It’s one of cycling’s most eagerly anticipated fixtures of the early season, and for the ninth consecutive year, Bahrain Victorious will be on the startline of Paris-Nice, often referred to as ‘The Race to the Sun’.
The eight days are always designed to attract the World Tour’s top sprinters, climbers and classics riders, and this 83rd edition is no exception. The opening two stages are mouthwatering prospects for the fast men. Sunday sees a relatively unchallenging 156km loop from and to Le Perray-en-Yvelines. Whilst a bunch sprint is extremely likely, a punchy climb with 9.5km remaining (1km, 6.2%) does leave a small chance that a late attack could be successful.
The following day is even flatter, and provides the most clear-cut occasion of the week for the sprinters. Departing from Montesson, the 187km to Bellegarde has barely any uphill parts, and will almost certainly end in a high-speed contest for the spoils.
Bahrain’s lead Sports Director in France will be Roman Kreuziger, who rode here seven times, winning the Youth Classification in 2010. He believes the route can be divided into several parts:
“The Race is split into 5 phases, starting with the opening 2 stages where there will be some echelons and sprints
Next is the TTT where it’s important to maintain our position. Luckily we have 5 guys in the group who already did Valenciana together so they know each other and know what to expect.”
Setting off from the racetrack at Magny-Cours, the Team Time Trial is 28.6km, and should be fascinating both in terms of strategy and pacing, as it includes some very steep (if not long) ramps before a closing uphill drag in the town of Nevers.
Among those riders who competed at the Volta a la Comunitat Valenciana in early February is Santiago Buitrago, who took both the overall and points jerseys. He is Bahrain’s out-and-out leader for this week, and showed in Spain, Tour des Alpes Maritimes and Classic Var that he is already in great form this year. Kreuziger has no doubt that he merits the responsibility of being the team’s focus for this next leg of the campaign.
“Santi definitely deserves the support of the team. He showed last year he was there and in shape, and the start of this season he’s going well. We have to keep our feet on the ground but we also have ambitions. It would be nice if he could win a stage and also be placed high on GC.”
With Buitrago for the 1,212 southbound kilometres to the French Riviera will be Lenny Martinez, Fred Wright, Jack Haig, Edoardo Zambanini, Matevž Govekar and Kamil Gradek.
“This will be Lenny’s third race in France with us, and he’s our ‘joker’,” says Kreuziger.. “The main goal for him is to get through the first 3 days without losing time, which is all part of the learning process looking to the future. We’ll see how he is day by day.
Fred will be a leadout guy and support for the climbers, and it’s a race that will help him prepare for the upcoming cobbled classics. He’s in a good mood; his aim is to come out healthy and to help the guys .
Jack is our road captain and he is doing well this season because the guys trust in him. He is really important for the team and the younger riders.
Edoardo is confident riding with Santi; they work well together and I think when it comes to difficult and stressful moments he will be great for Santi.
Kamil is a big guy for protection and a big engine for the team time trial”
After the TTT comes a day of medium mountains, with no fewer than six categorised climbs, the last of which is the explosive summit finish of La Loge des Gardes (6.7k, 7.1%). The attacks are anticipated to come in the latter stages, and could prove to be significant. That is followed by a parcours suited to one-day specialists, measuring over 200km and with five small climbs in the last 40km. It’s a profile where almost anything is possible on race day, whether that be a breakaway win, a solo attack, or a GC tussle. Kreuziger looks closer at this phase of the race:
“Then it’s stage 4 with the long uphill finish, where I hope we will be able to show something, and stage 5 with no flat road. It’s quite long and has a very punchy finale: 1.7km at 11%. It will be a nice one because the last 50kms are all up and down.
After that it’s the last opportunity for the sprinters on stage 6, although depending on the GC it could be that a breakaway to make it. We’ll see how the sprinters handle the situation, with the bonus sprint close to the end. Bonuses are going to play a part for the GC because 6, 4 & 2 seconds close to the finish, and the 10, 6 & 4 on the line.
The last fast finish comes on Friday, which sees the longest stage: a fairly straightforward 210km from Saint-Julien-en-Saint-Alban to Berre-l’Étang, where we should see another bunch sprint. Bahrain will have a young rider who will be hoping to prove he can hold his own amongst the biggest names in the field. Kreuziger again:
“Our sprinter is Matevž, who crashed recently but seems on track and is very committed to show himself in the ‘Race to the Sun’. His shape was good but of course we won’t know the real impact of the crash until we are racing. We’ll find out soon enough but I think he should be alright.
As always, the final weekend of Paris-Nice will be a showdown to decide the overall winner of the General Classification. Stage 7 may only be 148km, but it’s in the Alps, and has two first category climbs in the closing 53km. the first of those is the Col de la Colmaine (7.5km, 7.1%), where the action will hot up, before a summit finish at Auron (7.3km, 7.2%). There is a long approach to the last ascent which is all uphill, making the true length of the finale 32km at an average of 3.4%.
And so to Nice itself, and the Sunday that never seems to disappoint. Just 120km, but six climbs and plenty of complex descending, mixed roads and the tension of a pivotal contest between the GC contenders.
This year the peloton will have to crest the Col de la Porte, (7km, 6.9%), the Côte de Peille (6.5km, 6.9%) which has seen winning moves in previous editions, and the Col d’Èze (1.6km, 9.1%), before the last test of the Col des Quatre Chemins. It is only 3.6km, but has ramps of up to 18%, and is often where decisive gaps are made. After the summit it is a downhill run to the picturesque finish on the Promenade des Anglais. Kreuziger concludes:
“I’m really looking forward to having this group together again; I think it will be a nice atmosphere, which for sure helps get through the difficulties we’ll face during the week. Of course it’s not always sunshine – there will be clouds as well, but with this group I think we’ll get through it very well. I’m confident that next Sunday we’ll be in a good place and going home satisfied.”
