The Paris-Nice Preview
Richie Porte, Alberto Contador and Alejandro Valverde set to duke it out on the slopes of Mont Brouilly and the Col de la Coullole
To win Paris-Nice you have to be a good climber and time trialist. Last year Geraint Thomas, Team Sky beat Alberto Contador by 4 seconds overall, so El Pistolero or Bertie as he's known will be looking for revenge.
The race departs from Bois-d'Arcy near Paris on March 5th and includes a climbing time trial and a mountain finish on what will be the highest ever point in Paris-Nice. The first big changes to the general classification should be expected on day 4 of the eight-day race as the riders face a 14km time trial up the Mont Brouilly. Stage 6 will then offer several climbs including three of the first category. Although the finish will be uphill, the final climb is short and may allow for some explosive attacks.
But the absolute cracker in this year's race will likely be stage 7, from Nice to the Col de la Coullole. At no less than 1678 meters, this climb will be the race's new record height. As the ascent follows three other climbs including two of the first category, this stage will be the main target for those focusing on the overall classification.
But there are many more favourites for GC-victory in Paris-Nice 2017.
The uphill time trial to Mont-Brouilly and the Queen Stage on the penultimate day will be decisive for the overall win in Paris-Nice 2017. GC contenders will have to be alert on the hilly routes of stage 6 and 8 too.
Russian rider Ilnur Zakarin fits the profile and recently finished in second in the Abu Dhabi Tour after being outsprinted by Rui Costa in the Queen Stage. Contador showed good form in the Ruta del Sol, where here only conceeded 1 second to Valverde and lit up the race by attacking. Valverde is in greta form and a major contender for the overall win. Richie Porte seems to be in incredible form after his win at the Tour Down Under earlier this year.There are several previous Race to the Sun winners riding this year: Alberto Contador (2007, 2010), Luis León Sánchez (2009), Tony Martin (2011), Richie Porte (2013, 2015).
Team Sky's Sergio Henao will take to the start line at Paris-Nice in his new Colombian national champion's jersey and will be hoping to build on his recent success with victory in France. Backed up by a strong team, he’ll be looking to retain the team’s title, won by Geraint Thomas in 2016.
Overall Favorites
**** Richie Porte, Alberto Contador, Alejandro Valverde, Ilnur Zakarin
*** Julian Alaphilippe, Sergio Henao, Romain Bardet
** Ion Izagirre, Simon Yates
* Nicolas Roche, Steven Kruijswijk
2017 Paris Nice Stages
1 Sunday, March 5th - Bois-d'Arcy / Bois-d'Arcy - 148.5 km
2 Monday, March 6th - Rochefort-en-Yvelines / Amilly - 192.5 km
3 Tuesday, March 7th - Chablis / Chalon-sur-Saône - 190 km
4 Wednesday, March 8th - Beaujeu / Mont Brouilly - 14.5 km
5 Thursday, March 9th - Quincié-en-Beaujolais / Bourg-de-Péage - 199.5 km
6 Friday, March 10th - Aubagne / Fayence - 192 km
7 Saturday, March 11th - Nice / Col de la Couillole - 177 km
8 Sunday, March 12th - Nice / Nice - 115.5 km
VIDEO: 2017 Paris Nice Route Revealed
Watch Paris-Nice LIVE
You can watch Stade Bianche live on Gran Fondo Guide starting Sunday March 5th on our 2017 Paris-Nice LIVESTREAM
06:30 PST, 09:30 EST, 14:30 GMT, 15:30 CET, Sunday March 5th
We will have live video and live updates. We will also have post coverage video highlights and race recap for all our Pro Cycling Fans.
The best live and post race coverage will all the best highlights, video clips and insights. Don't miss it.
