Paris-Nice 2017 preview
There are two signs Spring is upon us; an inordinate amount of rain and wind and the first of the classic Spring stage races: Paris-Nice. 2017's Race to the Sun is a special one too as it celebrates its 75th edition.
Being a bit like a mini Tour de France - minus the July weather, of course - there's something for every type of rider; sprints, a time trial and a combination of Rhone and Italian Alps, which are sure to set the scene of the general classification and be the determining factor for who wins the yellow jersey.
The first three stages are purely for the sprinters, unless some lucky breaks occur. Stage one is a 148.5 kilometre, south-eastern loop from Bois d'Arcy (near Versailles).
Stage two, 192.5km from Rochefort-en-Yvelines to Amilly, only has one distinguishable feature - a category three climb - and could turn out to be the most uneventful of the eight stages.
Cycling fans who fancy themselves wine connoisseurs will appreciate stage three as it sweeps 190km through the idyllic wine valley of Chablis to Chalon-sur-Saone.
Stage four is when the important stages for general classification begin. Paris-Nice regularly visits the Beaujolais wine region near the Rhone Alps and this year hosts the individual time trial, a key stage that will see riders summit the fertile slopes of Mont Brouilly. It's only 14.5 kilometres and flat or even downhill for two thirds of the parcours from Beaujeu, but the final 4.4km features a gradually increasing gradient before 3km at an average of 7.7% up the Mont itself. Inside the final kilometre of the climb is where it's going to really hurt, though - the final 500 metres is 25%.
Stage five is the final opportunity for the sprinters, virtually 200km from Quincie-en-Beaujolais to Bourg de Peage.
The race transitions to the final part of the race for stage six, starting almost on the coast of the Mediterranean at Aubagne before heading east to Fayence. This is a very lumpy stage, with six categorised climbs, and has a nasty 25km circuit that tackles Col de Bourigaille twice before the finish. This could be an opportunity for a rider who didn't have a great time trial to gain some time back on GC by attacking up the final 1.3km section which averages out at 9.3%.
Stage seven is the Queen stage of Paris-Nice 2017. 177km from Nice to Col de la Couillole, featuring three category one climbs; Col de Vence, Col Saint-Martin and the aforementioned Col de la Couillole which has only been visited before by the Tour de France in the 1970s and the highest a stage of Paris-Nice has ever finished at 1,662 metres.
Finally, stage eight is an out and back affair from Nice. At only 115km long with three category two and two category one climbs this stage may suit a brave puncheur or even a strong break. The penultimate summit, the Cote de Peille, has previous for being the launch pad for a solo win, with Tony Gallopin successfully attacking in 2015. Even last year, when Geraint Thomas won overall, the Welshman was dropped by Alberto Contador and Richie Porte on this climb and had to produce an incredible descent to hold onto first place by just four seconds.
Favourites; Alberto Contador, Richie Porte, Simon Yates, Romain Bardet, Alejandro Valverde.
TV Guide
Sunday March 5
Read more at http://www.cyclingweekly.co.uk/news/latest-news/paris-nice-live-tv-guide-213733#6Mb3fJcCsqEDxgKD.99
Being a bit like a mini Tour de France - minus the July weather, of course - there's something for every type of rider; sprints, a time trial and a combination of Rhone and Italian Alps, which are sure to set the scene of the general classification and be the determining factor for who wins the yellow jersey.
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| Paris-Nice 2017 route Credit: cyclingstage.com/paris-nice-2017 |
The first three stages are purely for the sprinters, unless some lucky breaks occur. Stage one is a 148.5 kilometre, south-eastern loop from Bois d'Arcy (near Versailles).
Stage two, 192.5km from Rochefort-en-Yvelines to Amilly, only has one distinguishable feature - a category three climb - and could turn out to be the most uneventful of the eight stages.
Cycling fans who fancy themselves wine connoisseurs will appreciate stage three as it sweeps 190km through the idyllic wine valley of Chablis to Chalon-sur-Saone.
Stage four is when the important stages for general classification begin. Paris-Nice regularly visits the Beaujolais wine region near the Rhone Alps and this year hosts the individual time trial, a key stage that will see riders summit the fertile slopes of Mont Brouilly. It's only 14.5 kilometres and flat or even downhill for two thirds of the parcours from Beaujeu, but the final 4.4km features a gradually increasing gradient before 3km at an average of 7.7% up the Mont itself. Inside the final kilometre of the climb is where it's going to really hurt, though - the final 500 metres is 25%.
Stage five is the final opportunity for the sprinters, virtually 200km from Quincie-en-Beaujolais to Bourg de Peage.
The race transitions to the final part of the race for stage six, starting almost on the coast of the Mediterranean at Aubagne before heading east to Fayence. This is a very lumpy stage, with six categorised climbs, and has a nasty 25km circuit that tackles Col de Bourigaille twice before the finish. This could be an opportunity for a rider who didn't have a great time trial to gain some time back on GC by attacking up the final 1.3km section which averages out at 9.3%.
Stage seven is the Queen stage of Paris-Nice 2017. 177km from Nice to Col de la Couillole, featuring three category one climbs; Col de Vence, Col Saint-Martin and the aforementioned Col de la Couillole which has only been visited before by the Tour de France in the 1970s and the highest a stage of Paris-Nice has ever finished at 1,662 metres.
Finally, stage eight is an out and back affair from Nice. At only 115km long with three category two and two category one climbs this stage may suit a brave puncheur or even a strong break. The penultimate summit, the Cote de Peille, has previous for being the launch pad for a solo win, with Tony Gallopin successfully attacking in 2015. Even last year, when Geraint Thomas won overall, the Welshman was dropped by Alberto Contador and Richie Porte on this climb and had to produce an incredible descent to hold onto first place by just four seconds.
Favourites; Alberto Contador, Richie Porte, Simon Yates, Romain Bardet, Alejandro Valverde.
TV Guide
Sunday March 5
14.30-16.00, LIVE stage one, Eurosport 2
20.00-21.00, Stage one highlights, Eurosport 1
20.00-21.00, Stage one highlights, Eurosport 1
Monday March 6
14.30-15.40, LIVE stage two, Eurosport 1
18.00-19.00, Stage two highlights, Eurosport 2
20.00-21.30, Stage two highlights, Eurosport 1
18.00-19.00, Stage two highlights, Eurosport 2
20.00-21.30, Stage two highlights, Eurosport 1
Tuesday March 7
14.30-15.55, LIVE stage three, Eurosport 1
18.00-19.00, Stage three highlights, Eurosport 2
20.00-21.30, Stage three highlights, Eurosport 1
18.00-19.00, Stage three highlights, Eurosport 2
20.00-21.30, Stage three highlights, Eurosport 1
Wednesday March 8
14.30-15.45, LIVE stage four, Eurosport 1
19.00-20.00, Stage four highlights, Eurosport 2
20.00-21.00, Stage four highlights, Eurosport 1
19.00-20.00, Stage four highlights, Eurosport 2
20.00-21.00, Stage four highlights, Eurosport 1
Thursday March 9
14.30-15.45, LIVE stage five, Eurosport 1
19.00-20.00, Stage five highlights, Eurosport 2
20.00-21.00, Stage five highlights, Eurosport 1
19.00-20.00, Stage five highlights, Eurosport 2
20.00-21.00, Stage five highlights, Eurosport 1
Friday March 10
To be confirmed
Saturday March 11
To be confirmed
Sunday March 12
To be confirmed
Read more at http://www.cyclingweekly.co.uk/news/latest-news/paris-nice-live-tv-guide-213733#6Mb3fJcCsqEDxgKD.99
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