☀ #ParisNice 2023 en résumé ☀ 🗓 Du 5 au 12 mars 2023 🚴♂️ 8 étapes ⏱ 1 contre-la-montre par équipe 📏1.201 km ⛰16.050 m de dénivelé positif 🗓 From the 5th to 12th March 2023 🚴♂️ 8 stages ⏱ 1 TTT 📏 1.201 km ⛰ 16,050m of positive elevation
Profiles. The Race to the Sun! From the 5th to 12th of March 2023 the peloton will take on a journey from the north of France to the very southeastern tip in a race that is packed with opportunities for the climbers, sprinters and classics riders to succeed right before the main spring classics.
This is a race that will contain a team time-trial, two opportunities for the pure sprinters, two stages where both sprinters and classics riders can succeed, two stages where both puncheurs and climbers can thrive, and a high mountain stage where only the GC men and strong climbers will be able to deal a blow.
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Stage 1: La Verrière - La Verrière, 169.4Km
The opening stage will start and finish in La Verrière and will be the first opportunity for the sprinters to strike. It is a traditional Paris-Nice day where the sprinters have their opportunity on the opening day however the classics riders and puncheurs have not been forgotten. It's a circuit finish around the town, there will be no surprises when it comes to the course towards the end but it could be a very explosive day!
The circuit features two ascents, the most crucial being the third category Côte de Milon-la-Chapelle. 500 meters at 11.6% and it summits with 20.5 kilometers to go. Perhaps too short and distant from the finish to actually split the peloton much, but attacks may pop, the race can be deorganized and much tougher.
Another hilltop coincides with an intermediate sprint only 6 kilometers from the finish. It is 1.5 kilometers long at 4.7%, again attacks may take place and the GC riders may eye the bonus seconds. From there on there is no descent to recover, but instead a flat finale. A bunch sprint remains likely, rather technical with three corners in the final kilometer, the final straight is 500 meters long.
Stage 2: Bazainville - Fontainebleau, 163.7Km
Stage two from Bazainvlle to Fontainebleau will be an easier day, a pan-flat day in the race, however as we've seen in recent years the wind has blow the race to bits. Nevertheless it's not a long day on the bike, only 163 kilometer in length, and thee is no meaningful ascent.
There is nothing too meaningful to analyze before the finish. There is a small descent, but a bunch sprint is inevitable with the fast riders and their leadouts coming to the front. The entrance to the city is met with a roundabout 650 meters away from the finish, but other than that it is as simple of a flat finale as it could be.
Stage 3 (TTT): Dampierre-en-Burly - Dampierre-en-Burly, 32.2Km
Team time-trials are becoming more and more rare in pro cycling. However, the Paris-Nice organizers were keen on making a change, and the third day of racing will do just that. It isn't a short one either, 32.2 kilometers around Dampierre-en-Burly which will create meaningful differences for the overall classification.
It is a day that is as pure of a time-trial as it could be. With an average of 1 corner each 11 kilometers (almost) the specialists in the discipline will have all the time in the world to dial their tactics and make use of their time-trialists. It will be an interesting effort, and meaningful gaps can definitely be created.
Stage 4: Saint-Amand-Montrond - La Loge des Gardes, 164.7Km
Stage four will be another important day for the GC. Not one where the race will be won, but the race can be lost on the climb to La Loge des Gardes. The first two thirds of the day are actually quite gentle, not pan-flat but without any categorized climb and mostly regular flat roads. Towards the finale however the peloton will tackle some hilly terrain.
2Km at 5.8%, 4Km at 3.5%, 5.8Km at 3.8% and 8.9Km at 3.1% all in the space of just 35 kilometers and little descending. It won't destroy the peloton but it will distance some riders and weaken the leadouts and support ahead of the final climb. With a descent into it's base it's set to be a furious one, but it is in this climb of the Massif Central where the overall classification will once again come into play.
La Loge des Gardes. 6.7 kilometers at 7%, but this climb hides a secret that is not visible on the profile. Besides the downhill to the base which will have the peloton stretched out, it's first kilometer has several wide turns, and later on five switchbacks in quick succession. On a normal day this would not be a climb where much damage could be done in my opinion, but on a closer look it seems to be a very explosive climb, suited for early attacks, and with the riders present there surely will be contenders to make it happen.
La Loge des Gardes: 6.7Km; 7%
Stage 5: Saint-Sumphorien-sur-Coise - Saint-Paul-Trois-Châteaux, 212.4Km
The fifth stage of the race is one very suited to a breakaway. It'll be an interesting mix of breakaway action, classics riders possibly attacking and the sprinter teams trying to keep it all together. The finale will be in Saint-Paul-Trois-Châteaux and it comes after a couple of hilltops. The start of the stage features several small ascents with 1.5Km at 8.6% right at the start, followed by 5.2Km at 4.4% and 2.4Km at 5.8%, with steep descents inbetween.
