Male Team 10 - 17 Mar
Paris-Nice
1207 Kilometers 8 Stages
You need to race with extreme attention every day and, above that, be courageous and determined. That was the base for Marc Soler’s excellent 2018 success in Paris-Nice, the historic event now reaching its 77th edition with the Movistar Team bringing the Catalan to defend his title alongside Nairo Quintana, back after six years after his debut in France (2013).
The 2019 route of the ‘Course to the Sun’ barely touches the Massif Central: stage four will be the only day in the zone (Wednesday 13th), with four climbs -Trèves (Cat-2), Condrieu (Cat-1), Saint-Michel (Cat-2) and Chavanay (Cat-2)- inside the last 60km towards Pélussin’s finish (last kilometer slightly uphill). Before that, up to three days will be covered on mainly flat roads, from Saint-Germain-en-Laye -southwest from Paris- to Moulins / Yzeure, near Saint-Amand-Montrond.
The second, decisive half of the race will be entirely near the coast. There will be a 25.5km ITT, with a climb halfway through and a kick at the end, in Barbentane (Thursday 14th); a series of ups-and-downs with a chance for the faster legs in Brignoles (Friday 15th); and the two crucial mountain stages: the Col de Turini (Cat-1; 15km at 7.3%) after five other rated ascents in the 181km stage seven (Saturday 16th) and the short, intense loop around Nice (Sunday 17th), ending with Peille (Cat-1), Eze (Cat-1) and Quatre Chemins (Cat-2).