Paris-Nice preview: Sir Bradley Wiggins and Geraint Thomas among big names in action

Sir Bradley Wiggins, Richie Porte, Geraint Thomas and Michal Kwiatkowski are among the big names in action at Paris-Nice, which takes place from March 8-15.

"The Race to the Sun", as it is also known, holds fond memories for Wiggins, who claimed overall victory in the 2012 edition on the way to winning the Tour de France that summer.

However, he likely to play a supporting role to Richie Porte and Geraint Thomas, who are set to co-lead Team Sky's challenge for the yellow jersey.

Other big names in action include world road race champion Michal Kwiatkowski, Tejay van Garderen and Rafal Majka.

Here's how the race will pan out...

THE STAGES

Prologue: Sunday, March 8 - Maurepas to Maurepas - 6.7km | Report

Result and general classification

1 Michal Kwiatkowski (Pol) Etixx – Quick-Step, 7:40
2 Rohan Dennis (Aus) BMC Racing, same time
3 Tony Martin (Ger) Etixx – Quick-Step, +7
4 Luis Leon Sanchez (Esp) Astana, st +10
5 Lars Boom (Ned) Astana, st
6 John Degenkolb (Ger) Giant-Alpecin, st
7 Sylvain Chavanel (Fra) IAM Cycling, st
8 Michael Matthews (Aus) Orica-GreenEdge, +12
9 Tom Dumoulin (Ger) Giant-Alpecin, +13
10 Geraint Thomas (GB) Team Sky, +14
Selected others
12 Sir Bradley Wiggins (GB) Team Sky, +15
13 Richie Porte (Aus) Team Sky, st

Stage 1: Monday, March 9 - Saint-Remy-les-Chevreuse to Contres - 196.5km | Report

Result

1 Alexander Kristoff (Nor) Katusha, 5:15:18
2 Nacer Bouhanni (Fra) Cofidis, same time
3 Bryan Coquard (Fra) Europcar, st
4 Heinrich Haussler (Aus) IAM Cycling, st
5 Giacomo Nizzolo (Ita) Trek Factory Racing, st
6 Jose Joquin Rojas (Esp) Movistar, st
7 Moreno Hofland (Ned) LottoNL-Jumbo, st
8 Niccolo Bonifazio (Ita) Lampre-Merida, st
9 Ben Swift (GB) Team Sky, st
10 Michael Matthews (Aus) Orica-GreenEdge, st

General classification

1 Michal Kwiatkowski (Pol) Etixx – Quick-Step, 5:22:58
2 Rohan Dennis (Aus) BMC Racing, same time
3 Tony Martin (Ger) Etixx – Quick-Step, +7
4 John Degenkolb (Ger) Giant-Alpecin, st
5 Luis Leon Sanchez (Esp) Astana, st +10
6 Lars Boom (Ned) Astana, st
7 Michael Matthews (Aus) Orica-GreenEdge, st
8 Sylvain Chavanel (Fra) IAM Cycling, st
9 Tom Dumoulin (Ger) Giant-Alpecin, +13
10 Geraint Thomas (GB) Team Sky, +14 

Stage 2: Tuesday, March 10 - ZooParc de Beauval - Saint Aignan to Saint-Amand-Montrond - 172km | Report

Result

1 Andre Greipel (Ger) Lotto Soudal, 4:30:18
2 Arnaud Demare (Fra) FDJ.fr, same time
3 John Degenkolb (Ger) Giant-Alpecin, st
4 Michael Matthews (Aus) Orica-GreenEdge, st
5 Jose Joaquin Rojas (Esp) Movistar, st
6 Nacer Bouhanni (Fra) Cofidis, st
7 Moreno Hofland (Ned) LottoNL-Jumbo, st
8 Alexander Kristoff (Nor) Katusha, st
9 Jonas van Genechten (Bel) IAM Cycling, st
10 Niccolo Bonifazio (Ita) Lampre-Merida, st

General classification

1 Michal Kwiatkowski (Pol) Etixx – Quick-Step, 9:53:16
2 Rohan Dennis (Aus) BMC Racing, same time
3 John Degenkolb (Ger) Giant-Alpecin, +2secs
4 Tony Martin (Ger) Etixx – Quick-Step, +7
5 Michael Matthews (Aus) Orica-GreenEdge, +9
6 Luis Leon Sanchez (Esp) Astana, +10
7 Lars Boom (Ned) Astana, st
8 Sylvain Chavanel (Fra) IAM Cycling, st
9 Tom Dumoulin (Ger) Giant-Alpecin, +13
10 Geraint Thomas (GB) Team Sky, st

Stage 3: Wednesday, March 11 - Saint-Amand-Montrond to Saint-Pourcain-sur-Sioule - 179km | Report

