Featuring once again the concluding Col d’Eze time trial plus a new summit finish 1,600 metres in height, a tough route for the 2013 Paris-Nice has been unveiled today by organisers ASO.
Beginning with a 2.9 kilometre individual time trial in Houilles on Sunday March 3rd, the 71st edition of the Race to the Sun will cater for each type of rider, but which is sufficiently difficult to ensure that only a very small number will be in contention.
Following the prologue, the race will continue with a 195 kilometre stage from Saint-Germain-en-Laye to Nemours and then a 200.5 kilometre race from Vimory to Cérilly. Both could well suit the sprinters and will ensure that gaps likely remain tight heading into the tougher stages to Brioude (171 kilometres) and Saint-Vallier (199.5 km).
The latter includes six climbs, of which four are second category. But it’s stage six is where things will really get shaken up. It begins with a start in the famous wine area of Châteauneuf-du-Pape and extends 176 kilometres to the summit of the Montagne de Lure, a tough, 13.8 kilometre climb which averages 6.6 percent and tops out at 1,600 metres above sea level.
It’s the highest-ever finish in Paris-Nice and could well result in time gaps which will decide the race.
The following day takes the riders 220 kilometres from Manosque to Nice and is the longest stage of this year’s race. It too will benefit the climbers, although the category one climbs of the Cote de Cabris and the Col du Ferrier both lie outside the final 50 kilometres, making a regrouping of sorts likely before the finish on the Promenade des Anglais.
The real showdown will come on the final leg to the top of the Col d’Eze. Although this stage is a mere 9.6 kilometres in length, each metre of the time trial is uphill and will determine who takes home the final leader’s jersey and joins some of the top names in cycling’s history on the list of race winners.
Last year Bradley Wiggins sealed his overall victory in the race on that uphill test; this time round, several others will fancy their chances and will each be determined to become the 71st winner of the Race to the Sun.
Paris-Nice 2013:
Prologue, Sunday 3rd March: Houilles, individual time-trial (2.9 km)
Stage 1, Monday 4th March: Saint-Germain-en-Laye - Nemours (195 km)
Stage 2, Tuesday 5th March: Vimory - Cérilly (200.5 km)
Stage 3, Wednesday 6th March: Chatel-Guyon - Brioude (171 km)
Stage 4, Thursday 7th March: Brioude - Saint-Vallier (199.5 km)
Stage 5, Friday 8th March: Châteauneuf-du-Pape - Montagne de Lure (176 km)
Stage 6, Saturday 9th March: Manosque - Nice (220 km)
Stage 7, Sunday 10th March: Nice - Col d’Eze (9.6 km)