Sprinter Sam Bennett (Deceuninck – Quick-Step) is back in France for the first time since winning the prestigious green jersey at last year’s Le Tour
Deceuninck – Quick-Step to Paris-Nice
Paris-Nice will start for the 12th consecutive year from the Yvelines department, with the small town of St. Cyr-L’Ecole welcoming the riders on Sunday for a stage that could see either the sprinters or the attackers prevail, and that’s due to its up-and-down course. Monday should be the first clear opportunity for the peloton’s fast men to fight for victory – that is if the crosswinds will agree – before a rolling 14.4km individual time trial that will create some gaps between the yellow jersey contenders on stage 3.
From there, the peloton will head to Chiroubles for a punchy day featuring seven classified climbs, including the Mont Brouilly, where Julian Alaphilippe won an ITT four years ago. As the race will continue its progression towards the Mediterranean, Thursday will mark a return on flat terrain which will be followed by three stages that will be decisive in the final outcome: Biot, La Colmiane (16.3km, 6.3%) and Nice, with the last of these set to feature again the iconic Col d’Èze (1.6km, 8.1%).
Winner of two stages at the first World Tour appointment of the year, the UAE Tour, Sam Bennett will make his first appearance in Europe this season and will once again rely on trusted lead-out man Michael Mørkøv to guide him in the sprints, but also on Florian Sénéchal, whose skills were instrumental in the team’s Omloop Het Nieuwsblad victory.
“Paris-Nice is a race with a lot of history, and at the same time, a very hard race. Normally it has a lot of crosswinds, so it’s good to come here having that week of racing in the Middle East in the legs, where I got used to this kind of aggressive racing. There should be some nice opportunities for the sprinters, the team is very strong and hopefully I’ll have good legs again so we can continue our season on the same note”, said the best sprinter of last year’s Tour de France.
Mattia Cattaneo, French ITT Champion Rémi Cavagna – who’ll get to show his beautiful tricolour jersey on stage 3 – Tim Declercq and Yves Lampaert will complete our seven-man squad for the 79th edition of the “Race to the Sun”, to which the Wolfpack is looking forward, as explained by sports director Tom Steels: “Paris-Nice is one of the biggest stage races out there and this year we have a good shot at getting some nice results with Sam, but we want to see also what Rémi and Yves can do in the time trial. Same goes for Mattia, who had a solid UAE Tour last week and we are now curious to discover what he can do in the general classification.”
07.03–14.03 Paris-Nice (FRA) 2.UWT
Riders
Sam Bennett (IRL)
Mattia Cattaneo (ITA)
Rémi Cavagna (FRA)
Tim Declercq (BEL)
Yves Lampaert (BEL)
Michael Mørkøv (DEN)
Florian Sénéchal (FRA)
Sports Director Klaas Lodewyck (BEL)
Tom Steels (BEL)
Website www.letour.fr
Stages
07.03.21 Stage 1 Saint-Cyr-L’école – Saint-Cyr-L’école 165.8 km
08.03.21 Stage 2 Oinville-Sur-Montcient – Amilly 188.0 km
09.03.21 Stage 3 Gien – Gien 14.4 km (ITT)
10.03.21 Stage 4 Chalon-Sur-Saône – Chiroubles 187.6 km
11.03.21 Stage 5 Vienne – Bollène 200.2 km
12.03.21 Stage 6 Brignoles – Biot 202.4 km
13.03.21 Stage 7 Nice – Valdeblore La Colmiane 166.5 km
14.03.21 Stage 8 Nice – Nice 110.5 km
Cycle Division’s Shop
Send your results as well as club, team & event news here
Other Results on VeloUK (including reports containing results)
- Features, Reports, Results
- BMCR RESULTS – DARLEY MOOR
- Crit Result: Haus RT – Darley Moor #2
- News: British Road Champs Return to NE
- TT Result: Circuit Of Ingleborough
- RR Result: Wally Gimber RR
- TT Result: Cardiff Ajax CC TT
- TT Result: Southern Counties CU TT
- TT Result: CTT Classic Series 1
- TT Result: GTR – Return To Life Two Up TT
- TT Result: Hainault RC Hilly 50km TT
- NEXT WEEKEND: Peaks Two Day is Back!