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2017 Paris Nice Start List
Ag2r-La Mondiale (FRA)
BARDET, Romain (FRA)
CHEREL, Mikael (FRA)
DOMONT, Axel (FRA)
ENGER, Sondre Holst (NOR)
FRANK, Mathias (SUI)
GAUTIER, Cyril (FRA)
LATOUR, Pierre-Roger (FRA)
NAESEN, Oliver (BEL)
Astana (KAZ)
BRESCHEL, Matti (DEN)
DE VREESE, Laurens (BEL)
FUGLSANG, Jakob (DEN)
KANGERT, Tanel (EST)
LUTSENKO, Alexey (KAZ)
SANCHEZ, Luis Leon (ESP)
TLEUBAYEV, Ruslan (KAZ)
VALGREN, Michael (DEN)
Bahrain-Merida (BHR)
BOLE, Grega (SLO)
BONIFAZIO, Niccolo (ITA)
BOZIC, Borut (SLO)
COLBRELLI, Sonny (ITA)
GASPAROTTO, Enrico (ITA)
GRMAY, Tsgabu (ETH)
IZAGIRRE, Ion, (ESP)
PIBERNIK, Luka (SLO)
BMC Racing (USA)
DE MARCHI, Alessandro (ITA)
MOINARD, Amaël (FRA)
PORTE, Richie (AUS)
ROCHE, Nicolas (IRL)
SCHÄR, Michael (SUI)
TEUNS, Dylan (BEL)
VENTOSO, Francisco (ESP)
WYSS, Danilo (SUI)
Bora-Hansgrohe (GER)
BARTA, Jan (CZE)
BASKA, Erik (SVK)
BENNETT, Sam (IRL)
BUCHMANN, Emanuel (GER)
KOLAR, Michael (SVK)
KONRAD, Patrick (AUT)
PIMANTA COSTA MENDES, José Joao (POR)
SAGAN, Juraj (SVK)
Cannondale-Drapac (USA)
CRADDOCK, Lawson (USA)
DOMBROWSKI, Joseph (USA)
FORMOLO, Davide (ITA)
ROLLAND, Pierre (FRA)
SLAGTER, Tom Jelte (NED)
TALANSKY, Andrew (USA)
VILLELLA, Davide (ITA)
WOODS, Michael (CAN)
Dimension Data (RSA)
BERHANE, Natnael (ERI)
FARRAR, Tyler (USA)
FRAILE, Omar (ESP)
JANSE VAN RENSBURG, Reinardt (RSA)
KING, Benjamin (USA)
PAUWELS, Serge (BEL)
REGUIGUI, Youcef (ALG)
SBARAGLI, Kristian (ITA)
FDJ (FRA)
CIMOLAI, Davide (ITA)
DELAGE, Mickaël (FRA)
DÉMARE, Arnaud (FRA)
GUARNIERI, Jacopo (ITA)
HOELGAARD, Daniel (NOR)
KONOVALOVAS, Ignatas (LTU)
MOLARD, Rudy (FRA)
SARREAU, Marc (FRA)
Katusha – Alpecin (SUI)
BYSTRÖM, Sven Erik (NOR)
HALLER, Marco (AUT)
KISERLOVSKI, Robert (CRO)
KRISTOFF, Alexander (NOR)
LOSADA, Alberto (ESP)
MARTIN, Tony (GER)
MORKOV, Michael (DEN)
ZAKARIN, Ilnur (RUS)
Lotto-Soudal (BEL)
BAK, Lars Ytting (DEN)
DE GENDT, Thomas (BEL)
GALLOPIN, Tony (FRA)
GREIPEL, André (GER)
HANSEN, Adam (AUS)
HOFLAND, Moreno (NED)
VANENDERT, Jelle (BEL)
WALLAYS, Jelle (BEL)
LottoNL-Jumbo (NED)
BOOM, Lars (NED)
CLEMENT, Stef (NED)
GROENEWEGEN, Dylan (NED)
KRUIJSWIJK, Steven (NED)
LEEZER, Thomas (NED)
