Paris-Nice

Where: France

When: March 5-12, 2023

Rank: UCI WorldTour

Paris-Nice celebrates its 80th anniversary, and the famous UCI WorldTour event is expected to boast a star studded list of general classification leaders.

The 2023 Paris-Nice route has been announced, and the stage looks set to create an exciting race. Highlights include summit finishes at La Loge des Gardes and the Col de la Couillole, as well as an intriguing take on the team time trial.

The race will begin in the northern Yvelines department in France for the 14th year in a row. The early stages promise potentially decisive crosswinds, as the riders head from La Verrière to La Verrière on stage one, and Bazainville to Fontainebleau on stage two. Apart from crosswinds, these should be largely trouble-free days for the race leaders.

Stage three sees the return of a team time trial to the Race to the Sun, which will be ridden in team format but timed individually.

Steep climbs on stage four carry the potential to shake things up, with the peloton crossing from Saint-Amand-Montrond to La Loge des Gardes, a category one climb.

Stage five is largely flat, but the terrain could spring a surprise, before stages six and seven see the return of hills. The penultimate day's 17km ascent of the Col de la Couillole will almost definitely prove decisive in the overall battle.

The final stage leaves plenty of room for GC movement, with riders facing the Col d’Eze, Paris-Nice's famous final climb; last year, Simon Yates almost sprang a surprise upon Primož Roglič on the last day.

Paris-Nice history 

The eight-stage event, often referred to as the 'Race to the Sun', typically opens in wintry conditions near Paris before concluding in the warmer, Mediterranean city of Nice.

Hilly parcours mean the favourites are usually climbers, and recent victors include Primož Roglič last year, two-time winner Max Schachmann, 2019 Tour de France winner Egan Bernal, 2018's Tour de France winner Geraint Thomas, as well as Bradley Wiggins, Richie Porte and Alberto Contador.

Going further into the history books, other winners include the likes of Jacques Anquetil and Eddy Merckx, while Sean Kelly claims the most win with seven, in the 1980s.

Paris-Nice is organised by ASO, the same outfit behind races such as the Tour de France and Paris-Roubaix.

The 2020 event was the last international cycling event, and the last sporting event in France, before mass gatherings were cancelled due to Covid-19. 

In 2022, the riders will cover a total distance of 1,201km over the eight days, with the route featuring stage finishes at Dampierre-en-Burly, Saint-Paul-Trois-Châteaux, and Nice.

Paris-Nice 2022 stages

Stage 1: La Verrière - La Verrière, 169.4km
Stage 2: Bazainville - Fontainebleau, 163.7km
Stage 3: Dampierre-en-Burly - Dampierre-en-Burly, 32.2km (team-time-trial)
Stage 4: Saint-Amand-Montrond - La Loge des Gardes, 164.7km
Stage 5: Saint-Symphorien-sur-Coise - Saint-Paul-Trois-Châteaux, 212.4km
Stage 6: Tourves - La Colle-sur-Loup, 197.4km
Stage 7: Nice - Col de la Couillole, 142.9km
Stage 8: Nice - Nice, 118.4km

Paris-Nice: Recent winners

2022: Primož Roglič (Slo)
2021: Max Schachmann (Ger)
2020: Max Schachmann (Ger)
2019: Egan Bernal (Col)
2018: Marc Soler (Esp)
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