Tom Boonen and Marcel Kittel lead Etixx Quickstep in the long establish classic stage race, Paris-Nice this weekend
![]() |
News: Etixx – Quick-Step to Paris-Nice
The World Tour returns on Sunday with its second event of the season, Paris-Nice (6-13 March).
Pic: Tim DeWaele
Held annually since 1933, Paris-Nice saw over the years some of cycling’s biggest names take the honours and leave their legacy under the form of many memorable moments. One of the most important events in the calendar, “The Race To The Sun†was kind also to Etixx – Quick-Step on a regular basis, as the team has won 13 stages at the previous 12 participations.
Paris-Nice will begin with the traditional prologue, which this year will be held in Conflans-Sainte-Honorine, and continue with two stages that should end up in a bunch sprint. From that point on it will all be about the attackers and the climbers (maybe with the exception of stage 4), as the 74th edition schedules two uphill finishes – the steep Mount Brouilly and Madone d’Utelle – and also a visit on the infamous Mont Ventoux, at Chalet Reynard (1435 meters).
The race will conclude in Nice, but not following an individual time trial on Col d’Eze. Instead, the peloton will face an undulating stage, with six categorized ascents, which are sure to leave the general classification fight open until the finish line.
Etixx – Quick-Step has a quality line-up for Paris-Nice, which includes also Tom Boonen, the only rider in the past 12 years to score three wins at a single edition (2006). Joining him will be Marcel Kittel – who has already added five victories to his name this season – David De La Cruz, Nikolas Maes, Fabio Sabatini, Pieter Serry, Le Samyn winner Niki Terpstra and Stijn Vandenbergh, who’ll ride “The Race To The Sun†for the fifth year in a row.
“Paris-Nice is by nature a very demanding race, and things won’t be any different this year. There are many tough stages: a technical prologue, a stage with dirt roads and two uphill finishes. We have a very strong team and we hope to come out of the race with a stage victory. Marcel is our main bet for this, while David will try to do a good general classificationâ€, said sport director Tom Steels, himself a multiple stage winner at Paris-Nice. “The race will be very important also for our Classics riders, because it’s the last step towards the big one-day races of this spring. Hopefully, we’ll have good weather and a smooth race, so everything will go just fine with their preparation.â€
06.03–13.03 Paris – Nice (FRA) 2.UWT
Riders
Tom Boonen (BEL)
David De La Cruz Melgarejo (ESP)
Marcel Kittel (GER)
Nikolas Maes (BEL)
Fabio Sabatini (ITA)
Pieter Serry (BEL)
Niki Terpstra (NED)
Stijn Vandenbergh (BEL)
Sports Director Wilfried Peeters (BEL)
Jan Schaffrath (GER)
Tom Steels (BEL)
Website http://www.letour.fr
Stages
06.03.16 Prologue Conflans-Sainte-Honorine 6.1 km (ITT)
07.03.16 Stage 1 Condé-sur-Vesgre – Vendôme 195.0 km
08.03.16 Stage 2 Contres – Commentry 213.5 km
09.03.16 Stage 3 Cusset – Mont-Brouilly 165.5 km
10.03.16 Stage 4 Juliénas – Romans-sur-Isère 195.5 km
11.03.16 Stage 5 Saint-Paul-Trois-Châteaux – Salon-de-Provence 198.0 km
12.03.16 Stage 6 Nice – La Madone d’Utelle 177.0 km
13.03.16 Stage 7 Nice – Nice 141.0 km
Send your results as well as club, team & event news here
Other Results on VeloUK (including reports containing results)
- Features, Reports, Results
