Where: France
When: March 4-11, 2018
Rank: UCI WorldTour

Paris-Nice stage three
Spaniard Luis León Sanchez (Astana) moved into the overall race lead of 2018 Paris-Nice after placing second behind stage winner Jonathan Hivert (Direct Energie).

Both riders had been in an escape with Remy Di Gregorio (Delko Marseille Provence KTM), and managed to keep the peloton at bay to contest the finish.

>>> Read the full Paris-Nice stage three report

Paris-Nice stage two
Dutch sprinter Dylan Groenewegen (LottoNL-Jumbo) continued the successful start to his season by winning stage two of Paris-Nice. It’s his fifth win of the season so far.

Race leader Arnaud Démare (Groupama-FDJ) managed to extend his overall lead after placing fifth on the stage. The French national champion now leads Gorka Izagirre (Bahrain-Merida) by seven seconds overall, with Christophe Laporte (Cofidis) in third at eight seconds.

Dylan Groenewegen wins stage two of Paris-Nice. Photo: Yuzuru Sunada

>>> Read the full Paris-Nice stage two report here

Paris-Nice stage one
French national champion Arnaud Démare (Groupama-FDJ) took the victory on the opening stage of the 2018 edition of Paris-Nice.

Démare took the victory by a few millimetres in a photo finish, with Gorka Izagirre (Bahrain-Merida) placing second and Christophe Laporte (Cofidis) third after a tough uphill slog to Meudon.

Wet conditions prevailed throughout the stage, and a number of riders succumbed to crashes, notably American overall hope Tejay van Garderen (BMC) who was forced to abandon the race.

Arnaud Démare in the race lead after stage one of Paris-Nice 2018. Photo: Yuzuru Sunada

>>> Read the full Paris-Nice stage one report here

Preview
In its 76th year in 2018, Paris-Nice, nicknamed the race to the sun, dates back to 1933 and sees riders begin in Paris and finish in Nice after eight days of racing.

Sergio Henao (Team Sky) took victory at Paris-Nice 2017, the first stage race victory of his career.

The Colombian moved into yellow on the penultimate day of the race, as home favourite Julian Alaphilippe (Quick-Step Floors) dropped out of contention.

However despite the final stage in the hills around Nice being relatively short (115.5km), the five categorised climbs provided plenty of places to attack.

Alberto Contador (Trek-Segafredo) is never one to turn down an opportunity to attack, and duly launched his move on the penultimate climb of the day, the Côte de Peille, as he attempted to overturn a 31-second deficit to Henao.

Henao was unable to follow, meaning that the race was set up as a carbon copy of the final stage of the 2016 Paris-Nice, when Contador attacked another Team Sky rider – Geraint Thomas.

In 2016 Geraint Thomas was able to claw back enough time on the final descent into Nice to win the race by four seconds, and faced with an identical scenario, Henao did exactly the same.

The Team Sky rider took enough time on the final descent to finish 21 seconds behind Contador on the stage, which despite the Spaniard picking up six bonus seconds for finishing second on the stage – behind David de la Cruz (Quick-Step Floors), was enough for Henao to win Paris-Nice 2017 by a slender two seconds.

The Paris-Nice route for 2017 featured the usual mix of flat and mountainous terrain, with an individual time trial thrown into the mix for good measure. The 2018 route is yet to be announced but isn’t expect to break the mould.

Paris Nice 2018 stages

Paris-Nice 2018 teams

Ag2r-La Mondiale (FRA)
Astana (KAZ)
Bahrain-Merida (BHR)
BMC Racing (USA)
Bora-Hansgrohe (GER)
EF Education First-Drapac (USA)
Dimension Data (RSA)
FDJ (FRA)
Katusha – Alpecin (SUI)
Lotto Soudal (BEL)
LottoNL-Jumbo (NED)
Movistar (ESP)
Mitchelton-Scott (AUS)
Quick-Step Floors (BEL)
Team Sky (GBR)
Team Sunweb (GER)
Trek-Segafredo (USA)
UAE Team Emirates (UAE)
Fortuneo-Samsic (FRA)
Delko Marseille Provence (FRA)
Cofidis (FRA)
Direct Energie (FRA)

Paris-Nice: Recent winners

2017: Sergio Henao (Col)
2016: Geraint Thomas (GBr)
2015: Richie Porte (Aus)
2014: Carlos Betancur (Col)
2013: Richie Porte (Aus)
2012: Bradley Wiggins (GBr)
2011: Tony Martin (Ger)
2010: Alberto Contador (Spa)
2009: Luis Leon Sanchez (Spa)
2008: Davide Rebellin (Ita)
2007: Alberto Contador (Ita)
2006: Floyd Landis (USA)

Key info: Paris-Nice route | Paris-Nice start list | TV guide
Website: Paris-Nice