Paris-Nice 2026: Route

Paris–Nice starts on Sunday 8 March and finishes the following Sunday. As always, the Race to the Sun suits all tastes - sprinters, breakaway specialists, puncheurs, (team) time trialists, and climbers. The riders face around 1,250 kilometres in the saddle with 16,650 metres of elevation gain. The time trial, as in the past three years, is a team event, and there are two uphill finishes.

Stage-by-stage breakdown of Paris-Nice 2026

Stage 1
Riders face almost 2,000 metres of climbing over 171.2 kilometres. The stage finishes on a circuit featuring a short, punchy climb of 1.1 kilometres at 8.3%, located 10 kilometres from the line.

Stage 2
With 1,270 metres of elevation gain over 187 kilometres, stage 2 offers a prime opportunity for the sprinters — unless crosswinds disrupt the fast men’s plans. The only climbs are located far from the finish.

Stage 3
Stage 3 is a gently rolling 23.5-kilometre team time trial. As in the past three editions, each rider’s individual time counts. Just as will be the case in the upcoming Tour de France.

Stage 4
Covering 195 kilometres and more than 2,500 metres of climbing, day four brings the first of two uphill finishes. The route itself is not particularly demanding, but the finale is something to look forward to. The closing kilometres rise and fall continuously, before the road ramps up to a brutal 12.8% after the flamme rouge.

Stage 5
It’s the longest stage of Paris–Nice — and also the most demanding in terms of elevation gain. Over 205.4 kilometres, riders tackle more than 3,000 metres of climbing, with three steep ascents in the final 35 kilometres preceding a slightly uphill finish.

Stage 6
Stage 6 is a hilly race of 179.3 kilometres with 2,100 metres of climbing. With 4.5 kilometres remaining, riders crest the final climb: 4 kilometres at 5% and with the last 650 metres averaging 7.3%. The riders fly downhill before the final kilometre is flat.

Stage 7
At 138.7 kilometres, the riders travel from Nice to Auron. After two early climbs, everything comes down to the final ascent, which rises over 7.3 kilometres at an average gradient of 7.2%. Along the way, riders accumulate 2,580 metres of elevation gain.

Stage 8
The final stage covers 145 kilometres with just under 2,800 metres of climbing. Five climbs spice up the route, with the last one averaging 8.8% over 3.3 kilometres. From the summit, 18.6 kilometres remain to the finish.