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Nice
119 km
Sunday 14 March
This year, Nice will be celebrating 150 years since it became part of France. Starter’s orders for this short and tense stage will be given on the Promenade des Anglais. The first difficulty for the riders to tackle will be the climb up to the Col de la Porte (7.2 km at a gradient of 7%). The return to Nice will then take in La Turbie, the slopes of the Col d’Eze and the descent to Villefranche-sur-Mer. The finishing line is located on the Promenade des Anglais.
Boasting a history of 25 centuries and a unique Baroque and Belle Époque heritage, Nice, the best known French city in the world after Paris, is one of the most prized destinations amongst millions of tourists from all over the planet. Open to the whole world, the Nice Côte d’Azur airport is the second busiest French airport in passenger numbers. Nice also boasts a landscape in which the sea and mountains combine the gentleness of the Baie des Anges and the ruggedness of the “Alpine glaciers whose aura illuminated the peaks”, as Maupassant once said. This light and ambience have inspired many artists and film-makers. The land produces products with generous flavours. The people come from diverse origins and with different histories, but are united in their passion for their city. Nice is also a very active sporting city with many clubs and associations.
Nice, a city where the sporting tradition has never died, welcomes many international sporting events all throughout the year. The Ironman challenge for the leading triathlon specialists, the Alpes-Maritimes marathon, the Louis Vuitton Trophy, today the 68th edition of Paris-Nice and soon, in May, the tennis tournament which will return like a phoenix from the flames after a long absence, are all just a few examples of the sporting excellence to be found in Nice Côte d’Azur. Nice’s international reputation for sport is accompanied by a policy of sport for all. This is conveyed most notably by the will to provide top-quality sports facilities throughout the city as well as the desire to provide financial help to families with the most modest incomes, funding their permits in part or in full, allowing everyone to enjoy sport in the best conditions.
