It’s winter in Europe however to any extent further the solar units later every day. If you need one other cue that spring is getting nearer then the 2026 Paris-Good route is out at present.
No surprises for the beginning exterior Paris and the end in Good. However like a sandwich it’s the filling that counts. This appears promising with some novelties together with a revised closing stage.
It’ll run between Sunday 8 March and Sunday 15 March. Right here’s a more in-depth take a look at the eight days…
Stage 1 is the recurring begin within the Yvelines départment to the west of Paris. The 2 closing climbs to Chanteloup-les-Vignes are steep and use the course of the defunct Trophée des Grimpeurs race the place heavyset sprinters threat being dropped. There’s little time to get again with an uncovered descent earlier than a flat end in Carrières.
Stage 2 is for the sprinters and that’s all they’re getting this week so anybody who struggled with the climbing yesterday might want to ship right here. The race went to Montargis in 2024 the place Arvid De Klein gained the dash. The course twists a bit to catch any crosswinds because it traverses flat terrain of the Gâtinais so if Mom Nature helps then the day can flip right into a semi-classic.
Stage 3 could possibly be the wine stage with the end in Pouilly and near Sancerre. Nevertheless it’s a 23km crew time trial and with “Paris-Good” guidelines , awarding a crew the win however taking particular person occasions. The format is established right here but additionally serves as a gown rehearsal for of the Tour de France’s opening stage in Barcelona.
What’s completely different is the course isn’t as hilly as we’ve had lately. The oenological reference isn’t just for thirsty followers however means the terrain is uncovered because of the winery monoculture. So if it’s windy it’ll be harder however in any other case we must always see groups are available with extra riders collectively. The ways could possibly be completely different with groups used to burning up rouleurs earlier than climbs now pondering of methods to unfold the hassle.
Stage 4 goes to France’s smallest mountain vary, the Morvan. It’s déjà vu with route from Autun borrowing that of Stage 7 within the 2021 Tour de France however that completed additional away in Le Creusot when Matej Mohorič gained, this finishes earlier than on the high of the Sign d’Uchon which has nearly 2km at 11% to the end however the common is meaningless with 20% one second after which 5% the subsequent.
Stage 5 tracks the Rhone river south earlier than a end within the Ardèche hills. The race leaves the valley ground after the intermediate dash in Sarras to take a gentle climb to Sécheras after which goes again to the valley ground. The following climb will get a primary class label and the climb out of Saint-Jean-de-Muzols appears prefer it’s the Chemin de l’Officier, a tarmacked farm observe. As soon as accomplished there are greater roads with steadier gradients to the end.
Stage 6 begins within the Rhone valley and inclined the howling Mistral wind. The end returns to Apt the place Tiesj Benoot gained in 2020 simply earlier than the Covid pandemic hit however value remembering for the style of his win, like a hero in a martial arts movie flooring all enemies he appeared to tackle the peloton and win. It’s one other hilly day and promising for that with a end within the scenic Lubéron.
Stage 7 goes to Auron. Paris-Good went there final time and snow meant the Col St. Martin from La Colmiane was scratched from the route and an abbreviated model discovered. This route is nearly repeated with no huge climb mid-way however as an alternative a splash out of Good utilizing a aspect street to the Var valley at Carros to assist break up the sphere earlier than going to Isola after which the ultimate climb. Look carefully on the profile as a result of a lot of the slope on the finish is up a white water river, huge ring using. The ski station flip is with 7km to go and seven% contains some 9-10% sections.
Stage 8 retains the format of beginning and ending in Good however the route is completely different, gone is the Peille/Pancrace climb and the Col d’Eze too. It’s uphill at the beginning through Castagniers after which Levens. After Lantosque there’s 13km to the Col de Porte with the ultimate 7km at a gentle 7%. A pity there’s no left flip right here to soak up extra climbing however the fitting flip and descent to L’Escarne leaves the race open to extra riders and fewer straightforward to regulate. The Col de Châteauneuf comes subsequent, 6.6% says the profile however it’s a twisty backroad that rewards assaults because it’s straightforward to get out of sight. The Chemin de Linguador is the final climb and a slender and irregular street. The ultimate novelty of the day is the end is not on the Promenade des Anglais by the ocean however as an alternative by the OGC Good soccer stadium due to municipal elections that day and the stadium provides straightforward out-of-town logistics.
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The VerdictThere’s déjà vu with the return to Montargis and the Sign d’Uchon is again, plus the routes units up the sensation because the Ardèche end of Stage 5 might host a stage in July 2027 and these roads ought to function within the Dauphiné Tour Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes soo too.
The sprinters have it tougher particularly because the opening stage is much less accessible than normal for some and the next day is all they’ve. The crew time trial is enjoyable for a Tuesday however the brand new guidelines have exploited hillier programs.
Three hilly days are open to the breakaway and may affect the GC as a result of the Saturday stage to Auron is “solely” a brief summit end, features may be small. The revised closing stage is sweet, having noticed and written that the route had turn into settled with riders understanding the place to assault, this mixes issues up.
Lastly a inside-cycling point out that Yannick Talabardon gave a part of the presentation. The ex-pro had been the race’s deputy and stood in final yr when his boss François Lemarchand crashed on a motorcycle experience simply earlier than the race however Lemarchand has retired and so Talabardon in formally in cost now.
The contendersIt’s too early to know who’s using however ASO’s press launch mentions some names. By deduction it seems like Matteo Jorgenson is probably not again for 3 in a row, as an alternative the organisers count on Visma-LAB Simon Yates to return, he has been runner-up twice. If Jonas Vingegaard is predicted to experience the Giro it’s probably he does Tirreno-Adriatico as a part of the bundle.
Plus we all know Tadej Pogačar isn’t using, as an alternative for UAE Joao Almeida makes his bid to gather extra one week stage races. We’ll see Lidl-Trek crew mates Juan Ayuso and Mattias Skjelmose, plus Cian Uijtdebroeks in Movistar package.
Is Kévin Vauquelin a grand tour contender? He, Ineos as effectively and French followers are questioning and his view is that week-long stage races are inside attain first. Lenny Martinez (Bahrain) shall be stage searching – he grew up not removed from Uchon end – and David Gaudu (Groupama-FDJ) attempting to rebuild his outcomes. Olav Kooij begins as a result of he’s at Decathlon however Mads Pedersen and Michael Matthews will discover the terrain fits extra.
Solely TotalEnergies get a wildcard invite when the race can invite extra, so notably Unibet Rose Rockets are absent. Will they get a Tour wildcard? That’s gone from very more likely to in all probability with this exclusion and even when they’re racing Tirreno-Adriatico as an alternative it’ll imply the Tour with one much less World Tour stage race on French roads earlier than.
