Paris–Nice super tough finale: Stage 8 is no parade

On Sunday, riders ride in the final stage of Paris-Nice…but it ain’t a nice little last day of racing like we see during its older cousin, the Tour de France. There’s no chill procession followed by quick finishing circuits.

The peloton rolls out along the Var before tackling the Col de la Porte. That leg–opener is seven kilometres at over seven percent. That will warm the lads up fast.

After a long descent, the Côte de Châteauneuf-Villevieille and the punchy rise to Aspremont keeps the pressure on before the decisive final phase.

The real sting sits on the Côte du Linguador. That one is 3.3 km at 8.8 percent, with ramps getting up to a brutal 14 per cent. That sounds a perfect launchpad for any late moves before the run back toward Nice.

With the finish shifted from the Promenade des Anglais to the Allianz Riviera, the setting may be new. The script, however, remains familiar: one last tough day before the sun sets on Paris–Nice. There is some light rain in the forecast—but the temps are more or less civilized, with highs around 14°C.

Pinarello-Q36.5 Pro Cycling Team’s Nick Zukowsky is having a great ride at Paris-Nice, sitting 13th overall heading into the final stage. The Sainte-Lucie-des-Laurentides, Que. rider has lost four of his 7 teammates, however–much like several of the squads racing. The tough weather and racing has decimated the peloton.

You can watch the action on FloBikes.com starting at 10:00 a.m. EDT. If you’re feeling like binge-watching some cycling on the trainer, Tirreno-Adriatico’s final stage is at 8:05 a.m. EDT. The Italian finale is a bit more humane–looks like a day for the sprinters. Although it’s not being shown on FloBikes, the women will be racing the Trofeo Alfredo Binda on Sunday–with several Canadians racing. Lidl-Trek’s Isabella Holmgren is also beginning her season there. Check back here for a report on the 27th edition of the Women’s WorldTour race.

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