Paris-Nice 2022
The 2022 Paris–Nice is the 80th edition of the upcoming road cycling stage race that will take place in France from Sunday, March 6, to Sunday, March 13, 2022. The race dates back to 1933 and is one of the most well-known stage races on the cycling calendar after the Grand Tours. The cyclists will be pitched into action in a town near Paris, like in previous years, and the race will finish in Nice. The legendary Col d’Èze appears in the finale of the last stage, while the Col de Turini ends the penultimate stage.
The Race
The race is designed with 8 extreme stages that continue through Paris roads until the race finishes in Nice. Sprinters, breakaway specialists, time trialists, and climbers will all find something to their preference in the Race to the Sun, as it always does.
The 1st stage of the race typically features four hills, the last of which is crested with less than 6 kilometers to go. The cyclists then make their way to the line's flat run-in. Crosswinds are a constant threat in Paris-Nice, particularly early in the race when the route heads south. Stage 2 is a perfect illustration of this. Echelons will rip the peloton apart on a windy day, which isn't unusual in and of itself. The third stage of the Paris-Nice is flat in the first half and bumpy in the second, with a misleading flat run-in to the finish line in the last two kilometers.
On the fourth day of the competition, the individual time trial is held. The final 700 meters of Stage 4 are mostly on undulating roads, with an 8.6% grade. Stage 5 of the race takes riders even further south. On a route that favors breakaway specialists, the riders face six intermediate climbs. The longest race is 213.6 kilometers long. Stage 6 features five climbs, two of which are over ten kilometers long. Another day, it appears, for the breakaway.
On the Queen Stage, the GC racers will have to attend to the fore. The Turini Pass is the ultimate challenge, with 14.9 kilometers of 7.3%grade and a finish elevation of 1,607 meters. This early in the season, a severe cold could be a huge effect. Stage 8, with its 115.6 kilometers and five peaks, is a high-octane ride. With 15 kilometers remaining, the final ascent, Col d’Èze, is completed, followed by a drop into Nice.
Participating Teams
The race featured twenty-two teams, including eighteen UCI WorldTeams and four UCI ProTeams. Because this competition is so well-known around the world, many riders from various countries compete to reveal their best and take the first position. The following are the expected top competitors and competing teams:
Top Competitors: Wout Van Aert, Primož Roglič, Sonny Colbrelli, João Almeida, Jasper Philipsen, David Gaudu, Jasper Stuyven, Bauke Mollema, Aleksandr Vlasov, Ethan Hayter.
Competing Teams: Bahrain - Victorious, Trek - Segafredo, BORA - hansgrohe, Movistar Team, UAE Team Emirates, Jumbo-Visma, Lotto Soudal, INEOS Grenadiers, Team BikeExchange - Jayco, Team DSM, Cofidis, Groupama - FDJ, Alpecin-Fenix, TotalEnergies, Team Arkéa Samsic and more.
Recent Champions
German cyclist Max Schachmann is the titleholder from Bora–Hansgrohe. Last year, the Germans won Paris-Nice for the second consecutive year. He took the first position ahead of Aleksandr Vlasov (Astana–Premier Tech) and Ion Izagirre (Astana–Premier Tech) and they rounded out the podium with their ultimate rival.
Besides, other recent champions also have their own victory to disclose including Egan Bernal (Team Sky) 2019, Marc Soler (Movistar Team) 2018, Sergio Henao (Team Sky) 2017, Geraint Thomas (Team Sky) 2016, Richie Porte (Team Sky) 2015.
The ever recorded news is, Sean Kelly was the most successful rider in Paris-Nice in the 1980s, winning seven times in a row.
We also compare the odds at Paris-Roubaix 2022.