Paris-Nice 2023: Route, elevation profiles, TV coverage & start list

Thomas Goldmann

· 11.03.2023

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Photo: Veranstalter

Paris-Nice 2023 is the first stage race of the still young World Tour season on European soil. The long-distance race will see a rematch of the Jonas Vingegaard vs. Tadej Pogacar duel that characterised the 2022 Tour de France. Here is the most important information.

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Paris-Nice 2023 will take place on the roads of France from 5 to 12 March - eight stages covering a total of 1201 kilometres. The race is also known as the "ride to the sun", as the riders start in Paris or near the French capital in cool temperatures and often still bad weather and arrive in Nice a week later in bright sunshine.

Photo: VeranstalterParis-Nice 2023 on the map

Paris-Nice 2023: the 81st edition of the race

Paris-Nice 2023 will be the 81st edition of the multi-stage race. The first edition took place in 1933 and was won by Belgian Alfons Schepers; the record winner is Sean Kelly from Ireland, who won seven times. In the history of the French professional cycling race, five Germans have also made it onto the list of winners: Rolf Wolfshohl (1968), Andreas Klöden (2000), Jörg Jaksche (2004), Tony Martin (2011) and Maximilian Schachmann (2020 and 2021).

Last year's winner was the Slovenian Primoz Roglic. However, the defending champion is not at the start this year - he is riding the Tirreno-Adriatico stage race taking place at the same time, which brings us to the favourites.

>> The most important information about Tirreno-Adriatico 2023

>> The most important information about Milan - San Remo

Paris-Nice 2023: the favourites

Many signs point to a new edition of the Tour de France 2022 duel: Jonas Vingegaard (Jumbo-Visma) vs. Tadej Pogacar (UAE Team Emirates). The two exceptional riders have made an impressive start to the new season. Pogacar won the one-day race Clasica Jaen Paraiso Interiorthree stages at the Ruta del Sol as well as the overall and points classification. Vingegaard followed suit shortly afterwards: Three stage wins, the overall and the mountain classification at O Gran Camino, a stage race in north-west Spain.

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Photo: Getty VeloTadej Pogacar (front) and Jonas Vingegaard meet again in a stage race at Paris-Nice for the first time since the Tour de France 2022

In addition to the two firm favourites, Daniel Felipe Martinez (Ineos Grenadiers), Simon Yates (Team Jayco-AlUla) and David Gaudu (Groupama-FDJ) three candidates who are most likely to make it onto the podium.

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From a German perspective, we can look forward to Maximilian Schachmann (Bora-Hansgrohe). For the Paris-Nice winner of 2020 and 2021, the course is likely to be too difficult for him to attack in the overall standings and he is more likely to be looking towards a stage win.

Paris-Nice 2023 route: the stages at a glance

Stage 1 | Sunday, 5th March | La Verriere - La Verriere | 169.4 kilometres

Neutral start: 12:45
Official start: 13:00
Arrival at the finish: ~16:46 - 17:08

Stage 1 leads around La Verriere, a municipality with around 6000 inhabitants about 40 kilometres west of Paris. There is a short climb in the last ten kilometres that will decide whether a finisher takes the victory or whether it comes down to a sprint.

>> To the race report of stage 1

Photo: VeranstalterThe elevation profile of the 1st stage

Stage 2 | Monday, 6 March | Bazainville - Fontainebleau | 163.7 kilometres

Neutral start: 12:50
Official start: 13:00
Arrival at the finish: ~16:29 - 16:48

On day two, the sprinters should have the floor at Paris-Nice 2023. There are no major topographical obstacles on the 163.7 kilometres between Bazainville and Fontainebleau. But beware: the wind could play a role here and cause a hectic pace in the peloton.

