Paris-Nice race guide

Here's what's in store for our riders at the prestigious 'Race to the Sun'.

We will be looking to build on our early-season success at Paris-Nice, and hoping to win our fourth title in the space of five years.

This eight-day stage race is a major event on the early season calendar, and is always attracts a star-studded field.

It's traditionally a signifier of form in the build up to the Tour de France, and each year we've won the race we've gone on to win the Tour: in 2012, 2013 and 2015.

Sir Bradley Wiggins claimed the title in 2012 before Richie Porte took the honours in 2013 and 2015. Geraint Thomas was sat in second place overall when he was forced to pull out after a crash on stage seven in 2014.

Thomas will be hoping to avoid any repeat of that this year and he is joined in a strong Team Sky line-up by Ian Boswell, Sergio Henao, Mikel Nieve, Nicolas Roche, Luke Rowe, Ian Stannard and Ben Swift.

Unlike in previous years there's no final day time trial, with the penultimate stage looking like the race's decisive day. Time bonuses for the top three (10sec, 6sec and 4sec) on each stage could prove pivotal in the final standings.

Stages

Prologue: Sunday 6 March - Conflans-Sainte-Honorine - 6.1km

A short and sharp time trial will kick the race off just outside Paris. The course is pan flat and time differences will be minimal, so it's a great opportunity for an unheralded name to sneak into the race lead.

TV coverage: Highlights on British Eurosport 1 at 1750 and 2225.

Stage 1: Monday 7 March - Conde-sur-Vesgre to Vendome - 198km

Sprinters are likely to rule as the race hits the open road. A predominantly flat day shouldn't cause the quick men any trouble, although two late sections of gravel road will require focus. The first is 600m long and preceded by a tight and potentially tricky left turn, while the second section (tackled twice) is over a kilometre. If everyone gets through them without incident, a bunch sprint should decide the day.

TV coverage: Live on British Eurosport 1 from 1415.

Stage 2: Tuesday 8 March - Contres to Commentry - 213.5km

This should be another day for the sprinters on what is the longest stage of the race. That said, crosswinds could cause havoc on France's exposed roads as the riders head south.

TV coverage: Live on British Eurosport 1 from 1500.

Stage 3: Wednesday 9 March - Cusset to Mont Brouilly - 168km

The race will hit its first notable climbs on day four and the riders will have to tackle their first summit finish atop Mont Brouilly. It's far from the toughest stage of the week - Mont Brouilly is only a second-category climb - but GC contenders will have to be wary of any late attacks. The steepest part of the 3km climb is 14%, with an average gradient of 8%.

TV coverage: Live on British Eurosport 2 from 1530.

Stage 4: Thursday 10 March - Julienas to Romans-sur-Isere - 195.5km

The sprinters will be back in the hot seat for the fourth stage. There's a second-category climb 35km from the finish but it shouldn't cause the peloton too many problems as the GC contenders will be looking to preserve their energies for stage five.

TV coverage: Highlights on British Eurosport 2 from 1530.

Stage 5: Friday 11 March - Saint-Paul-Trois-Chateux to Salon-de-Provence - 198km

There are five climbs on day six and the riders will face the toughest 70km in - a 9.5km first-category ascent up to Chalet Reynard on the slopes of Mont Ventoux. With three second-category climbs late on, a puncheur may fancy their chances of pulling off an impressive stage win on the descent in to Salon-de-Provence.

TV coverage: Highlights on British Eurosport 2 from 1530.

Stage 6: Saturday 12 March - Nice to La Madone d'Utelle - 177km

Starting in Nice, stage six is unquestionably the toughest of the week. There are seven categorised climbs for the riders to contend with over the 177km parcours, concluding with a first-category summit finish on the Madone d'Utelle. Expect attacks midway up the climb where the gradient is at its steepest as the GC contenders battle for a decisive advantage.

TV coverage: Highlights on British Eurosport 2 from 1530.

Stage 7: Sunday 13 March - Nice - 134km

A short stage to finish the week, but it's far from a walk in the park. There are six categorised climbs and the final one is a first-category ascent of the Col d'Eze - a 7.7km climb at an average of 5.7%. Then it's a long descent back down to the coast for a finishing circuit in Nice.

TV coverage: Live on British Eurosport 2 from 1245.