paris-nice

The first European World Tour stage race of the season,
Paris-Nice, will get underway between March 6 and March 13, testing the form
and ambitions of the riders who will go on to compete for victory in July’s
Tour de France.

This year’s race will have less of an emphasis on time
trials and more on testing the ability of the riders on a variety of terrains,
from dirt tracks to exposed roads.

Beginning at Conde-sur-Vesgre, the opening
stage to Vendome will see riders battle cross winds and navigate two dirt
tracks on the 195km leg. In total there will be seven challenging stages, with
the race including a visit to the Chalet Reynard on the slopes of Mont Ventoux
and several difficult climbs and sprints. Known as the ‘Race to the Sun’, the
race will come to a close with a road race stage around Nice, with the Col
d’Eze providing one last climb demanding enough to determine the final victor,
who will be crowned on the seafront at the Promenade d’Anglais. 

Also revealed with the race details was the news that a
Paris-Nice sportif would take place on Saturday March 12, where amateur riders
can emulate the gruelling final stage of the tour. Called the Paris-Nice
challenge, riders can choose to enter for a 99km or a 126km route.

Join in with the action and watch the winning rider claim
victory as it happens – book a stay in one of our luxury Nice villas today.

Image: Dacoucou, available
under Creative Commons