in Vierzon which should be for the pure fastmen this time.
Stage 3: Bourges > Châtel-Guyon 210 km
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The longest stage of the race and another day of flat terrain ahead of a finishing loop around the town of Châtel-Guyon. There are three third category climbs which have pretty substantial percentages, the last topping out at just over 20 kilometres to go, so a full bunch kick is not guaranteed.
Stage 4: La Fouillouse > Saint-Étienne, 18.4 km (ITT)
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A time trial of two halves, with an 8-kilometre climb towards Saint-Henand before a 6.5km descent to the second check in La Tour-En-Jarez. There’s then a flat run to the line in Saint-Étienne.
Stage 5: Salon-de-Provence > Sisteron, 163.5 km
The race heads into the Alps for the first time with four climbs, the toughest pair coming in the first 70 kilometres. The Col de Lagarde’D’Apt is serious – 11km at 7% so much depends on how hard it is raced as after there’s a category 3 climb and then 40km of decent before the run into Sisteron.
Stage 6: Sisteron > Vence, 188 km
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The beginning of the race’s defining weekend and the first chance to see a real battle between the climbers. 6 ascents packed into 130km will make for a fascinating day with the ascent of the Cote de la Colle-Sur-Loop proving particularly vicious.
Stage 7: Nice > Valdeblore La Colmiane, 175 km
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A tough stage but this is all about the finishing climb of Valdeblore La Colmiane, an agonising test of early season form at 16kms in length with an average percentage of 6%. Those who rode it last year will have knowledge as it was taken from the other direction.
Stage 8: Nice to Nice, 110 km
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This is must watch material. 6 climbs, either first or second category, packed into just 110km. The Col d’Èze – which used to be the scene of a specific time trial – is the second last climb.
The Winner
Will be a strong all-around rider, able to time trial well but also be strong on the climbing front. Descending is crucial too, given the finishes to stages six and eight – Sergio Henao managed to take back the title that way last year.
The Contenders
Sergio Henao took this race by just two seconds last year but it was a fine effort to rein Alberto Contador back on the last stage and he has to be respected in his repeat bid. Fourth in a strong inaugural edition of the Colombia Oro y Paz, he should come here stripping fitter for that and has taken the Colombian title already this season.
He is part of a serious double leader team for Sky with Wout Poels also present. Poels, sixth in the Vuelta when arguably the difference between victory and defeat for Chris Froome there, was second in the Ruta Del Sol when Froome made his comeback and he took the race’s summit finish with an impressive show of early season strength. His record against the clock is decent and he’ll enjoy the time trial’s early climb to boot along with the long finish to stage 6.
Julian Alaphilippe (Quick-Step) was seventh behind Henao in Colombia but stepped forward a good deal when third in the Abu Dhabi Tour, finishing third on the Jebel Hafeet; Fifth last year, he arguably comes into this edition of the race with better form under his belt (after all, Valverde and Miguel Lopez were only two to beat him on the climb) and the opening stage could see him take bonus seconds.
Jakob Fuglsang (Astana) was going very well in the Tour itself before a bad injury torpedoed his chances and with a winter to get over the ill effects, has started this season well with a third at the Volta a la Comunitat Valenciana and a fourth at the Ruta Del Sol, 22 seconds behind Poels. He ought to show up well again through the week and brings another powerful double-header for Astana as Luis Leon Sanchez who had basically the same time. Both will enjoy the course a lot.
Tim Wellens (Lotto) took the Ruta Del Sol courtesy of his stage win over t vicious ramps of Alcalá de los Gazules, although he was only two seconds behind Poels on the summer finish and he also put in more than respectable time trial to seal the victory. That was his first stage race of the season and he can strip fitter
A good fourth in the Volta ao Algarve em Bicicleta bodes well for the chances of Bauke Mollema (Trek). Having put in a huge amount of legwork for team-mates last season, he has a chance to be centre stage again and this looks ideal terrain for the Dutchman who will be aiming for a podium at least.
Mitchelton Scott’s Simon Yates has all the potential to go really close over this course but he’s leaked early season form and should strip fitter. For a young talent who can go very well, look at Marc Soler. Last season he was 24th, having been 36th at the Ruta del Sol, but he since went onto have several breakout performances, and this season, he was 3rd in the Ruta Del Sol. He’s still unexposed, but if he keeps improving at the same rate he can do big things.
