Paris-Nice 2026: Vingegaard kicks off his season in the "Race to the Sun"

From March 8 to 15, the Paris-Nice 2026 will once again connect the winter of northern France with the sun of the Côte d'Azur, featuring important figures from the peloton at its start, such as Jonas Vingegaard and Juan Ayuso.

The Paris-Nice 2026 kicks off with the highly anticipated debut of Jonas Vingegaard this season

Every March, the peloton looks to France to compete in one of the most emblematic events on the WorldTour calendar. The Paris-Nice has established itself for decades as one of the most important week-long races in cycling, a stage where contenders for the grand tours begin to gauge their form.

The race's palmarès reflects this importance. Historic champions like Eddy Merckx, Jacques Anquetil, and Alberto Contador are among its winners, while Sean Kelly holds the absolute record with seven consecutive victories in the 1980s.

A varied route: wind, explosive climbs, and the mountain of Auron

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The Paris-Nice 2026 features a varied route that combines opportunities for different types of riders. The race will start with an inaugural stage that already introduces difficulty in its final stretch thanks to several climbs, including the Côte de Chanteloup-les-Vignes, which will be ascended twice and could favor moves from explosive riders. Sprinters will have their best chance on the second day, completely flat on the way to Montargis, although the risk of echelons is always a factor to consider. The third stage will be marked by a 23.5-kilometer team time trial between Cosne-sur-Loire and Pouilly-sur-Loire, a discipline that can create significant differences in the general classification and will also serve as preparation for the Tour de France, which will also include this format in 2026.

From the fourth day onwards, the race progressively toughens with several medium mountain stages characterized by short but demanding climbs, ideal for explosive riders and attacks in the final stretch. The days towards Uchon, Colombier-le-Vieux, and Apt concentrate numerous climbs that could provoke significant movements in the general classification. The key stage will arrive on the seventh day with the final ascent to Auron, a mountaintop finish where pure climbers will seek to make decisive differences. The race will conclude with the traditional stage around Nice, which this year presents some modifications to its route, including the Col de la Porte and the Côte du Linguador as the final challenges before determining the overall winner of the “Race to the Sun.”

Vingegaard leads the list of favorites

This year's edition arrives without the winner of the last two seasons, Matteo Jorgenson, who will compete in Tirreno-Adriatico this time. But in his place, we will have a 

One of the major focal points will be Jonas Vingegaard, who chose the Paris-Nice to start his 2026 season. The Dane was unable to compete in the UAE Tour after suffering a fall during a training session in Málaga and a subsequent illness. His return comes in a race where he has previously competed and in which his team, Visma | Lease a Bike, has achieved several victories in recent years.

Among his main rivals is the Spaniard Juan Ayuso, who will have the opportunity to measure himself against the Dane after starting his stint at Lidl-Trek with a victory in the Volta ao Algarve. And the Portuguese Joao Almeida, one of the most consistent riders in stage races on the WorldTour calendar.

But the fight for the overall podium or stage victories will include a large number of cyclists such as Carlos Rodríguez, Oscar Onley, Kévin Vauquelin, Mattias Skjelmose, Lenny Martinez, David Gaudu, Daniel Felipe Martínez, Iván Romeo, or Harold Tejada.

Schedule and where to watch the Paris-Nice 2026

The Paris-Nice 2026, which will take place from March 8 to 15, will be broadcast live in Europe through various platforms.

The race will be broadcast on Eurosport 2 and via streaming on HBO Max. Television broadcasts will typically start around 15:10, although in some stages the signal will begin earlier.