16km climb to Valdeblore La Colmiane and 110km final stage likely to be decisive
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The Paris-Nice classification winners (Image credit: Tim de Waele/TDWSport.com)
The route map of the 2018 Paris-Nice(Image credit: ASO)
The profile of stage 5 of 2018 Paris-Nice from Salon-de-Provence to Sisteron (Image credit: ASO)
The profile of stage 7 of 2018 Paris-Nice from Nice to Valdeblore La Colmiane (Image credit: ASO)
The profile of stage 8 of 2018 Paris-Nice from Nice to Nice (Image credit: ASO)
The profile of the stage 4 18.4km Paris-Nice time trial to Saint-Étienne (Image credit: ASO)
The route of this year's Paris-Nice is again expected to produce another close and aggressive race, with race organiser ASO including three stages on the exposed plains of central France, a 18.4km time trial to Saint-Étienne, a 16km climb to the finish at Valdeblore La Colmiane and a final 110km hilly stage around Nice.
The eight-day race will be held between March 4-11 and includes 27 climbs and a total distance of 1,187km.
ASO also announced that a mass-participation sportif ride, called the Paris-Nice Challenge, will be held on Saturday, March 10, covering the same roads as the final 110km stage of the professional race. French former rider Thomas Voeckler was confirmed as ASO's new race ambassador. He replaces Bernhard Hinault and will also work for French television at a number of races.
Julian Alaphilippe (Quick Step Floors), Tony Gallopin (AG2R La Mondiale), Warren Barguil (Fortuneo-Samsic), Dan Martin (UAE Team Emirates), Ilnur Zakarin (Katusha-Alpecin), Jakob Fuglsang (Astana), Simon Yates and Esteban Chaves (Mitchelton-Scott) are all expected to fight for overall victory, with Marcel Kittel (Katusha-Alpecin), Andre Greipel (Lotto Soudal), John Degenkolb (Trek-Segafredo), Alexander Kristoff (UAE Team Emirates), Arnaud Démare (FDJ), Nacer Bouhanni (Cofidis) contesting the sprints as they prepare for Milan-San Remo.
2018 Paris-Nice route:
Sunday, March 4: Stage 1: Chatou-Meudon 135km Monday, March 5: Stage 2: Orsonville-Vierzon 187km Tuesday, March 6: Stage 3: Bourges-Châtel-Guyon 210km Wednesday, March 7: Stage 4: La Fouillouse-Saint-Étienne 18.4km ITT Thursday, March 8: Stage 5: Salon-de-Provence-Sisteron 163.5km Friday, March 9: Stage 6: Sisteron-Vence 188km Saturday, March 10: Stage 7: Nice-Valdeblore La Colmiane 175km Sunday, March 11: Stage 8: Nice-Nice 110km
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