It is this Wednesday that the course of Paris-Nice 2021 was unveiled by the organizers. Unmissable stage race at the start of the season, the Sun race, won in 2020 by the German Maximilian Schachmann (BORA-hansgrohe), will take place this year from March 7 to 14 with 23 teams at the start. And for the twelfth time in its history, it is in the Yvelines department that this 79th edition will open, the city of Saint-Cyr-l’Ecole welcoming the start and finish of the first stage.
Video – Discover the 2021 Paris-Nice route
A time trial and two top finishes
After two first stages intended for sprinters, the favorites for the general classification – and in particular a certain Primoz Roglic (Jumbo-Visma), announced at the start for the first time in his career – will already play an important part on the third day with a time trial of 14.4 kilometers around Genes. The next day, a very steep stage will be on the program between Chalon-sur-Saone and Chiroubles, 3,500 meters of elevation gain and an arrival at the top (7.3 km at 6%) being on the daily menu.
But it’s three days later that the 2021 edition of Paris-Nice could definitely be played out since the runners – after a fifth stage reserved for sprinters and a sixth stage intended for backpackers – will have to face four climbs then the final climb of Valdeblore La Colmiane, who had seen the victory of Simon Yates in 2018 and Nairo Quintana in 2020. Traced around Nice, the eighth and last stage could still rock the race, five climbs being listed. Find the full course below.
☠€ Here is the route of the 7⃠£ 9⃠£ th edition of #ParisNice !
☀ Here is the route of the 7⃣9⃣th edition of #ParisNice! pic.twitter.com/02IIKio3wu
– Paris-Nice (@ParisNice) January 6, 2021
☀ #ParisNice 2021 ☀
🗠“From 7 to 14 March 2021 / March 7. – March 14. 2021
�’â ™ ‚�’� 8 stages / 8 stages
â ?? ± 1 individual time trial / 1 ITT
DY “?? 1,239 km
â ›° 26 passes and coasts / 26 climbs pic.twitter.com/LsJoNyl7Iv– Paris-Nice (@ParisNice) January 6, 2021
The 2021 Paris-Nice route (March 7-14)
Sunday March 7 – stage 1: Saint-Cyr-l’École – Saint-Cyr-l’École, 166 km
Stage 1 🚠© @Saintcyrlecole – @Saintcyrlecole DY ???? 166 km
�’â ™ ‚�’� First tricky step to negotiate for the platoon of #ParisNice.
�’♂�’� First tricky stage to deal with for the peloton. pic.twitter.com/LWlOihESr6
– Paris-Nice (@ParisNice) January 6, 2021
Monday March 8 – stage 2: Oinville-sur-Montcient – Amilly, 188 km
Stage 2 🚠© Oinville-sur-Montcient – Amilly ðŸ ???? 188 km
�’� The same adversary for all runners on the roads of Beauce: the wind!
�’� The wind may well prove to be the toughest opponent!#ParisNice pic.twitter.com/bTKEvIIERj
– Paris-Nice (@ParisNice) January 6, 2021
Tuesday March 9 – stage 3: Gien – Gien, individual CLM 14.4 km
Stage 3 â ?? ± 🚠© Gien – Gien ðŸ ???? 14.4 km
â ?? ± A short stopwatch with a difficult final ramp.
â??± A short ITT, but with a difficult last final hill.#ParisNice pic.twitter.com/C4phKnRC4L
– Paris-Nice (@ParisNice) January 6, 2021
Wednesday March 10 – stage 4: Chalon-sur-Saône – Chiroubles, 188 km
Stage 4 🚠© @Chalon_officiel – Chiroubles ðŸ???? 188 km
😠± 3,500 meters of elevation gain and a double ascent of Mont Brouilly are on the program!
😱 3,500 metres of positive elevation and a double ascension of Mount Brouilly is on the menu!#ParisNice pic.twitter.com/x8NwupPFlU
– Paris-Nice (@ParisNice) January 6, 2021
📈 Chiroubles: 7,3km, 6%
â ›° The final ascent to the heart of the vineyard will not be easy!
â›° The final climb up Chiroubles won’t be one that the riders are looking forward to! #ParisNice pic.twitter.com/DjjsYQu5Fg
– Paris-Nice (@ParisNice) January 6, 2021
Thursday March 11 – stage 5: Vienne – Bollène, 203 km
Stage 5 🚠© Vienne – Bollène ðŸ ???? 203 km
�’� Sprinters will find the perfect playground!
�’� The perfect playing field for the fastest men in the bunch!#ParisNice pic.twitter.com/4zcT6i997v
– Paris-Nice (@ParisNice) January 6, 2021
Friday March 12 – stage 6: Brignoles – Biot, 202.5 km
Stage 6 🚠© Brignoles – Biot ðŸ ???? 202.5 km
�’� Probably the best opportunity for backpackers on a course identical to that of 2011.
�’� Probably the best occasion for the baroudeurs on a route identical to 2011. #ParisNice pic.twitter.com/ovYwp0pwci
– Paris-Nice (@ParisNice) January 6, 2021
Saturday March 13 – stage 7: Nice, Valdeblore La Colmiane, 166.5 km
Stage 7 🚠©@VilledeNice – Valdeblore la Colmiane ðŸ???? 166,5 km
â›° #ParisNice returns to La Colmiane, a tribute to the disaster-stricken populations of Tinée and Vésubie.
â›° #ParisNice will return to La Colmiane in a hommage to the people of Tinée and Vésubie hit by natural disaster. pic.twitter.com/aunFBYN940
– Paris-Nice (@ParisNice) January 6, 2021
📈 Valdeblore La Colmiane – 16,3 km, 6,3%
2018: đŸ ‡ ¬ðŸ ‡ § @SimonYatess
2020: đŸ ‡ ¨ï¿½ ‘ @NairoQuinCo
2021 : â??“#ParisNice pic.twitter.com/0jNVWiyQHT– Paris-Nice (@ParisNice) January 6, 2021
Sunday March 14 – stage 8: Nice – Nice, 110.5 km
Etape 8 🚩 Nice – Nice ðŸ???? 113,5 km
ðŸ ???? The Race to the Sun is back to its usual final for a final fight between favorites!
ĐŸ ???? #ParisNice is back on its traditional finish for the final battle between the favorites! #ParisNice pic.twitter.com/XLKSKFQ7WO
– Paris-Nice (@ParisNice) January 6, 2021
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