Paris-Nice 2018 Route stage 8: Nice

Paris-Nice 2018 Route stage 8: Nice – Nice

Sunday, 11 March 2018 - At 110 kilometres, the 8th stage of Paris-Nice is likely to bring compelling racing. The route takes in six intermediate climbs before a 9 kilometres drop into Nice. The Col d’Eze is tackled from a different side than in the past, while the Col des Quatre Chemins is the last climb.

The first 80 kilometres of the route are a copy of last year’s final stage. Following the start in Nice the riders climb a false flat to Saint-Martin-du-Var before the Côte de Levens is tackled, a 6.2 kilometres climb at 5.5%. The route continues for a few kilometres to the village Levens before a drop runs to the foot of the Côte de Chateauneuf, which is 5.4 kilometres and averaging 4.4%. The descent brings the Col de Calaïson in its wake – 6.3 kilometes at 4.4%.

The riders are now halfway. A 10 kilometres drop – gentle and steady – leads to the Côte De Peille. The ascent is 6.6 kilometres and averaging 6.8%, arguably the toughest task of the day. In the most recent editions of Paris-Nice a long drop ran from the Peille’s summit all the way into Nice, yet this time the riders turn right in Èze to tackle the local col.

Climbing from Nice, the Col d’Èze is 7.7 kilometres at 5.5%, but if you hit the col from Èze it is a punchy 1.6 kilometre drag at 8.1%. After cresting the riders drop down the slopes they usually climb.

Following the passage through Nice the Col des Quatre Chemins is the last climb. The ascent is 5,5 kilometres and averaging 5.5%, while the finale is a 9 kilometres descent into Nice. The finish is on the Promenade des Anglais overlooking the Mediterranean.

The final descent in the last two editions of Paris-Nice were breathtaking. On both occasions the now retired Alberto Contador attacked on the Côte de Peille and it came down to the last drop if he would win the race. Both in 2017 and 2016 he missed out by a few seconds. Last year Sergio Henao took the overall 2 seconds ahead of Contador and two years ago Geraint Thomas was 4 seconds faster.

The first three riders on the line take time bonuses of 10, 6 and 4 seconds, while the two intermediate sprints (at kilometre 24 and at kilometre 78.5) come with 3, 2 and 1 seconds.