Paris-Nice 2014 Route stage 4: Nevers - Belleville

Wednesday, March 12 – Stage 4 in the 2014 edition of Paris-Nice leads is a 201.5 kilometres ride from Nevers to Belleville. We are in Burgundy, one of the hillier regions of France – a bumpy day in store for the riders through the rolling French countryside. (Slideshow route/profile)

Paris-Nice 2014 Route stage 4: Nevers - Belleville

Riders will be happy to have no major transfer after yesterday’s finish at the circuit of Magny-Cours with stage 4 starting in the nearby town of Nevers.

Just like Thomas Voeckler has fond memories of tomorrow's departure town of Crêches-sur-Saôn, he will be no less happy to see Belleville again. Stage 4 of the 2011 race departed from Crêches-sur-Saône and finished in Belleville. The French hero took a breakaway win from a 4 man group of Thomas' (Voeckler and De Gendt) and Rémy's (Pauréol and De Gregorio).

Tom Boonen also has fond memories here as he took a stage win in Belleville in 2006 (image). A young Alberto Contador lost his Best Yound Rider's jersey on the same day.

There are a lot of hills scattered between Nevers and Belleville which should encourage breakaway specialists - this could be the day they make it to the end, especially with the prospect of the Côte du Mont Brouilly with just 14.5 kilometres to go. The first kilometre of Mont Brouilly is relatively easy with a 4.8% incline, but it then moves on to a section with a max gradient of 25%. The total ascent is a bit longer than 3 kilometres with an overall gradient of 8.4%. If a breakaway make it over in one piece, it's a straightforward run in to the finish line.

The stage starts at 10:45 (CET) and the finish is estimated around 15:45.