The 2026 Paris-Nice returns every March, symbolically linking the wintery north of France to the sunny French Riviera. It's one of the first major stage races of the WorldTour season and often represents an initial test for riders aiming for the year's major races. The 2026 edition features eight stages, with a fairly varied route: sprinter stages, rolling days for puncheurs, a 23km team time trial, and a mountainous finale that takes the riders up to the Alpes-Maritimes before the traditional final stage around Nice.

The fourth stage is interesting, with the uphill finish in Uchon, a climb that isn't particularly tough but is long enough to allow the first attacks among the GC riders, and the fifth stage in Colombier-le-Vieux, with a route dotted with short but repeated climbs that can wear down the group.

The queen stage on Saturday up to the uphill finish in Auron and, As per tradition, the final day is a tense circuit around Nice.

Among the most anticipated riders is Jonas Vingegaard. The Dane is returning to racing after missing the UAE Tour and will have to demonstrate his good condition right away.

One of his most interesting rivals is Juan Ayuso , a very well-rounded Spanish talent: strong on climbs but also very competitive in time trials. With Joao Almeida and Mattias Skjelmose absent, Brandon McNulty, Oscar Onley, Kevin Vauquelin, and Lenny Martinez are likely contenders.

There will be several opportunities for faster riders such as Biniam Girmay, Dorian Godon and Orluis Aular.

The scheduled stages:

Achères → Carrières-sous-Poissy — 171.2 km

Épône → Montargis — 187 km

Cosne-Cours-sur-Loire → Pouilly-sur-Loire — 23.5 km (team time trial)

Bourges → Uchon — 195 km

Cormoranche-sur-Saône → Colombier-le-Vieux — 205.4 km

Barbentane → Apt — 179.3 km

Nice → Auron — 138.7 km

Nice → Nice — 145 km

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