The queen stage of Paris-Nice is facing serious uncertainty
as heavy snowfall threatens to disrupt the planned finish in Auron. According
to Mon Séjour en Montagne, the entire region is set to be hit with persistent
snow throughout the week, with conditions looking particularly severe on Friday,
just a day before the stage is due to take place.
Auron, which is already
covered in snow, is expected to receive an additional 30 centimetres, and snow
is also forecasted on Col de la Colmiane, the penultimate climb of Saturday’s
route.
Read also
So much for the Race to the Sun then hey? This year, it seems to be
more of a Race to the Snowstorm.
With such extreme weather in store, the ASO
may be forced to modify the route, just as they did last year when conditions
also made Auron and Col de la Colmiane inaccessible. On that occasion, the
finish was moved to Madone d’Utelle, a more manageable summit at lower
altitude.
If the snowfall remains as predicted, what alternative
routes could the organisers take?
One possibility is to replicate last year’s adjustment,
using Madone d’Utelle again as the finish. Though not as high as Auron, it
still offers a challenging finale and ensures that the stage retains its GC
significance. Another potential option could be to shift the finish to Isola
2000, which has been used in the past at Paris-Nice, though that too could be
vulnerable to snowfall.
If all mountain passes become unusable, the ASO may be
forced to reconfigure the stage entirely, opting for lower-altitude climbs and
a different type of finale. A shorter, punchy uphill finish, rather than a long
alpine climb, could still shake up the general classification without the risk
of the stage being completely cancelled.
Paris-Nice has had its fair share of weather-related
challenges over the years, from brutal crosswinds to cancelled stages, and the
ASO has typically found ways to adapt. However, with the queen stage being such
a crucial moment for the race, any changes will have a huge impact on the
battle for the overall victory.
For now, all eyes are on the weather forecast, but with the colder-than-usual
conditions persisting, it seems increasingly likely that the organisers will
need to find an alternative solution to ensure the race continues without
disruption.
Fin MajorCycling Journalist
Fin Major is a UK-based writer at CyclingUpToDate and has been part of the team since 2024. He is the site’s main writer for FAQs and evergreen explainers and has written around 2,000 pieces for the platform. Alongside this work, he focuses on in-depth analysis and covers the biggest races on the calendar, including the Tour de France, the Giro d’Italia, and La Vuelta a España, providing clear context around performance trends, tactics, and key storylines.
In his reporting, Fin uses reputable data sources such as ProCyclingStats for results, statistics, and historical context. He places strong emphasis on careful sourcing, editorial accuracy, and updating articles promptly when new, verified information becomes available. Outside of writing, Fin is an active cyclist, which supports his practical understanding of the sport and its demands.
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