- TT Result: Southern Counties CU 10m TT
- TT Result: Gillingham & Dist Whs Hardriders
- TT Result: Southern Counties CU 25m TT
- Startlist: Azets Spring Classic
- SUNDAY: CiCLE Classic (Women/Junior Men)
- The Pedal Club: March Report
- Sportive raising money for charity: Dartmoor Classic
- TT Result: Maidenhead & District CC 15m TT
- TT Result: Manchester & District TTA Time Trial
- TT Result: Cardiff Ajax CC 10m TT
- TT Result: Yorkshire Cycling Federation 10m TT
- TT Result: Pendle Forest CC Hilly TT
- TT Result: Plomesgate CC 10m TT
- Crit Results: Exeter University Early Season Crits
- Crit Result: March Hare Classic
- Crit Result: Haus RT Darley Moor #3
- Crit Result: No Nonsense Circuit Races 1
- Crit Result: Spring MK Bowl Circuit Series
- RR Result: Halesowen Academy Road Race
- Track Result: First Division Manchester Track League
- Crit Result: LUCC Spring Crit Series 2
- Crit Result: Spokes RT Season Starter 2
- TT Result: Banbury Star CC Hardriders TT
- TT Result: Tavistock Whs Sporting TT
- TT Result: Maldon & District CC Hilly TT
- HC Result: Darlington CC Hill Climb
- TT Result: Barrow Central Wheelers 20.2m TT
- TT Result: GTR – Return To Life Two Up TT
- Crit Result: Brownlee Centre (Leeds)
- RR Result: The Peaks Two Day (Day 2)
- RR Result: The Peaks Two Day (Day 1)
- Classic News: 63rd Wally Gimber trophy
- Product News: Time Trial Tyre
- Crit Result: Westpoint Youth Stage Race
- Video Interviews 2023: Ollie Peckover
- British Road Championships at Redcar/Saltburn
- TT Result: Southern Counties CU 21m TT
- Track Result: First Division Manchester Track League
- Crit Result: Full Gas Spring Rumble Series #2
- TT Result: City RC Hull 2-Up TTT
Other News on VeloUK
- Startlist: Azets Spring Classic
- SUNDAY: CiCLE Classic (Women/Junior Men)
- The Pedal Club: March Report
- Sportive raising money for charity: Dartmoor Classic
- Classic News: 63rd Wally Gimber trophy
- Product News: Time Trial Tyre
- British Road Championships at Redcar/Saltburn
- STARTLIST: Junior Men/Women’s CiCLE Classic
- Entry List: The Peaks 2 Day (18/19 March)
- News: Conti’s Strongest GP 5000 Tyre
- Startlist: Harold H Nelson Memorial Day of Racing
- Team News: Halesowen A & CC Academy 2023
- News: Saint Piran Women to go UCI
- NEWS: 2023/24 Cyclocross National Trophy/Champs
- Startlists: Proper North Road Race Series (Capenwray)
- 61st Eddie Soens – Rider List
- World Masters Track Championships 2023
- News: Contiki support women’s cycling initiative
- EVENTS: Portsmouth’s Mountbatten Centre
- News: Ribble Launch Collective to Ride As One
- Startlist: 39th Jock Wadley Memorial RR
- News: 3 weeks to Women’s & Junior Men’s CiCLE Classics
- News: New Moda Bikes for Cycling Sheffield
- News: The Pedal Club Lunch (February)
- News: Alice Towers Debuts for Canyon/SRAM
- Startlist: VC St Raphael Classic TT
- News: Trinity Announces 2023 Team
- News: Cycling Brands LTD to Launch Crowdfunding Campaign
- Q&A with young organiser James Hawkins
- Q&A: Erin Murphy (Alba Dev Road Team)
- Team Feature: Hutchinson/Brother UK
- Events: Spring MK Bowl Circuit Series
- Events: RCR Fatcreations Road Race
- Team News: DAS Handsling Women’s UCI Team
- News: GB for European Track Championships
- Q&A: Sophie Lankford (Alba Team)
- News: Rayner Foundation’s Gateway Project
- News: Star Names Sign up for Saint Piran 05/03 Team
- News: 58th Perfs Pedal RR
- News: GB Team for CX Worlds