Paris-Nice guide

Preparations for this year's Grand Tours will be stepped up a notch when a selection of the best stage-race riders in the world head to France for the eight-day Paris-Nice (March 9-16).

Stage 3: Tuesday, March 11 - Toucy to Circuit de Nevers Magny-Cours - 180km | Report | Gallery Result 1 John Degenkolb (Ger) Giant-Shimano, 4:27:26
2 Matthew Goss (Aus) Orica-GreenEdge, same time
3 Jose Joaquin Rojas (Spa) Movistar, st
4 Borut Bozic (Slo) Astana, st
5 Tom Boonen (Bel) Omega Pharma - Quick-Step, st
6 Alexander Kristoff (Nor) Katusha, st
7 Nacer Bouhanni (Fra) FDJ, st
8 Thor Hushovd (Nor) BMC, st
9 Gert Steegmans (Bel) Omega Pharma - Quick-Step, st
10 Moreno Hofland (Ned) Belkin, st General classification 1 John Degenkolb (Ger) Giant-Shimano, 13:14:01
2 Nacer Bouhanni (Fra) FDJ, +8secs
3 Moreno Hofland (Ned) Belkin, +12
4 Jose Joaquin Rojas (Spa) Movistar, +18
5 Geraint Thomas (GB) Team Sky, +21
6 Bryan Coquard (Fra) Europcar, +22
7 Alexander Kristoff (Nor) Katusha, st
8 Nikolay Trusov (Rus) Tinkoff-Saxo, st
9 Samuel Dumoulin (Fra) Ag2r-La Mondiale, st
10 Marco Marcato (Ita) Cannondale, st Stage 4: Wednesday, March 12 - Nevers to Belleville - 201.5km | Report | Gallery Result 1 Tom-Jelte Slagter (Ned) Garmin-Sharp, 5:00:09
2 Geraint Thomas (GB) Team Sky, same time
3 Wilco Kelderman (Ned) Belkin, +5secs
4 Michael Matthews (Aus) Orica-GreenEdge, st
5 Zdenek Stybar (Cze) Omega Pharma - Quick-Step, st
6 Arthur Vichot (Fra) FDJ, st
7 Peter Velits (Svk), BMC, st
8 Jose Joaquin Rojas (Spa) Movistar, st
9 Cyril Gautier (Fra) Europcar, st
10 Samuel Dumoulin (Fra) Ag2r-La Mondiale, st General classification 1 Geraint Thomas (GB) Team Sky, 18:14:25
2 John Degenkolb (Ger) Giant-Shimano, +3secs
3 Tom-Jelte Slagter (Ned) Garmin-Sharp, +4
4 Jose Joaquin Rojas (Spa) Movistar, +8
5 Samuel Dumoulin (Fra) Ag2r-La Mondiale, +12
6 Wilco Kelderman (Ned) Belkin, ++15
7 Carlos Betancur (Col) Ag2r-La Mondiale, +17
8 Zdenek Stybar (Cze) Omega Pharma - Quick-Step, +19
9 Cyril Gautier (Fra) Europcar, same time
10 Arnold Jeannesson (Fra) FDJ, st Stage 5: Thursday, March 13 - Creche-sur-Saone to Rive-de-Gier - 153km | Report | Gallery Result 1 Carlos Betancur (Col) Ag2r-La Mondiale, 3:38:15
2 Bob Jungels (Lux) Trek Factory Racing, same time
3 Jakob Fuglsang (Den) Astana, st
4 Bryan Coquard (Fra) Europcar, +2secs
5 Tom Boonen (Bel) Omega Pharma - Quick-Step, st
6 Reinhardt Janse van Rensburg (RSA) Giant-Shimano, st
7 Tony Gallopin (Fra) Lotto Belisol, st
8 Greg van Avermaet (Bel) BMC, st
9 Borut Bozic (Slo) Astana, st
10 Marco Marcato (Ita) Cannondale, st
Selected other
16 Geraint Thomas (GB) Team Sky, st General classification 1 Geraint Thomas (GB) Team Sky, 21:52:42
2 John Degenkolb (Ger) Giant-Shimano, +3secs
3 Tom-Jelte Slagter (Ned) Garmin-Sharp, +4
4 Carlos Betancur (Col) Ag2r-La Mondiale, +5
5 Jose Joaquin Rojas (Spa) Movistar, +8
6 Jakob Fuglsang (Den) Astana, +13
7 Jan Bakelants (Bel) Lotto Belisol, same time
