Parijs-Nice 2026: Stages, Favorites & TV Guide

The past two editions saw Matteo Jorgenson of Visma | Lease a Bike claim victory. With Jorgenson not defending his title this year, the race is wide open. Tadej Pogacar and Primoz Roglic have too previously won the prestigious week-long race, known as the “Race to the Sun.”

Jonas Vingegaard is back at Paris-Nice after being forced to withdraw last year due to a crash even as wearing the leader’s jersey. The two-time Tour de France winner is determined to make amends this time around, facing a competitive field.

Recent Paris-Nice Winners

2025 Matteo Jorgenson
2024 Matteo Jorgenson
2023 Tadej Pogacar
2022 Primoz Roglic
2021 Maximilian Schachmann
2020 Maximilian Schachmann
2019 Egan Bernal
2018 Marc Soler
2017 Sergio Henao
2016 Geraint Thomas

Paris-Nice 2026 Route, Stage Winners, and Times

Stage 1, Sunday, March 8, 2026: Achères – Carrières-sous-Poissy (170.9 km)

A hilly stage, constantly going up and down – it seemed like a recipe for an exciting opening day. However, the action never materialized, and the peloton finished with a mass sprint. Luke Lamperti (EF Education – EasyPost) took a surprising victory after a strong lead-out from Marijn van den Berg.

Stage 2, Monday, March 9, 2026: Épône – Montargis (187.0 km)

Despite several obstacles along the route, the stage to Montargis ultimately came down to a sprint finish. Three categorized climbs offered some early challenges, but the final 45 kilometers were largely flat. Max Kanter of Astana took the win, with Juan Ayuso collecting bonus seconds and Daan Hoole impressing with a solo effort until the final kilometer.

Stage 3, Tuesday, March 10, 2026: Cosne-Cours-sur-Loire – Pouilly-sur-Loire (23.5 km, team time trial)

The team time trial has become a staple of the Paris-Nice route in recent years. With the Tour de France also starting with a team time trial in Barcelona this year, teams used this stage to refine their tactics.

Stage 4, Wednesday, March 11, 2026: Bourges – Uchon (195.0 km)

What a day! The race ignited quickly due to strong winds, with echelons splitting the peloton. Juan Ayuso, the race leader, was caught out in the chaos, while Red Bull-BORA-hansgrohe took control at the front. Only Jonas Vingegaard could respond, and he distanced Daniel Felipe Martínez on the final climb to take the stage win and the overall lead.

Stage 5, Thursday, March 12, 2026: Cormoranche-sur-Saône – Colombier-le-Vieux (206.3 km)

Stage five will again test the riders with several elevation gains. Despite the lack of long climbs, the final thirty kilometers feature a considerable amount of rolling terrain. It’s not a day for any rider to have an off day.

Favorites

Times
Start: 12:05
Finish: around 17:00

Stage 6, Friday, March 13, 2026: Barbentane – Apt (179.3 km)

After two uphill finishes, the peloton can finally race to a flat finish. However, the same riders are likely to be at the front. The sixth stage also features several obstacles in the second half of the course. Less steep than the previous day, but after five days of racing, it’s enough to make a difference.

Favorites
Lorenzo Rota (Lotto-Intermarché)
Rick Pluimers (Tudor)
Ewen Costiou (Groupama-FDJ)

Times
Start: 12:50
Finish: around 17:00

Stage 7, Saturday, March 14, 2026: Nice – Auron (138.7 km)

The sprinters may be wondering what they’ve gotten themselves into. Yet another finish atop a challenging climb. However, the seventh stage, at 138.7 kilometers, is the shortest of the race. The stage finishes at Auron, which was also the final climb last year. The race was shortened last year due to poor weather conditions at the ski resort. Michael Storer ultimately won from an early breakaway.

