Editon 74 of Paris-Nice begins with a 6,1 kilometres prologue near Paris – in Conflans-Saint-Honoraire to be precise. Last year, Michal Kwiatkowski took the prologue and thus the leader’s jersey.
Stage 1 brings a mostly flat course of 198 kilometres that are spiced up with a short climb in the finale, while stage 2 is the longest in Paris-Nice 2016, totalling at 214 kilometres.
In stage 3 it will be up to the puncheurs as the finish is atop Mont Brouilly after a 3 kilometres closing climb with a steepset section at 25%. The following day brings stage 4, a 195 kilometres race on rolling roads between Juliénas and Romans-sur-Isère. Sprinters or escapees?
On Friday, March 11, a Mont Ventoux-light climb is programmed in stage 5, a 198 kilometres course to Salon-de-Provence. While not going all the way to the top of Ventoux, but in stead calling it quits at Chalet Reynard, this is still the Queen Stage peaking at an elevation of 1,435 metres. Despite offering five climbs the final 30 kilometres are flat.
At 177 kilometres and featuring seven climbs, stage 6 is expected to be the toughest in this year’s Paris-Nice. The finish is near the Sanctuary of La Madone d’Utelle after a 15.3 kilometres closing climb at 5.7%. But, as said, the race surely is not over till it’s over. In a loop around Nice the closing stage includes six climbs with the last being the famous Col d’Èze, crested with 15 kilometres left.
Is 2016 Paris-Nice to be decided in a blistering descent?
Paris-Nice 2016: Route maps, height profiles, and more
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Route and profile Col d’Èze
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Streetview Col d’Èze
Col d’Èze at strava.com
