The leaders of the world peloton are arriving in France.
This Sunday begins the first major race in France: Paris-Nice.
Some favorites for the next Tour de France like Remco Evenepoel and Primoz Roglic will be present and will test their form on the eight stages planned between Les Mureaux and Nice.
Here is everything you need to know about this 82nd edition of the race to the sun.
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The plateau is extremely high.
Many Grand Tour specialists have decided to come to French roads to get first information five months before the Tour de France.
Belgian champion Remco Evenepoel will lead the Soudal-Quick Step team, and will challenge Primoz Roglic (Bora-Hansgrohe), who will be one of his great rivals on the Grande Boucle.
This will only be the second time that the Belgian cycling superstar will start a French race in his career.
The two men should compete for final victory but several outsiders could do well. Mattias Skjelmose (Lidl-Trek), Felix Gall (Décathlon-AG2R La Mondiale), Joao Almeida (UAE Team Emirates), Carlos Rodriguez (Ineos- Grenadiers), David Gaudu (Groupama-FDJ) and even Matteo Jorgenson (Visma - Lease a Bike) will be at the start in Les Mureaux this Saturday.
On the other hand, no Pogacar or Vingegaard, who will have a first battle in Italy on Tirreno-Adriatico, another renowned stage race.
The French
24 Tricolores will take part in this major event on the UCI calendar.
David Gaudu will undoubtedly be able to compete in the general classification, but several riders like Bryan Coquard (Cofidis), Arnaud Démare (Arkéa-B&B Hôtels), Anthony Turgis and Pierre Latour (TotalEnergies) will be chasing stage victories.
For his first season with Movistar, Rémi Cavagna will be the leader of the Spanish team for this Paris-Nice.
After a very timid UAE Tour, the Clermontois probably checked off the team time trial, which will take place on Tuesday March 5 around Auxerre.
The other French people like Alexis Gougeard, Clément Champoussin, Bruno Armirail and Sandy Dujardin will take on a teammate role.
The course
Eight stages are planned, from Sunday March 3 and until Sunday 11. The first day will already be relatively difficult and undoubtedly reserved for punchers, with the Côte d'Herbeville (2.6 km at 5%) located less than 15 km from the goal.
The sprinters will be able to express themselves the next day upon arrival in Montargis.
Then it's time for the team time trial around Auxerre, with the tricky Côte de Jussy right in the middle.
The Wednesday stage will offer pure climbers a very difficult first route, which will end at Mont Brouilly.
Four 2nd category passes and one 1st category are planned.
The road will still be hilly on Thursday and Friday, although the slopes will be less steep.
On Saturday, the runners regain some altitude with the terrible passes of La Colmiane and Auron.
Finally, the final stage will also offer a very hilly route in the Nice hinterland.
The very steep Col des Quatre Chemins (3.8 km at 8.1%), whose summit is located 9 km from the summit, will perhaps be the justice of the peace for this Paris-Nice.
Diffusion
For fans of big thighs and fine climbers, all the stages will be broadcast on two different channels.
France 3 will go on air every day from 3:10 p.m., with the exception of the last weekend when it will start at 1:30 p.m.
Alexandre Pasteur, Laurent Jalabert and Marion Rousse will be on commentary, to continue to give a taste of the Tour de France.
Same program for Eurosport 2, even if the times change slightly (3:45 p.m. on weekdays, 1:30 p.m. on the last weekend).
Cycling enthusiasts will be able to listen to the analyzes of Guillaume Di Grazia, Jacky Durand, Steve Chainel and Philippe Gilbert.