Cycling: The Paris to Nice Course Announced

For its 75th edition, the route of Paris-Nice will have an altitude record at the finish line at the neck of the Couillole (1,678 meters) on the eve of the final podium. The event takes place from 5th to the 12th March 2017.

The next edition of Paris-Nice, from March 5 to 12, will peak at nearly 1,700 meters above sea level, the neck of the Couillole (Alpes-Maritimes), which will be judged on the eve of the highest arrival conclusion of milestone in the history of the event since its inception in 1933. Four days favor the sprinters, one against the clock at the top of Mont Brouilly, selective to complete triptych: the race, the course was presented Tuesday Versailles, connect Bois-d’Arcy (Yvelines) in Nice, where the outcome will finish at the quai des Etats-Unis and no longer Promenade des Anglais, which the attack of 14 July happened. “For reasons of propriety, respect, memory,” said Christian Prudhomme, director of the Tour de France. “Between the two editions of Paris-Nice, there was July 14 and nobody can forget ‘ .

If they have been met by the outstanding race in 2016, where there was 4 seconds between Welshman Geraint Thomas and Spaniard Alberto Contador – the organizers sought to renew the recipe. The “clock” of Mont Brouilly, wherein step in line had to be canceled last year because of snow, will be the first downbeat. The arrival steep Fayence open the weekend before the neck of the Couillole probably decisive for the general classification at the short and always nervous last step (coast Peille, col d’Eze). “It’s a climb, following that of St. Martin. – The Colmiane (7.5 km at 7.2%) ‘, said François Lemarchand, race director ” The rise of Couillole is very regular but long, 15.7 kilometers at 7.1%, significantly harder than the Madonna of Utelle last year. We come to 1678 meters, 5 meters more than at Valberg in 1999 “ .

Sprinters in track with Milan-Sanremo

While waiting to know in January the names of four teams invited, in addition to the 18 qualified automatically (WorldTour), makers of the test unveiled several names. Contador (2007, 2009) should find another double winner, Australian Richie Porte (2013, 2015), next to the German Tony Martin (2011) and a French contingent of choice (Bardet, Alaphilippe, Gallopin, Vuillermoz, Latour).

Number of sprinters are expected (Kittel, Greipel, Démare, Bouhanni, Kristoff) in view of Milan-Sanremo, the first major classic of the season. “Five of the last six winners went through Paris-Nice” , said Christian Prudhomme who was evasive on the number of riders at the start: “Our belief is clearly expressed: we must reduce the number of riders per team, for safety reasons and also to densify the race and make it more uncertain. Does this will be done now or not? In any case, we will continue to fight in this direction. “