Paris-Nice 2026
08.03-15.03
The 2026 edition of Paris-Nice takes place from 8 to 15 March and once again brings a strong WorldTour field to the traditional “Race to the Sun”. The 1245km race starts in Achères and finishes on the Mediterranean coast in Nice after a week of varied racing that includes sprint stages, a team time trial and decisive climbs in the hills around Nice. Two time Tour de France winner Jonas Vingegaard starts the race as the main favourite for overall victory.
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The 2026 Paris Nice route offers a balanced mix of stages that should favour puncheurs, climbers and sprinters. The race begins in Achères with an opening stage that includes two climbs of the steep Côte de Chanteloup les Vignes, creating opportunities for late attacks or a reduced sprint. Punchy riders are likely to enjoy several stages, including the finishes in Uchon, Colombier le Vieux and Apt, where short but steep climbs could prove decisive.
Sprinters will target stage two to Montargis, although crosswinds could disrupt the race. Stage three features a 23.5 km team time trial between Cosne sur Loire and Pouilly sur Loire on rolling terrain, offering teams an important test ahead of the Tour de France team time trial.
The key mountain stage comes on stage seven with a summit finish in Auron, where climbers can make the difference. The final stage around Nice includes the Col de la Porte and the Côte du Linguador, the last major test before the overall winner is decided.
Explore the full route in our stage-by-stage guide.
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Jonas Vingegaard is one of the main storylines ahead of Paris Nice. The Danish rider returns to racing after a training crash and illness disrupted his planned start of the season. After finishing third in 2023 and abandoning last year following a crash, the two time Tour de France winner will be eager to make his mark. His team Visma Lease a Bike has dominated the race in recent years and Vingegaard starts as one of the top favourites.
Juan Ayuso is expected to be his main challenger. The young Spaniard made an impressive start with Lidl Trek by winning the Volta ao Algarve and arrives with strong early season form. Brandon McNulty is another contender after illness forced João Almeida out of the race.
Ineos Grenadiers also bring several options with Carlos Rodríguez, Oscar Onley and Kévin Vauquelin. Other riders who could feature in the general classification include Aleksandr Vlasov, Daniel Felipe Martínez, David Gaudu and Harold Tejada.
Our full preview can be found here and the start list is available via this link.
