Paris-Nice 2024 a taster for the Tour de France / Photo: Thomas SAMSON - AFP
-
IoT Refrigerator Hacks Disrupt Blood Labs and Supermarkets Across Europe and US
-
South African election results renew debate over identity-based voting
-
Post-election pressures complicate US and Israeli decisions on Iran
-
South African voters report smoother local election but declining IEC trust
-
UN members approve talks on treaty protocol against environmental crime
-
Dolly Parton museum and Nashville hotel open after singer’s death
-
Family-run West Sussex beach café prepares for first winter season
-
George and Amal Clooney attend New York political-comedy reading
-
CT scans reveal health and burial clues from Egypt’s Braided Lady mummy
-
British buyers pay substantial premiums for period-home appearance
-
Oxford faces complaints over lecturer’s classroom attire
-
Thomas Markle released to house arrest after child-abuse-image charge
-
Kyren Wilson and John Higgins reach International Championship snooker final
-
Dawn of War 4 developers chose Adeptus Mechanicus for tactical variety
-
New Zealand and Tonga meet for place in Rugby League World Cup final
-
Italy face unbeaten South Africa in Turin Nations Championship match
-
Reports of unsafe AI-toy responses renew calls for child-safety rules
-
ChatGPT interactive interface feature tested across six custom tools
-
Juneau food network combines difficult supply routes with deep sharing traditions
-
Freshways milk-price cut deepens pressure on UK dairy farms
-
India climbs green-transition ranking after first emissions decline in 25 years
-
Labour and National remain virtually tied as New Zealand vote count advances
-
Trump names Stephen Miller as White House chief of staff after midterm losses
-
The Good Daughter adapts Karin Slaughter thriller with Rose Byrne and Meghann Fahy
-
Restored Albanian tower houses anchor new rural tourism trail
-
Heavy-lift drone evacuates wounded Ukrainian soldier from frontline kill zone
-
Sonia Gandhi reflects on family tragedy and reluctant political career
-
Morrison says West Brom recovered after pressure from successive derby losses
-
Pope Leo begins three-country South American tour in Uruguay
-
Britain considers 2027 state visit for Ukraine’s Zelensky
-
Khawaja says entire Australia camp knew of 2018 ball-tampering plan
Paris-Nice 2024 a taster for the Tour de France
The route for the Paris-Nice eight-day bike race unveiled Tuesday has the added draw of resembling more than ever a mini Tour de France, which also ends on the Riviera in 2024 so as to avoid the Olympic Games in Paris.
Won last year by Tadej Pogacar as Denmark's Jonas Vingegaard came third on the Promenade des Anglais finish line in downtown Nice, organisers hope to also attract rising Belgian star Remco Evenepoel for the 2024 edition.
"There's hope he'll be on the roster this year," said race CEO Christian Prudhomme.
Known as "The Race to the Sun", the eight days of action are packed with a variety of challenges starting with a team time-trial and the vast and windy plains south of Paris.
The race speeds down the Rhone and Loire valleys, takes in the remote Ardeche and then the rugged peaks of Haute Provence.
But with two mountaintop finishes, there is a taste of the Alps before a downhill dash to the seafront at Nice on March 10.
"Paris-Nice will serve as a dress rehearsal and the riders love to practise in race conditions," said Prudhomme.
Pogacar won three stages in 2023 and relegated French climber David Gaudu to second with eventual Tour de France winner Vingegaard third at 1min 39sec.
The final two days cover many of the roads upon which the 2024 Tour de France finale will play out as the world's biggest bike race finishes outside Paris for the first time in its history.
H.Nasr--SF-PST