8 Wilco Kelderman (Ned) Belkin, +15
9 Zdenek Stybar (Cze) Omega Pharma - Quick-Step, +19
10 Cyril Gautier (Fra) Europcar, st Stage 6: Friday, March 14 - Saint-Saturnin Les-Avignon to Fayence - 221.5km | Report | Gallery Result 1 Carlos Betancur (Col) Ag2r-La Mondiale, 5:12:11
2 Rui Costa (Por) Lampre-Merida, same time
3 Zdenek Stybar (Cze) Omega Pharma - Quick-Step, +3secs
4 Geraint Thomas (GB) Team Sky, st
5 Arthur Vichot (Fra) FDJ, st
6 Cyril Gautier (Fra) Europcar, +7
7 Jakob Fuglsang (Den) Astana, st
8 Tony Gallopin (Fra) Lotto Belisol, st
9 Stefan Denifl (Aut) IAM Cycling, st
10 Gorka Izagirre (Spa) Movistar, st General classification 1 Carlos Betancur (Col) Ag2r-La Mondiale, 27:04:48
2 Geraint Thomas (GB) Team Sky, +8secs
3 Rui Costa (Por) Lampre-Merida, +18
4 Zdenek Stybar (Cze) Omega Pharma - Quick-Step, +22
5 Jose Joaquin Rojas (Spa) Movistar, +24
6 Jakob Fuglsang (Den) Astana, +25
7 Arthur Vichot (Fra) FDJ, +27
8 Jan Bakelants (Bel) Lotto Belisol, +29
9 Cyril Gautier (Fra) Europcar, +31
10 Stefan Denifl (Aut) IAM Cycling, same time Stage 7: Saturday, March 15 - Mougins to Biot - 195.5km | Report | Gallery Result 1 Tom-Jelte Slagter (Ned) Garmin-Sharp, 5:00:05
2 Rui Costa (Por) Lampre-Merida, same time
3 Carlos Betancur (Col) Ag2r-La Mondiale, st
4 Jose Joaquin Rojas (spa) Movistar, st
5 Arthur Vichot (Fra) FDJ, st
6 Tony Gallopin (Fra) Lotto Belisol, st
7 Stefan Denifl (Aut) IAM Cycling, st
8 Zdenek Stybar (Cze) Omega Pharma - Quick-Step, st
9 Jakob Fuglsang (Den) Astana, st
10 Peter Velits (Svk) BMC, st
Selected other
66 Geraint Thomas (GB) Team Sky, +7:13 General classification 1 Carlos Betancur (Col) Ag2r-La Mondiale, 32:04:49
2 Rui Costa (Por) Lampre-Merida, +14
3 Zdenek Stybar (Cze) Omega Pharma - Quick-Step, +26
4 Jose Joaquin Rojas (Spa) Movistar, +27
5 Jakob Fuglsang (Den) Astana, +29
6 Arthur Vichot (Fra) FDJ, +31
7 Cyril Gautier (Fra) Europcar, +35
8 Stefan Denifl (Aut) IAM Cycling, same time
9 Peter Velits (Svk) BMC, 39
10 Simon Spilak (Slo) Katusha, st
Selected other
38 Geraint Thomas (GB) Team Sky, +7:25 Stage 8: Sunday, March 16 - Nice to Nice - 128km | Report | Gallery Result 1 Arthur Vichot (Fra) FDJ< 3:06:56
2 Jose Joaquin Rojas (Spa) Movistar, same time
3 Cyril Gautier (Fra) Europcar, st
4 Damiano Caruso (Ita) Cannondale, st
5 Wilco Kelderman (Ned) Belkin, st
6 Frank Schleck (Lux) Trek Factory racing, st
7 Tom Jelte-Slagter (Ned) Garmin-Sharp, st
8 Carlos Betancur (Col) Ag2r-La Mondiale, st
9 George Bennett (NZ) Cannondale, st
10 Eduardo Sepulveda (Arg) Bretagne-Seche Environnement, st Final general classification 1 Carlos Betancur (Col) Ag2r-La Mondiale, 35:11:45
2 Rui Costa (Por) Lampre-Merida, +14
3 Arthur Vichot (Fra) FDJ, +21
4 Jose Joaquin Rojas (Spa) Movistar, +21
5 Zdenek Stybar (Cze) Omega Pharma - Quick-Step, +25
6 Jakob Fuglsang (Den) Astana, +29
7 Cyril Gautier (Fra) Europcar, +31
8 Stefan Denifl (Aut) IAM Cycling, +35
9 Simon Spilak (Slo) Katusha, +36
10 Peter Velits (Svk) BMC, +39

