Paris-Nice queen stage in danger of cancellation as 'Race to the Sun' is hit by snowstorm

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.

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.