Profiles Paris-Nice 2022

From March 6th to 13th, one of the season's most pivotal stage races unfolds as the peloton embarks on the prestigious Race to the Sun, also known as Paris-Nice. Serving as the inaugural World Tour stage race of the year, Paris-Nice acts as a springboard for the classics while also serving as a battleground for some of the world's top climbers and sprinters.

The eighth days of racing will start with a finale in Mantes-la-Ville, a stage suited to the sprinters but with a couple of launchpads near the end where the puncheurs and rouleurs may sneak in for the win. Stages two and three are for the sprinters, albeit the second day is the only one in the race where a pure sprint is assured.

Stage four will see the race's time-trial with 13.4 kilometers, a very hilly one it must be said where differences can be made. Stage five may see the race explode as the peloton go over a set of climbs, specially the Col de la Mure (7.7Km at 8.1%) that if attacked, can absolutely blow up the peloton in pieces, with another small ascent before the finish in the Valence area. Stage six is a day that suits breakaways quite a lot, into Provence the finish in Aubagne comes after a very hilly stage.

The final weekend will see likely the two most decisive stages. Stage seven sees the riders go up the longest, and hardest climb of the race, the Col de Turini. This is the queen stage, big differences can be made there and impressive performances are expected, a day where all GC contenders must be at their best shape. The final day into Nice follows a traditional path, however besides the Montee de Peille the stage this year features a side of the Col d'Èze which is more likely to cause damage, with 1.3Km at 11.5% in the middle of it's 6 kilometer ascent before descending into Nice for the race's grand finale.