ROOSEN, Timo (NED)
TANKINK, Bram (NED)
WAGNER, Robert (GER)
Movistar (ESP)
ANACONA, Winner (COL)
ERVITI, Imanol (ESP)
HERRADA, Jesus (ESP)
HERRADA, José (ESP)
IZAGUIRRE, Gorka (ESP)
SOLER, Marc (ESP)
SUTHERLAND, Rory (AUS)
VALVERDE, Alejandro (ESP)
Orica-Scott (AUS)
ALBASINI, Michael (SUI)
DOCKER, Mitchell (AUS)
GERRANS, Simon (AUS)
HAYMAN, Mathew (AUS)
JUUL-JENSEN, Christopher (DEN)
KEUKELEIRE, Jens (BEL)
NIELSEN, Magnus Cort (DEN)
YATES, Simon (GBR)
Quick-Step Floors (BEL)
ALAPHILIPPE, Julian (FRA)
BAUER, Jack (NZL)
DE LA CRUZ, David (ESP)
GILBERT, Philippe (BEL)
KITTEL, Marcel (GER)
LAMPAERT, Yves (BEL)
MARTIN, Daniel (IRL)
SABATINI, Fabio (ITA)
Team Sky (GBR)
DEIGNAN, Philip (IRL)
HENAO, Sergio (COL)
LOPEZ, David (ESP)
NIEVE, Mikel (ESP)
POELS, Wout (NED)
ROWE, Luke (GBR)
VAN POPPEL, Danny (NED)
WISNIOWSKI, Lukasz (POL)
Team Sunweb (GER)
ARNDT, Nikias (GER)
BARGUIL, Warren (FRA)
CURVERS, Roy (NED)
GESCHKE, Simon (GER)
MATTHEWS, Michael (AUS)
OOMEN, Sam (NED)
STAMSNIJDER, Tom (NED)
WAEYTENS, Zico (BEL)
Trek-Segafredo (USA)
CARDOSO, André (POR)
CONTADOR, Alberto (ESP)
DEGENKOLB, John (GER)
GOGL, Michael (AUT)
PANTANO, Jarlinson (COL)
RAST, Gregory (SUI)
THEUNS, Edward (BEL)
ZUBELDIA, Haimar (ESP)
UAE Abu Dhabi (UAE)
BONO, Matteo (ITA)
GUARDINI, Andrea (ITA)
MORI, Manuele (ITA)
PETILLI, Simone (ITA)
POLANC, Jan (SLO)
SWIFT, Ben (GBR)
ULISSI, Diego (ITA)
ZURLO, Federico (ITA)
Cofidis (FRA)
BOUHANNI, Nacer (FRA)
LAPORTE, Christophe (FRA)
LEMOINE, Cyril (FRA)
NAVARRO, Daniel (ESP)
SENECHAL, Florian (FRA)
SIMON, Julien (FRA)
SOUPE, Geoffrey (FRA)
TURGIS, Anthony (FRA)
Delko Marseille Provence KTM (FRA)
COMBAUD, Romain (FRA)
EL FARES, Julien (FRA)
FERNANDEZ, Delio (ESP)
FINETTO, Mauro (ITA)
MADRAZO, Angel (ESP)
PACHER, Quentin (FRA)
SISKEVICIUS, Evaldas (LTU)
SMUKULIS, Gatis (LAT)
Direct Energie (FRA)
BOUDAT, Thomas (FRA)
CALMEJANE, Lilian (FRA)
CHAVANEL, Sylvain (FRA)
COQUARD, Bryan (FRA)
MORICE, Julien (FRA)
PETIT, Adrien (FRA)
SICARD, Romain (FRA)
TULIK, Angélo (FRA)
Fortuneo Vital Concept (FRA)
BOUET, Maxime (FRA)
HARDY, Romain (FRA)
JARRIER, Benoit (FRA)
JEANNESSON, Arnold (FRA)
MCLAY, Daniel (GBR)
PERICHON, Pierre-Luc (FRA)
PICHON, Laurent (FRA)
SEPULVEDA, Eduardo (ARG)