The favourites

The biggest name on the start line is Vincenzo Nibali (Astana), who has opted for this race rather than defend his Tirreno-Adriatico title, but world champion Rui Costa (Lampre-Merida) is also present and the route could suit his style well. The unpredictability of the stages could take the advantage away from the climbers, though, so don't be surprised to see riders like Simon Gerrans (Orica-GreenEdge), Sylvain Chavanel (IAM Cycling), Zdenek Stybar (Omega Pharma - Quick-Step) or Britain's Geraint Thomas (Team Sky) putting their names in the mix.

Brit watch

Steve Cummings (BMC), Luke Rowe (Team Sky), Geraint Thomas (Team Sky), Simon Yates (Orica-GreenEdge).

Key stage

It is difficult to pick one stage out in particular, as stages four, five six and eight all bear similarities. However, simply because it is the final stage and so much could still be left to play for, stage eight will be vital.

The jerseys

- Yellow: General classification.
- Green: Points classification
- Polka dots: King of the mountains.
- White: Best young rider.

Time bonuses and points

- 10, 6 and 4 bonus seconds will be awarded to the first three finishers on each stage.
- 3, 2 and 1 second will be awarded to the first three riders over the line at intermediate sprints. - 15, 12, 9, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2 and 1 point will be awarded to the first ten riders over the finish line.
- 3, 2 and 1 point will be awarded to the first three riders over the line at intermediate sprints.

