Paris-Nice 2026: Route, Stages & Rider List Revealed

The 84th edition of the Paris-Nice cycling race is set to take place between March 8 and March 15, 2026. The race will begin in Achères, marking the first time the city has hosted the event, and will conclude in Nice after a week of challenging stages featuring sprints, crosswinds, a team time trial, hilly terrain, and significant climbs.

The traditional race schedule will be altered slightly during the final weekend due to municipal elections. The Promenade des Anglais will host the start of Stage 7 on Saturday, March 14, and the overall winner will be crowned the following day at the Riviera stadium. The successor to Matteo Jorgenson, who won in both 2024 and 2025, will be determined on this unprecedented course. Potential contenders include Simon Yates (2nd in 2018 and 2022), João Almeida (6th in 2025), Juan Ayuso, Cian Uijtdebroeks, Mattias Skjelmose (4th in 2024), and French hopefuls Kévin Vauquelin, Lenny Martinez, and David Gaudu (2nd in 2023). Stage victories will also be targeted by riders like Mads Pedersen, Olav Kooij, and Michael Matthews, all familiar with the race route.

The list of 22 selected teams has also been revealed. In addition to the 18 WorldTour teams and the three top-ranked ProTeams (Cofidis, Pinarello–Q36.5 and Tudor), the organizers have extended an invitation to TotalEnergies.

The “Race to the Sun” will be broadcast live on RTVE.

ROUTE

Complete Route © Paris-Nice

The Promenade des Anglais has traditionally served as a warm-up spot for riders at the start of the season, but in 2026, due to the local elections, the 84th edition of Paris-Nice will crown its winner at a new location: the Riviera stadium on Sunday, March 15, following a week of racing through the countryside, time trials, and challenging climbs.

To defend his title, the reigning champion will begin the race on Sunday, March 8, in Achères, becoming the 30th city in Yvelines to host a stage of the Race to the Sun. The opening stage promises early skirmishes, with a circuit around Carrières-sous-Poissy including the Côte de Chanteloup-les-Vignes, a landmark climb of the Polymultipliée. From the following day, the peloton will traverse the plains of Gâtinais, an area known for its crosswinds. Sprinters will look to shine between Épône and Montargis (Stage 2) before the race shifts focus to contenders for the general classification.

With the Tour de France Grand Départ in Barcelona in mind, the team time trial in the style of Nice between Cosne-Cours-sur-Loire and Pouilly-sur-Loire (Stage 3) will serve as a key rehearsal. The riders will then head into the roads of the Morvan, famed from the 2021 Tour de France. This time, the climb to Uchon will not only be included but could determine both the stage winner and a new race leader.

The second half of this Paris-Nice is packed with climbs, but the diversity of profiles keeps the race dynamic. Stage 5, the longest of the week, also features the most elevation gain, designed to wear down the riders on the way to Colombier-le-Vieux. An exciting race is expected in Apt (Stage 6) the following day, with a final climb to tackle in the last five kilometers.

For the weekend in Nice, the peloton will return to the Promenade des Anglais for the start of Stage 7, heading to the Auron station, where Michael Storer delivered an exceptional performance in the spring of 2025. The final stage will then circle the Riviera stadium and explore new climbs. The decisive duel is expected on the brutal slopes of the Côte du Linguador. The landscape may change, but as every year in the Race to the Sun, only the best will shine on the French Riviera.

THE STAGES 2026

1st: Sunday, March 8. Achères (1:10 PM)-Carrières-sous-Poissy (4:50 PM), 171.2 km