Favorites
Jonas Vingegaard (Visma | Lease a Bike)
Georg Steinhauser (EF Education – EasyPost
Oscar Onley ( INEOS Grenadiers)

Times
Start: 11:40
Finish: around 15:10

Stage 8, Sunday, March 15, 2026: Nice – Nice (129.2 km)

The final stage will, as usual, finish in Nice, although organizers had to switch to a different finish street due to elections. You’ll see still several obstacles in the course, but it’s unlikely to be a good moment for riders trailing in the general classification to make up time. The last climb is almost twenty kilometers from the finish. This means it’s unlikely anyone will launch a last-ditch attack, although anything can happen on the final day.

Favorites
Daniel Felipe Martinez (Red Bull-BORA-hansgrohe)
Ivan Romeo (Movistar)
Sergio Higuita (XDS-Astana)

Times
Start: 13:30
Finish: around 16:40

Favorites for the Overall Classification at Paris-Nice 2026

Paris-Nice will center around the season debut of Jonas Vingegaard. The Dane from Visma | Lease a Bike decided to include the French stage race in his program. Wherever the two-time Tour de France winner starts, he’s always among the top favorites, and this “Race to the Sun” is no exception.

Vingegaard was forced to withdraw from Paris-Nice last year while wearing the leader’s jersey after bruising his wrist. The Visma | Lease a Bike team leader will be looking for revenge, supported by a strong team including Victor Campenaerts, Edoardo Affini, and Bruno Armirail, as well as Italian newcomer Davide Piganzoli, who could also challenge for a good overall result. Wilco Kelderman will also contribute on the climbs.

Juan Ayuso and Mattias Skjelmose were expected to lead Lidl-Trek, but Skjelmose did not start. Ayuso was forced to withdraw in stage four.

The biggest challenge to Vingegaard is expected to come from Lidl-Trek. The American team was planning to rely on Juan Ayuso and Mattias Skjelmose, with the Spaniard likely to be the main contender. He won the Volta Algarve earlier this season.

UAE Team Emirates-XRG saw a surprising absence from the start list just days before the race. João Almeida was expected to lead the team but was removed from the roster. The team will now have to rely on Brandon McNulty, Marc Soler, and Pavel Sivakov. McNulty, however, was forced to withdraw midway through the race.

INEOS Grenadiers is also a team to watch. The British squad starts with almost all of their leaders: Oscar Onley, Kevin Vauquelin, and Carlos Rodriguez. Can they function together as a team to challenge for the overall victory?

Oscar Onley

Red Bull – BORA – hansgrohe will also be contenders with Alexander Vlasov and Daniel Felipe Martinez. Meanwhile, the French will be hoping for strong performances from experienced David Gaudu (Groupama FDJ) and in-form Lenny Martinez. Bahrain Victorious can also count on 38-year-old Damiano Caruso.

Further contenders include Harold Tejada and Sergio Higuita (Astana), Pablo Castrillo and Ivan Romeo (Movistar). Finally, Eddie Dunbar (Pinarello Q36.5), Mathys Rondel (Tudor), Steff Crass and Valentin Paret-Peintre (Soudal Quick-Step), Nicolas Prodhomme (Decathlon CMA CGM) and Georg Steinhauser (EF) will all be hoping for a top-ten finish.

Favorites for the Overall Classification at Paris-Nice 2026, according to In de Leiderstrui

Top Favorite: Jonas Vingegaard (Visma | Lease a Bike)
Outsiders: Oscar Onley, Kévin Vauquelin (INEOS) and Lenny Martinez (Bahrain Victorious)
Long Shots: Davide Piganzoli (Visma | Lease a Bike), Carlos Rodriguez (INEOS), Alexander Vlasov and Daniel Felipe Martinez (Red Bull) and Ivan Romeo (Movistar)

TV Coverage of Paris-Nice 2026

Paris-Nice will be broadcast live each day starting around 15:10 on HBO Max and from 15:45 on Eurosport. Sporza will also broadcast the race live.