The organizing agency ASO today published the course of this year's edition of the race to the sun announced. The eight-day long-distance trip from Paris to Nice will therefore be held without a prologue and without individual time trials.
The 72nd edition of Paris-Nice starts on March 9th in the west of Paris. Already on the first stage to Mantes-la-Jolie the drivers have to Cover 162.5 kilometers. The next day, 205 kilometers are on the agenda on the way to Saint-Georges-sur-Baulche, before the third stage of the day ends at the Magny Cours circuit.
Only on the fourth day will the drivers set their sights on the general classification. With the Mont-Brouilly, which is up to 25 percent steep in places, is the first executioner on the plan. The fifth stage leads from Belleville to Rive-de-Gier, from where the remaining riders travel to Avignon. This is where the sixth stage begins, which at 221.5 kilometers is also the longest of the tour and ends just under XNUMX kilometers from Nice in Fayence.
The decision in the overall standings will probably only be made in the last two sections. Like last year, the ascent to the Col d'Eze may play into the hands of the overall winner. The total distance of this year's Paris-Nice edition is 1.447 kilometers.
As the ASO also announced, in addition to defending champion Richie Porte (Sky), world champion Rui Costa (Lampre-Merida) and John Degenkolb (Giant-Shimano) will be at the start. With Paris-Nice included on the WorldTour calendar, all 18 WorldTour teams will tackle the race. There are also the Pro Conti outfits Bretagne-Séché Environnement, Cofids and IAM.
//The stages
09.03.2014/1/162,5 – Stage XNUMX: Mantes-La-Jolie – Mantes-La-Jolie, XNUMX km
10.03.2014/2/205,0 – Stage XNUMX: Rambouillet – Saint-Georges-sur-Baulche, XNUMX km
11.03.2014/3/180,0 – Stage XNUMX: Toucy – Circuit de Nevers Magny-Cours, XNUMX km
12.03.2014/4/201,5 – Stage XNUMX: Nevers – Belleville-sur-Saône, XNUMX km
13.03.2014/5/152,5 – Stage XNUMX: Crèche-sur-Saône – Rive-de-Gier, XNUMX km
14.03.2014/6/221,5 – Stage XNUMX: Saint-Saturnin Les-Avignon – Fayence, XNUMX km
15.03.2014/7/195,5 – Stage XNUMX: Mougins – Biot, XNUMX km
March 16.03.2014, 8 – Stage 128,0: Nice – Nice, XNUMX km