A long flat section then follows where the race will consolidate. There will be two small ascents again towards the end of the 213 kilometers. They are 3.6Km at 4.7% and 4.6Km at 4.8%, summiting with 54 and 32 kilometers to go. They aren't too hard but under the right circumstances could distance some riders.
Then after a descent it's full speed ahead to the finale. It's a straightforward finale however there are roundabouts with 1 kilometers to go and then another one with 400 meters to go. Perhaps not too sharp, but they can make a difference towards the end if it comes down to a sprint.
Stage 6: Tourves - La Colle-sur-Loup, 197.4Km
Stage 6 an explosive day where once again the classics riders can clash with the sprinters, but the GC riders will be just as much into favouritism. Breakaways can surely succeed as well. The day starts with a small rise where a strong group has the opportunity to go up the road. As the riders head into Nice they face mostly flat roads, but there will be two big challenges before reaching La Colle-sur-Loup.
With 64 kilometers to go the peloton finishes the Côte de Cabris. 9.4 kilometers at 4.7% does not sound dangerous in any way but it's a climb split into three uphill sections. The middle one featuring 500 meters at 16% and the ramps go up to 22%, it's a crazy steep climb and it does provide space for an attack.
Over the summit there was a plateau and a very fast run-up to the final ascent. Here it will be known what is to be the outcome of the day. The climb to the Côte de la Colle-sur-Loup is 2 kilometers at 9.7%, which summits with 28.5 kilometers to go. It's a very hard climb again with ramps over 20%, a crazy steep ascent. Over the summit there is a plateau with rolling roads. The intermediate sprint with 21 kilometers to go sees another steep ramp, with 500 meters at 9%, another opportunity for an attack.
It is more than enough to create gaps, however it is a day where the GC riders may prefer to save their legs, ahead of the decisive weekend. Following that climb the terrain will be up and down all the way into the finish. It will be incredibly quick, however in the final kilometer the riders will find uphill gradients into the final sprint.
Stage 7: Nice - Col de la Couillole, 143.8Km
Stage seven is the queen stage and a quite simple one. It is a short day on the bike which starts in Nice, and will see the long but not steep ascent of the Côte de Tourette-du-Château which is 17.8 kilometers at 4.6%. However with no doubts this is a day that is set to have one decisive effort. Additionally it is only 143 kilometers long, a short day in the saddle.
All eyes on the Col de la Couillole. Last used here in 2017 where Richie Porte took a victory, it's a proper mountain in the Alpes Maritimes. It's the queen stage perhaps, not the only one where gaps will be made, but definitely the hardest effort of the race.
It is 15.8 kilometers long at 7.3%. The summit finish takes place at almost 1700 meters of altitude and the day also has 3600 meters of climbing. It's a very consistent climb without any meaningful irregularities throughout the day. At the summit, the overall classification winner may be almost decided, although the final day will still be quite dangerous.
Col de la Couillole: 15.8Km; 7.3%
Stage 8: Nice - Nice, 118.4Km
The traditional final stage in Nice will wrap up the race. The general classification can and likely will play out in this day. A breakaway can also succeed here, and it's with no surprise as the stage features only 118 kilometers and five similar categorized climbs, all followed by descents which are frequently technical. An explosive day where a lot of action is in store.
6,2Km at 5.8%, 5.4Km at 4.5%, 6.5Km at 5.8% are the details of the initial climbs of the day which start after 14 kilometers of racing. This is likely where the breakaway will be set, the GC fight will begin to be played out tactically, as the short succession of ascents and technical descent are ideal terrain for a chaotic race situation, leading up to the first decisive climb of the day.
Côte de Peille which has 6.6Km at 6.9%. It's a climb which doesn't frighten many by it's details but almost every year sees big attacks which decimate the peloton. There are 14 hairpins in this ascent which could be called a mini Alpe d'Huez. It is no surprise why so many riders try their luck attacking here and why even the best GC riders find themselves under great difficulties. After follows a long plateau and descending section into Nice.
And the hardest vertent of the Col d'Éze which is 6.2Km at 7.6% (with some 1.9Km at 10.7% in the middle). It's a brutal climb and likely the most difficult vertent of the climb. Used in past years, this is one where differences can actually be made. It features the gradients, but also the distance, it's a serious ascent which at the end of such a difficult day and eight days of racing can be deadly to some.
The summit is 15.5 kilometers away from the finish, most of them downhill back into Nice where gaps can still be cut or increased, before the finale at the Promenade des Anglais.
Col d'Èze: 6.1Km; 7.7%
Estimated start and finish times for Paris-Nice:
Stage 1: 13:00 - 16:55CET.
Stage 2: 13:00 - 16:40CET.
Stage 3: 14:15 - 16:30CET.
Stage 4: 12:40 - 16:40CET.
Stage 5: 11:35 - 16:40CET.
Stage 6: 11:50 - 16:40CET.
Stage 7: 11:00 - 14:50CET.
Stage 8: 11:55 - 14:50CET.
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Nov 05, 13:04
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