Paris-Nice 2022 Route stage 8: Nice

Paris-Nice 2022 Route stage 8: Nice - Nice

Sunday 13 March - At 116 kilometres and featuring five climbs, stage 8 is supposed to detonate the fireworks. The last climb, Col d'Èze, is crested with 15 kilometres remaining.

The Nice-Nice final stage of the Race to the Sun is in operation since 2016 – that is, it is scheduled since that year, but it didn’t happen in the last two editions. In 2020, the race was cancelled due to Covid-19; and last year, the route was revamped as the lockdown restrictions related to Covid-19 prevented the riders from visiting Nice. In the preceding years the course was never completely similar, but at heart it was always the same: a short and hilly race and an ensuing downhill into Nice.

Once the flag is dropped the riders enter a false flat of 16 kilometres and then the Côte de Levens kicks in. At the top of the 6.2 kilometres climb at 5.5% the route continues to ascend some more to the village with the same name before dropping down to the foot of the Côte de Chateauneuf. This 5.4 kilometres ascent averages 4.4%. Straight after the descent it goes back up again on the Côte de Berre-las-Alpes – 6.3 kilometres at 6%.

The first three passes are all 2nd category, the last two are labeled 1st category. And not without reason.

The Côte De Peille is a 6.6 kilometres climb at 6.8%. The riders reach the summit with 45 kilometres remaining. Halfway in the 22 kilometres descent the second intermediate sprint appears in La Turbie.

Shortly after reaching Nice the route turns right on the Boulevard de Riquier to tackle the Col d’Èze on a unprecedented side. This way, the staple climb is shorter but steeper – 6 kilometres at 7.6% instead of 7.7 kilometres at 5.5%. The third kilometre is particularly brutal with an average gradient of 13.5%.

After reaching the top of Col d’Èze the riders turn right for a steep plunge towards the beautiful medieval town of Èze. They re-enter the descent they flew down earlier to continue downhill into Nice.

The first three riders on the line gain time bonuses of 10, 6 and 4 seconds, while the intermediate sprints – at kilometre 25.8 and kilometre 81.1 come with 3, 2 and 1 seconds.

Ride the route yourself? Download GPX stage 8.

Another interesting read: results 8th stage 2022 Paris-Nice.