Paris-Nice 2014 Route stage 5: Crêches-sur-Saône - Rive-de-Gier

Thursday, March 13th – Stage 5 takes in 152.5 kilometres from Crêches-sur-Saône to Rive-de-Gier, meaning we are leaving Burgundy and head for the Loire department. The hills are getting more serious as the race heads further south towards its destination. (Slideshow route/profile)

Paris-Nice 2014 Route stage 5: Crêches-sur-Saône - Rive-de-Gier

We mentioned on our stage 4 preview how Thomas Voeckler (image) has fond memories Belleville after a breakaway win in 2011. That particular stage started in today's departure town of Crêches-sur-Saône

Today’s podium kisses will be distributed in Rive-de-Gier, a former mining center in the Loire department. It is located southwest of Lyon. The journey south will take in some tougher climbs than the last few days, so maybe the GC favourites can lay down a marker today.

That said: still no Ventoux' on the menu. Côte de Saint Martin en Haut (after 103 kilometres) and Côte de Sainte-Catherine (after 140 kilometres) are among the toughest. The former is 8.6 kilometres at 4.8%, the latter a 12.5 kilometres climb at 2,8% - nothing to be worried about. Upon cresting the Catherine it's a 12.5 kilometre nosedive to the finish line in Rive-de-Gier.

The retired climber Cyril Dessel was born in Rive-de-Gier. He won the summit finish to Jausiers in the 2008 Tour de France.

The stage starts at 12:00 (CET) and the finish is estimated to be around 15:55.