Paris-Nice 2026: The Race to the Sun Gets Underway

Achères, Starting Point of a Great Classic

This Sunday, March 8, 2026, the 84th edition of Paris-Nice, the famous "Race to the Sun," takes off from the Place du Marché in Achères, in the Yvelines department. For eight days and some 1,245 kilometers, the world's peloton will cross France from north to south, slowly heading towards the light of the Mediterranean, before the final arrival in Nice on March 15. A flagship event on the UCI WorldTour calendar, Paris-Nice is also one of the last opportunities to gauge form before Milan-Sanremo (March 21) and the major spring classics.

A Varied Course, a Decisive Team Time Trial

The 2026 route alternates between windy plains and rugged roads. The first stage connects Achères to Carrières-sous-Poissy (171.2 km), followed by a second day from Épône to Montargis (187 km). The pivotal stage arrives as early as Wednesday, March 10: a 23.5 km team time trial between Cosne-Cours-sur-Loire and Pouilly-sur-Loire, as strategic as it is selective, which could reshuffle the cards in the general classification and serve as a rehearsal for Tour de France ambitions.

The race then heads south: Bourges-Uchon (stage 4, 195 km), the roads of the Rhône Valley (stage 5, 205 km), Provence (stage 6, Barbentane-Apt), culminating in stage 7 with the high-altitude finish at Auron (7.3 km at 7.2%, 1st category). A final day around Nice will conclude the week on March 15.

Vingegaard vs. Ayuso: The Duel Polarizing the Peloton

In the absence of Tadej Pogačar and Remco Evenepoel, Paris-Nice 2026 is shaping up as a head-to-head battle between two major contenders for the Tour de France. Jonas Vingegaard (Visma Lease a Bike) is opening his season with a score to settle: in 2025, he abandoned in the yellow jersey, injured in the wrist. Supported by a solid team—Victor Campenaerts, Edoardo Affini, Bruno Armirail—the two-time Tour de France winner is a major favorite on the mountain stages.

Facing him, Juan Ayuso (Lidl-Trek) arrives full of confidence after his victory in the Tour of the Algarve. Versatile, explosive, and comfortable in the time trial, the Spaniard is perhaps the most complete opponent in the peloton for this type of semi-mountainous race. Behind this duo, the podium remains open: João Almeida (UAE), Kévin Vauquelin and Carlos Rodríguez (INEOS Grenadiers), Lenny Martinez (Bahrain Victorious), and David Gaudu (Groupama-FDJ United) will all play their part. Noteworthy is the absence of the two-time defending champion Matteo Jorgenson, who has preferred Tirreno-Adriatico.

An Unmissable Event for the French-Speaking Public

An entirely French race, Paris-Nice crosses emblematic landscapes that thrill cycling fans in France, Belgium, and French-speaking Switzerland. France Télévisions and Eurosport broadcast the stages live, offering an exceptional showcase for this sport at the heart of its spring season. For the teams, it is also time for tactical choices: 500 UCI points are at stake for the overall winner, a generous appetizer before the decisive weeks to come.

The peloton of the sun is on its way. See you in Nice on March 15 to crown the heir to a race that is more than eight decades old.