The opening phase is easy-going. Over flat to gently rolling roads, the riders head south in an almost straight line. The first obstacle comes roughly 60 kilometres into the race: a 2.3-kilometre climb to Lentilly averaging 4.7%. After that, the route continues much the same as before, flat to rolling in a southerly direction.
The riders have covered about 100 kilometres when the Côte d’Échalas rises for 4.7 kilometres at an average of 5.1%. The route continues in familiar style, flat to rolling, before descending towards the Rhône, which they follow for over 20 kilometres along entirely flat roads.
With just under 40 kilometres to go, the Côte de Sécheras opens the (pre)finale with a climb of 3.9 kilometres at 7%. The road drops immediately towards the Rhône, and a short stint on the flat later, the riders leave the river for good. With 22 kilometres remaining, the real finale begins.
The Côte de Saint-Jean-de-Muzols is a wall of 2.2 kilometres with an average gradient of 11%. The descent comes after 2 kilometres, followed by a slightly rising section leading to the Côte de Saint-Barthélemy-le-Plain, which climbs 3.2 kilometres at 7.6%. From the summit, 9 kilometres remain — roughly half downhill and the other half slightly uphill. The final kilometre rises at 2.9%.
The first three riders across the line gain 10, 6 and 4 bonus seconds, while the intermediate sprint offers 6, 4 and 2 seconds.
Ride the route yourself? Download GPX stage 5 Paris-Nice 2026.
Stage 5 of Paris–Nice starts at 11:50 and the race is expected to finish around 17:00 – both local times (CET).
Paris-Nice 2026 stage 5: route, profile, videos
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