Teams and riders

WorldTour Ag2r-La Mondiale: Romain Bardet (Fra), Carlos Betancur (Col), Maxime Bouet (Fra), Mikael Cherel (Fra), Samuel Dumoulin (Fra), Sebastien Minard (Fra), Sebastien Turgot (Fra), Alexis Vuillermoz (Fra). Astana: Borut Bozic (Slo), Jakob Fuglsang (Den), Enrico Gasparotto (Ita), Francesco Gavazzi (Ita), Valerio Agnoli (Ita), Vincenzo Nibali (Ita), Alessandro Vanotti (Ita), Lieuwe Westra (Ned). Belkin: Jetse Bol (Ned), Lars Petter Nordhaug (Nor), Lars Boom (Ned), Jonathan Hivert (Fra), Moreno Hofland (Ned), Wilco Kelderman (Ned), Jos van Emden (Ned), Maarten Wynants (Bel). BMC: Steve Cummings (GB), Thor Hushovd (Nor), Amael Moinard (Fra), Taylor Phinney (USA), Peter Stetina (USA), Greg van Avermaet (Bel), Tejay van Garderen (USA), Peter Velits (Svk). Cannondale: George Bennett (NZ), Damiano Caruso (Ita), Alessandro de Marchi (Ita), Michel Koch (Ger), Marco Marcato (Ita), Fabio Sabatini (Ita), Cristiano Salerno (Ita), Davide Villella (Ita). Europcar: Giovanni Bernardeau (Fra), Bryan Coquard (Fra), Jerome Cousin (Fra), Jimmy Engoulvent (Fra), Cyril Gautier (Fra), Bryan Nauleau (Fra), Perrig Quemeneur (Fra), Thomas Voeckler (Fra). FDJ: Nacer Bouhanni (Fra), Sebastien Chavanel (Fra), Anthony Geslin (Fra), Arnold Jeannesson (Fra), Cedric Pineau (Fra), Geoffrey Soupe (Fra), Benoit Vaugrenard (Fra), Arthur Vichot (Fra). Garmin-Sharp: Andre Cardoso (Por), Tyler Farrar (USA), Alex Howes (USA), Sebastian Langeveld (Ned), Ramunas Navardauskas (Lit), Tom-Jelte Slagter (Ned), Steele von Hoff (Aus), Fabian Wegmann (Ger). Giant-Shimano: Bert de Backer (Bel), Koen de Kort (Ned), John Degenkolb (Ger), Dries Devenyns (Bel), Thierry Hupond (Fra), Reinhardt Janse van Rensburg (RSA), Ramon Sinkledam (Ned), Albert Timmer (Ned). Katusha: Sergei Chernetckii (Rus), Vladimir Isaychev (Rus), Alexander Kristoff (Nor), Egor Silin (Rus), Simon Spilak (Slo), Alexey Tsatevich (Rus), Yuri Trofimov (Rus), Aliaksandr Kuchynski (Blr). Lampre-Merida: Matteo Bono (Ita), Rui Costa (Por), Nelson Oliveira (Por), Jose Serpa (Col), Matteo Cattaneo (Ita), Elia Favalli (Ita), Przemyslaw Niemiec (Pol). Lotto-Belisol: Sander Armee (Bel), Lars Bak (Den), Kris Boeckmans (Bel), Tony Gallopin (Fra), Pim Ligthart (Ned), Maxime Monfort (Bel), Jelle Vanendert (Bel), Tim Wellens (Bel). Movistar: Imanol Erviti (Spa), Ivan Gutierrez (Spa), Gorka Izagirre (Spa), Ion Izagirre (Spa), Jose Joaquin Rojas (Spa), John Gadret (Fra), Jesus Herrada (Spa), Sylwester Szmyd (Pol). Omega Pharma - Quick-Step: Jan Bakelants (Bel), Tom Boonen (Bel), Nikolas Maes (Bel), Gianni Meersman (Bel), Gert Steegmans (Bel), Zdenek Stybar (Cze), Niki Terpstra (Ned), Stijn Vandenbergh (Bel). Orica-GreenEdge: Michael Albasini (Swi), Mitchell Docker (Aus), Simon Gerrans (Aus), Matthew Goss (Aus), Mathew Hayman (Aus), Jens Keukeleire (Aus), Michael Matthews (Aus), Simon Yates (GB). Team Sky: Edvald Boasson Hagen (Nor), Vasil Kiryienka (Blr), Christian Knees (Ger), David Lopez (Spa), Gabriel Rasch (Nor), Luke Rowe (GB), Xabier Zandio (Spa), Geraint Thomas (GB). Tinkoff-Saxo: Matti Breschel (Den), Karsten Kroon (Ned), Marko Kump (Slo), Rafal Majka (Pol), Ivan Rovny (Rus), Chris Anker Sorensen (Den), Nicki Sorensen (Den), Nikolay Trusov (Rus). Trek: Matthew Busche (USA), Laurent Didier (Lux), Fabio Felline (Ita), Danilo Hondo (Ger), Bob Jungels (Lux), Gregory Rast (Swi), Andy Schleck (Lux), Frank Schleck (Lux). Pro Continental Bretagne Seche-Environnement: Anthony Delaplace (Fra), Brixe Feillu (Fra), Romain Feillu (Fra), Christophe Laborie (Fra), Florian Guillou (Fra), Armindo Fonseca (Fra), Eduardo Sepulveda (Arg), Florian Vachon (Fra). Cofidis: Jerome Coppel (Fra), Julien Fouchard (Fra), Egoitz Garcia (Spa), Cyril Lemoine (Fra), Luis Angel Mate (Spa), Adrien Petit (Fra), Julien Simon (Fra), Romain Zingle (Bel). IAM Cycling: Sylvain Chavanel (Fra), Stefan Denifl (Aut), Mathias Frank (Swi), Sebastien Hinault (Fra), Kevyn Ista (Bel), Jerome Pineau (Fra), Sebastien Reichenbach (Swi), Aleksejs Saramotins (Aut).