- News: Laura Kenny Retires
- RR Result: Gifford National B
- RR Results: Junior Men’s & Women’s CiCLE Classic
- Crit Result: Salt Ayre Spring Series 2
- Crit Result: Exeter Uni Early Season Crits
- Team News: Lee Valley Youth Cycling Team
- 2024/25 CYCLO-CROSS CALENDAR
- Startlist: Cardiff Ajax CC 10 Mile TT
- TT Result: Bristol Uni CC 10m TT
- TT Result: Matlock CC 25m TT
- TT Result: Lea Valley CC 25m TT
- TT Result: Port Talbot Whs 25m Two Up
- Startlists: 16th Gifford Road Races (Scotland)
- News: Ellingworth is new Tour of Britain Director
- RR Result: NCRA Spring Handicap RR 2
- Crit Result: Full Gas Spring Rumble Series #2
- Crit Result: Spring MK Bowl Series
- Startlist: Circuit of Ingleborough TT
- TT Result: Swindon Hardriders 30m TT
- STARTLIST: Evesham Vale Road Race 2024
- Track Result: Manchester Regional Track League
- Mammoth fields for Women’s/Junior Men’s CiCLE Classics
- BMCR Result: Harold ‘H’ Nelson Memorial
- HC Result: Darlington CC Hill Climb
- TT Result: GTR – Return To Life Mad March 10 TT
- TT Result: A3crg Road Bike TT
- Crit Result: Salt Ayre Spring Series #1
- Crit Result: Haus RT Darley Moor #1
- TT Result: Kernow Racing Team 10m TT
Other News on VeloUK
- News: British Road Champs Return to NE
- NEXT WEEKEND: Peaks Two Day is Back!
- News: Laura Kenny Retires
- Team News: Lee Valley Youth Cycling Team
- 2024/25 CYCLO-CROSS CALENDAR
- Startlist: Cardiff Ajax CC 10 Mile TT
- Startlists: 16th Gifford Road Races (Scotland)
- News: Ellingworth is new Tour of Britain Director
- Startlist: Circuit of Ingleborough TT
- STARTLIST: Evesham Vale Road Race 2024
- Mammoth fields for Women’s/Junior Men’s CiCLE Classics
- Saturday: Fusion Media Women’s Series Rd 1
- Saint Piran’s Global Women’s Project
- Ribble Rebellion: The Riders
- Team News: Ribble Rebellion Team Launch
- British Classics – 64th Wally Gimber Trophy
- Startlist: 62nd Eddie Soens
- Startlist: 10th Junior Men’s CiCLE Classic (March 17)
- Startlist: 8th Women’s CiCLE Classic (March 17)
- Startlist: 40th Jock Wadley Memorial RR
- Riders: Azets Spring Classic (March 24)
- Bike News: DJ Spoony’s Special & unique Ribble Ultra SL R
- GB Team News: Helen Scott now Men’s Sprint Podium Potential Coach
- Startlist: Royal Navy Cup 2024
- News: Halesowen Academy 2024
- Report: Day 3 British Track Championships
- New Women’s Series in the Midlands
- News: RideLondon Classique
- Event News: CiCLE Classic (Women & Junior Men)
- Quiz Time! Toby Bush (Fensham Howes – MAS Design)
- 2024 Otley CC Race Team
- News: British Cycling Elite Development Teams
- Startlist: Velo Club St Raphael TT
- Team News: Fensham Howes – MAS Design RT Launch
- Ladies: Join BMCR for £10!
- 2024 TEAMS: Shibden Apex RT Junior Men
- Entry List: Clayton Spring Classic Handicap
- 2024 British Teams – Sigma Sports RT
- TEAM NEWS: Max Walker joins Astana
- News: trainSharp Orro Elite Team Launch