Vinokourov, the Paris-Nice’s new king? Deep-blue skies and springtime are two images that come to mind in the work-up to the event that journalists dubbed “the sunward race” at its inception. Back in the 1950s, however, the Paris-Nice was seen more as a basic warm-up before the April classics. Older enthusiasts, no doubt, will still recall Jacques Anquetil negotiating the République pass wearing a wool cap and leg warmers after cycling a thousand or so kilometres. No longer. As everywhere else, things have changed. Nobody sees the Paris-Nice as a warm-up any more. Contenders come to the Paris-Nice after three months of training, and after racing several hundred kilometres in Australia, Malaysia or Qatar, as then in Spain, Italy, and the South of France. This one, in a way, is another in a string of sunward races. So when they come to this much-anticipated (and equally challenging) stage event, the champions are already in vying-for-victory mode, aiming high, and keenly aware of their standing. Awaiting them are throngs of supporters eager to unleash their excitement, and journalists looking forward to typing frantically at their keyboards throughout the weeklong event. Because every enthusiast who sees cycling as a white-knuckle year-long saga looks forward impatiently to the Paris-Nice – and the Tour de France’s centennial last year showed that the ranks of cycling enthusiasts are far from dwindling! We would also like to thank those who have worked to make the 2004 chapter happen; the authorities in Val-de-Seine and Hauts-de-Seine which will see the race begin (it is not always easy in the Paris region) and the city council in Nice, where the race will end after a decisive pass-riddled stage. The roads leading contenders from Greater Paris to the Mediterranean waterfront is a tad innovative. It is not excessive, but has everything to inspire attackers. You’ve been warned. We will be remembering Andrei Kivilev most especially this time. And we hope this sport we love – a sprinter sport in the early stages and a climber sport later on – will reveal a worthy successor to the contestants who have earned their place in the circle of Paris-Nice kings. Eddy Merckx, Raymond Poulidor, Joop Zoetemelk, Sean “Monsieur Paris-Nice” Kelly (who won seven events in a row) and Laurent Jalabert belong to that circle not only because they won, but because they won with style. And this circle, it appears, is one Alexandre Vinokourov is intent on joining. Jean-Marie Leblanc