Paris-Nice 2026 Route stage 2: Épône - Montargis

Monday 9 March – The 2nd stage of Paris–Nice is the flattest of the week — in other words, a golden opportunity for the sprinters. The riders face 1,270 metres of climbing spread over a 187-kilometre route. You could argue that the riders face a rolling course over the first 145 kilometres, but after that the route is as flat as it gets.

Last updated: 9 March 2026 – favourites added

There are three opportunities to collect mountain points on the way from Épône to Montargis. The Côte des Mesnuls (1.3 kilometres at 5.6%) comes after roughly 30 kilometres, the Côte de Villeconin (1 kilometre at 6.1%) after 81 kilometres, and the Côte du Pressoir (1 kilometre at 6.5%) after 113.4 kilometres. At the intermediate sprint in Fromont, the road rises for 500 metres at 3.3%, and aside from a negligible bump shortly afterwards, the remainder of the course is a sprinter’s dream.

Two years ago, Dutchman Arvid de Kleijn claimed the finest victory of his career in Montargis. In stage 2 of Paris–Nice, he outsprinted Laurence Pithie and Dylan Groenewegen.

Before that, it had been quite some time since a professional peloton last finished in Montargis. In 2010, Mark Cavendish won one of his 35 Tour de France stages in the town in the Gâtinais.

In 2004, Montargis hosted the finish of a wind-swept stage in Paris–Nice, with Pedro Horrillo emerging victorious. Crosswinds are once again the only real threat to a straightforward bunch sprint.

The first three riders across the line receive 10, 6 and 4 bonus seconds, while 6, 4 and 2 seconds are available at the intermediate sprint.

Ride the route yourself? Download GPX stage 2 Paris-Nice 2026.

Another interesting read: results 2nd stage Paris-Nice 2026.