Paris-Nice
Paris-Nice — La Course au Soleil (Race to the Sun) — 8 stages over the second week of March from the Paris region to the Côte d'Azur. The longest-running professional stage race after the Grand Tours (since 1933), the race is traditionally the first major GC stress test of the European season. The route mixes early flat stages around Paris, hilly middle stages, a decisive mid-week ITT, and Alpine summit-finishes in the closing days. The Col de la Couillole and Col de Turini have been recent classic GC-deciders.
Where to watch
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The route, day by day
QUEEN
Who to watch & what to watch for
Top Starters
Jerseys
Fight for the overall
Narratives to watch
- Race to the Sun: traditional opener of the European GC season — Paris in March, Nice on the Côte d'Azur.
- Tour de France barometer: GC favourites use Paris-Nice as their first big Spring test.
- Sister race to Tirreno-Adriatico: held the same week with the WT peloton split between the two — top GC stars typically pick one.
- Closing-weekend Alpine drama: the GC is decided in the Maritime Alps with summit finishes producing race-winning attacks.
Form book & lore
Paris-Nice has been held since 1933 — one of the oldest and most prestigious stage races outside the Grand Tours. Sean Kelly holds the record with 7 wins. The race is owned by ASO (Tour de France organisers) and serves as the Spring counterpart to Tirreno-Adriatico in the WT calendar.
When to tune in
Key stages: the mid-race ITT (stage 4 typically) reshapes GC; closing-weekend Maritime Alps summit stages decide the maglia jaune. Pure sprinters target stages 1-3, climbers target the final 3. Disable autoplay; avoid sidebar.