Paris–Nice

Paris–Nice

Race details
Date	March
Region	France
Nickname(s)	The race to the sun
Discipline	Road race
Type	Stage race
Organiser	ASO
Race director	Christian Prudhomme
History
First edition	1933
Editions	67 (as of 2009)
First winner	Alphonse Schepers
Most wins	Seán Kelly (7 times)
Most recent	Luis León Sánchez

Contador at the 2007 P-N

Paris–Nice, "the race to the sun", is a professional cycling stage race held each March.

The first Paris–Nice was in 1933 when the winner was Alfons Schepers from Belgium. The most successful cyclist in Paris–Nice was Seán Kelly from Ireland. He won seven consecutive titles (1982-1988).

Although the name is Paris–Nice, the race does not always start in Paris. It often starts in towns near or south of Paris. The last stage finishes every year on the Promenade des Anglais in Nice. The last or penultimate stage often passes the Col d'Eze, a mountain pass close to Nice.

During the 2003 race, Kazakhstan's Andrei Kivilev died due to head injury sustained in an accident. His death prompted the UCI to mandate the use of helmets in all competition, except for the last part of a race with an uphill finish. Subsequently, the rule was changed to require helmets at all times.

Paris–Nice is organised by the Amaury Sport Organisation (ASO). ASO also organizes other cycling races like the Tour de France and Paris-Roubaix and other sport events like Paris-Dakar and the Paris Marathon.

Paris–Nice has changed hands several times. It was run by the French cycling journalist Jean Leulliot and then, when he died, by his family. It was then taken over by the Tour de France winner, Laurent Fignon before it was passed to ASO. Since 2009, it has been one of the 24 races on the UCI's World Calendar, contributing towards the UCI World Ranking.

Winners

Rider Team 1933 Alphonse Schepers La Francaise 1934 Gaston Rebry Alycon 1935 René Vietto 1936 Maurice Archambaud Mercier-Hutchinson 1937 Roger Lapébie Mercier-Hutchinson 1938 Jules Lowie Pélissier-Mercier-Hutchinson 1939 Maurice Archambaud Mercier-Hutchinson 1946 Fermo Camellini Olmo 1951 Roger Decock Bertin 1952 Louison Bobet Stella-Huret 1953 Jean-Pierre Munch Arliguie-Hutchinson 1954 Raymond Impanis Mercier-BP-Hutchinson 1955 Jean Bobet L.Bobet-BP-Hutchinson 1956 Fred De Bruyne Mercier-BP-Hutchinson 1957 Jacques Anquetil Helyett 1958 Fred De Bruyne Carpano 1959 Jean Graczyck Helyett 1960 Raymond Impanis Faema 1961 Jacques Anquetil Helyett-Fynsec 1962 Joseph Planckaert Flandria-Faema 1963 Jacques Anquetil St.Raphael-Gitane 1964 Jan Janssen Pelforth-Sauvage 1965 Jacques Anquetil Ford-Gitane 1966 Jacques Anquetil Ford-Hutchinson 1967 Tom Simpson Peugeot-BP-Michelin 1968 Rolf Wolfshohl Bic 1969 Eddy Merckx Faema 1970 Eddy Merckx Faemino 1971 Eddy Merckx Molteni 1972 Raymond Poulidor Gan-Mercier-Hutchinson 1973 Raymond Poulidor Gan-Mercier-Hutchinson 1974 Joop Zoetemelk Gan-Mercier-Hutchinson 1975 Joop Zoetemelk Gan-Mercier-Hutchinson

Rider Team 1976 Michel Laurent Miko-De Gribaldy 1977 Freddy Maertens Flandria-Velda 1978 Gerrie Knetemann TI-Raleigh 1979 Joop Zoetemelk Miko-Mercier 1980 Gilbert Duclos-Lassalle Peugeot-Esso-Michelin 1981 Stephen Roche Peugeot-Esso-Michelin 1982 Seán Kelly Sem-France Loire 1983 Seán Kelly Sem-France Loire 1984 Seán Kelly Skil-Sem-Reydel 1985 Seán Kelly Skil-Sem-Reydel 1986 Seán Kelly Kas-Mavic 1987 Seán Kelly Kas 1988 Seán Kelly Kas-Mavic 1989 Miguel Indurain Reynolds 1990 Miguel Indurain Banesto 1991 Tony Rominger Toshiba 1992 Jean-Francois Bernard Banesto 1993 Alex Zülle ONCE 1994 Tony Rominger Mapei-Clas 1995 Laurent Jalabert ONCE 1996 Laurent Jalabert ONCE 1997 Laurent Jalabert ONCE 1998 Frank Vandenbroecke Mapei-Bricobi 1999 Michael Boogerd Rabobank 2000 Andreas Klöden Team Telekom 2001 Dario Frigo Fassa Bortolo 2002 Alexandre Vinokourov Team Telekom 2003 Alexandre Vinokourov Team Telekom 2004 Jörg Jaksche Team CSC 2005 Bobby Julich Team CSC 2006 Floyd Landis Phonak 2007 Alberto Contador Discovery Channel 2008 Davide Rebellin Gerolsteiner 2009 Luis León Sánchez Caisse d'Epargne

References

External links

• Official website
• Live Video Streaming options and Photos Cyclingfans.com
• 2009 Paris-Nice Live Video, Route Details, Teams, Results, Photos