Paris-Nice 2017 Route stage 7: Nice – Col de la Couillole

Saturday, 11 March 2017 - At 177 kilometres, the route of stage 7 in Paris-Nice travels from Nice to Col de la Couillole. With two 1st category ascents this is the Queen Stage, finishing at an elevation of 1,678 metres after a 15 kilometres closing climb. Never before did Paris-Nice reach that high.

After 30 kilometres have crested two peaks with no proper descent in between. Côte de Gattières is a 4.5 kilometres climb at 4.8% (2nd category) and Col de Vence is 9.7 kilometres and 6.6% (1st categorie). Then the route continues on rolling roads without real obstacles.

At kilometre 110 the run-up to the Col Saint-Martin begins. A long stretched false flat that's getting steeper along the way, until the last 7.5 kilometres are averaging 7.2%. With 37 kilometres left to race the summit is crested after 140 kilometres in the saddle.

A 20 kilometres drop ushers in the finale, which is the unprecedented Col de la Couillole. Peaking at 1,678 metres this is the highest point in Paris-Nice ever. To get there the riders face a 15.7 kilometres toil at 7.1%. As said, the Race to the Sun never visited the Couillole, yet the Tour de France did, although this was as long ago as the 1970's.

Two intermediate sprints (at kilometre 19 and 120.5) come with time bonuses of 3, 2 and 1 seconds, while the first three riders on the line take 10, 6 and 4 seconds.

Results/race report 7th stage Paris-Nice 2017.