>> To the race report of stage 2

Photo: VeranstalterThe elevation profile of the 2nd stage

Stage 3 | Tuesday, 7th March | Dampierre-en-Burly - Dampierre-en-Burly | 32.2 kilometres (team time trial)

Start first team: 14:57
Start last team: 16:00

Stage three is a team time trial over 32.2 kilometres. A special feature is the new mode that the organiser A.S.O. is testing here. Previously, the time of the fourth or fifth rider to cross the finish line was decisive in team time trials. At Paris-Nice 2023, the individual time of each rider will count. So if someone crosses the finish line alone ahead of their team-mates, this time will be counted. It would be possible to spare the team captain so that he sprints towards the finish alone in the final metres. However, it is questionable whether such a tactic is practicable on the sometimes steep last kilometre.

>> To the race report of the 3rd stage

Photo: VeranstalterThe elevation profile of the 3rd stage

Stage 4 | Wednesday, 8 March | Saint-Amand-Montrond - La Loge des Gardes | 164.7 kilometres

Neutral start: 12:30
Official start: 12:40
Arrival at the finish: ~16:30 - 16:53

The first of two mountain finishes is on the programme for stage 4. At the end of the day, there are 6.7 kilometres with an average gradient of 7.1 per cent in the La Loge des Gardes ski area. An exchange of blows between the favourites can be expected here.

>> To the race report of stage 4

Photo: VeranstalterThe elevation profile of the 4th stage

Stage 5 | Thursday, 9 March | Saint-Symphorien-sur-Coise - Saint-Paul-Trois-Chateaux | 212.4 kilometres

Neutral start: 11:20
Official start: 11:35
Arrival at the finish: ~16:25 - 16:53

At 212.4 kilometres, stage five is the longest section of Paris-Nice 2023 and although there are four mountain classifications, three of them are at the start of the stage. On the one hand, this is a good opportunity for a strong breakaway group to break away after the start; on the other hand, large parts of the rest of the route are suitable for a sprint with a strong team.

>> To the race report of stage 5

Photo: VeranstalterThe elevation profile of stage 5

Stage 6 | Friday, 10 March | Tourves - La Colle-sur-Loup | 197.4 kilometres

Neutral start: 11:40
Official start: 11:50
Arrival at the finish: ~16:25 - 16:50

The sixth section is something for puncheurs. Five climbs, some of them very steep, have to be mastered. From the last mountain classification, it's downhill for almost 20 kilometres before the last kilometre climbs again.

+++ UPDATE +++

Due to extreme wind conditions, stage 6 of Paris-Nice 2023 was cancelled. You can read the background here.

Photo: VeranstalterThe elevation profile of stage 6

Paris-Nice 2023 today - stage 7 | Saturday, 11 March | Nice - Col de la Couillole | 142.8 kilometres

Neutral start: 10:40
Official start: 11:00
Arrival at the finish: ~14:40 - 15:05

The penultimate day of Paris-Nice 2023 sees the second mountain finish. At 142.8 kilometres, the stage is short, but there are two long mountains on the programme: Cote de Tourette-du-Chateau and Col de la Couillole. A stage for the classification riders.

>> To the race report of stage 7

Photo: VeranstalterThe elevation profile of stage 7

Stage 8 | Sunday, 12 March | Nice - Nice | 118.4 kilometres

Neutral start: 11:35
Official start: 11:55
Arrival at the finish: ~14:42 - 15:00

As in many previous years, the last day takes the riders around Nice through the mountainous hinterland of the Cote d'Azur. With only 118.4 kilometres, but five climbs, the race is expected to be very animated from the start. The Col d'Eze, which will be tackled from the steep side this year, is the final obstacle in Paris-Nice 2023. 15.3 kilometres after the summit, the winner will be decided on the Promenade des Anglais.

>> To the race report of stage 8

Photo: VeranstalterThe elevation profile of stage 8

>> Cycling racing calendar 2023: The most important races at a glance

Paris-Nice 2023: TV broadcast & live stream today

Paris-Nice 2023 can be seen live on TV on Eurosport. The broadcaster will show three stages on Eurosport 1 and the rest on Eurosport 2. Cycling fans can also watch the race live streamed on Discovery+ and GCN+ (both via paid subscription). Here are the TV broadcast times.