The official Paris-Nice 2022 route was unveiled by Amaury Sport Organization this Wednesday in Versailles. The 80th edition of the Course au Soleil will take place from March 6 to 15 and will start from Mantes-la-Jolie in Yvelines. For the first time in more than 25 years, the event will pass through the department of Creuse with a stage finish in Dun-le-Palestel on Tuesday March 8, before arriving in Allier.
A steep final in Montluçon
This will be the only stopover in Auvergne. A 13.5 km / h individual time trial run on Wednesday March 9 between Domérat and Montluçon. The city of the banks of the Cher is a regular at Paris-Nice, since it will host the race for the fourth time.
The arrival of this time will be more to say the least selective with percentages reaching 16% in the final hill of the Ruer Buffon, classified in 3rd category. “The distance is short, but the course is winding, with many raises”, commented race director François Lemarchand during the official presentation. This should please the double world champion Julian Alaphilippe, provided that the Bourbonnais is at the start.
The race will pass two days in the Alpes-Maritimes. The arrival of the penultimate stage will take place at the top of the Col de Turini, well known to rally pilots. Paris-Nice will end on the Promenade des Anglais.
The eight stages of Paris-Nice 2022
- Sunday March 6, 1st stage : Mantes-la-Ville> Mantes-la-Ville, 159.8 km
- Monday March 7, 2nd stage : Auffargis> Orléans, 159.2 km
- Tuesday March 8, 3rd stage : Vierzon> Dun-le-Palestel, 190.8 km
- Wednesday March 9, 4th stage : Domérat> Montluçon, 13.4 km (time trial)
- Thursday March 10, 5th stage : Saint-Just-Saint-Rambert> Saint-Sauveur-de-Montagut, 188.8 km
- Friday March 11, 6th stage : Courthézon> Aubagne, 213.6 km
- Saturday March 12, 7th stage : Nice> Col de Turini La Bollène-Vésubie, 155.4 km
- Sunday March 13, 8th stage : Nice> Nice, 115.6 km
The 22 teams selected
In accordance with the regulations of the International Cycling Union, the following eighteen UCI WorldTeams are automatically entered:
- AG2R Citroën Team (Fra)
- Astana Qazaqstan Team (Kaz)
- Bahrain Victorious (Brn)
- Bora – Hansgrohe (Ger)
- Cofidis (Fra)
- EF Education – NIPPO (Usa)
- Groupama – FDJ (Fra)
- Ineos Grenadiers (Gbr)
- Intermarché – Wanty – Gobert Matériaux (Bel)
- Israel Start-Up Nation (Isr)
- Jumbo-Visma (Ned)
- Lotto Soudal (Bel)
- Movistar Team (Esp)
- Quick-Step Alpha Vinyl Team (Bel)
- Team BikeExchange – Jayco (Aus)
- Team DSM (Ned)
- Trek – Segafredo (Usa)
- UAE Team Emirates (Uae)
The first two teams in the UCI ProTeams ranking in 2021, Alpecin-Fenix (Bel) and Team Arkéa-Samsic (Fra), will participate as of right in Paris-Nice 2022. Finally, two French teams have been invited by the organizers: B&B Hotels – KTM and Total Energies.