Paris-Nice Begins with Vingegaard in Debut

The 84th edition of Paris-Nice, the prestigious early-season stage race known as the Race to the Sun, begins Sunday in Achères, just northwest of Paris, with two-time Tour de France winner Jonas Vingegaard leading the field in his season debut. The eight-day UCI WorldTour event, running through March 15 and culminating in Nice, features a demanding 1,138-kilometer route blending hilly terrain, a team time trial, and high-mountain finishes designed to test riders' form ahead of the Grand Tours.

Stage 1 kicks off the action with a 171-kilometer loop from Achères to CarrièressousPoissy, characterized by punchy hills including a double ascent of the Côte de Chanteloup-les-Vignes, a 1.1-kilometer climb at 8.3 percent gradient. This Ardennes-style opener favors aggressive climbers over pure sprinters, setting an immediate tone for breakaways and early attacks. The peloton then faces a flat 187-kilometer sprint opportunity on stage 2 from Épône to Montargis, before the pivotal 23.5-kilometer team time trial on stage 3 between Cosne-Cours-sur-Loire and Pouilly-sur-Loire. Officials have adopted a format awarding individual times based on each rider's finish, mirroring the upcoming Tour...