Result

1 Michael Matthews (Aus) Orica-GreenEdge, 4:32:12
2 Davide Cimolai (Ita) Lampre-Merida, same time
3 Giacomo Nizzolo (Ita) Trek Factory Racing, st
4 Alexander Kristoff (Nor) Katusha, st
5 Jose Joaquin Rojas (Esp) Movistar, st
6 Matti Breschel (Den) Tinkoff-Saxo, st
7 Moreno Hofland (Ned) LottoNL-Jumbo, st
8 Nacer Bouhanni (Fra) Cofidis, st
9 Bryan Coquard (Fra) Europcar, st
10 Arnaud Demare (Fra) FDJ.fr, st 

General classification

1 Michael Matthews (Aus) Orica-GreenEdge, 14:25:27
2 Michal Kwiatkowski (Pol) Etixx – Quick-Step, +1sec
3 Rohan Dennis (Aus) BMC Racing, same time
4 John Degenkolb (Ger) Giant-Alpecin, +3
5 Tony Martin (Ger) Etixx – Quick-Step, +8
6 Luis Leon Sanchez (Esp) Astana, +11
7 Sylvain Chavanel (Fra) IAM Cycling, st
8 Tom Dumoulin (Ned) Giant-Alpecin, +14
9 Geraint Thomas (GB) Team Sky, st
10 Philippe Gilbert (Bel) BMC Racing, st 

Stage 4: Thursday, March 12 - Varennes-sur-Allier to Croix de Chaubouret - 204km | Report

Result

1 Richie Porte (Aus) Team Sky, 5:18:39
2 Geraint Thomas (GB) Team Sky, same time
3 Michal Kwiatkowski (Pol) Etixx – Quick-Step, +8secs
4 Jakob Fuglsang (Den) Astana, st
5 Tejay van Garderen (USA) BMC Racing, +17
6 Rui Costa (Por) Lampre-Merida, +24
7 Tony Gallopin (Fra) Lotto Soudal, st
8 Fabio Aru (Ita) Astana, st
9 Rafael Valls (Esp) Lampre-Merida, st
10 Simon Spilak (Svk) Katusha, st

General classification

1 Michal Kwiatkowski (Pol) Etixx – Quick-Step, 19:44:11
2 Richie Porte (Aus) Team Sky, +1sec
3 Geraint Thomas (GB) Team Sky, +3
4 Tejay van Garderen (USA) BMC Racing, +27
5 Jakob Fuglsang (Den) Astana, +32
6 Tony Gallopin (Fra) Lotto Soudal, +38
7 Rui Costa (Por) Lampre-Merida, +41
8 Gorka Izagirre (Esp) Movistar, +44
9 Tiago Machado (Por) Katusha, +50
10 Rafael Valls (Esp) Lampre-Merida, +51

Stage 5: Friday, March 13 - Saint-Etienne to Rasteau - 192.5km | Report

Result

1 Davide Cimolai (Ita) Lampre-Merida, 4:12:09
2 Bryan Coquard (Fra) Europcar, same time
3 Michael Matthews (Aus) Orica-GreenEdge, st
4 Nacer Bouhanni (Fra) Cofidis, st
5 Jose Joaquin Rojas (Esp) Movistar, st
6 Alexander Kristoff (Nor) Katusha, st
7 Matti Breschel (Den) Tinkoff-Saxo, st
8 Dan McLay (GB) Bretagne-Seche Environnement, st
9 Samuel Dumoulin (Fra) Ag2r-La Mondiale, st
10 Sylvain Chavanel (Fra) IAM Cycling, st

General classification

1 Michal Kwiatkowski (Pol) Etixx – Quick-Step, 23:56:20
2 Richie Porte (Aus) Team Sky, +1sec
3 Geraint Thomas (GB) Team Sky, +3
4 Tejay van Garderen (USA) BMC Racing, +27
5 Jakob Fuglsang (Den) Astana, +32
6 Tony Gallopin (Fra) Lotto Soudal, +38
7 Rui Costa (Por) Lampre-Merida, +41
8 Gorka Izagirre (Esp) Movistar, +44
9 Tiago Machado (Por) Katusha, +50
10 Rafael Valls (Esp) Lampre-Merida, +51

Stage 6: Saturday, March 14 - Vence to Nice - 180.5km | Report

Result

1 Tony Gallopin (Fra) Lotto Soudal, 4:52:57
2 Simon Spilak (Slo) Katusha, +32sec
3 Rui Costa (Por) Lampre-Merida, same time
4 Jakob Fuglsang (Den) Astana, st
5 Rafael Valls (Esp) Lampre-Merida, +35
6 Michael Valgren (Den) Tinkoff-Saxo, +1:00
7 Tim Wellens (Bel) Lotto Soudal, st
8 Sylvain Chavanel (Fra) IAM Cycling, st
9 Arthur Vichot (Fra) FDJ.fr, st
10 Nicolas Edet (Fra) Cofidis, st
Selected others
12 Richie Porte (Aus) Team Sky, st
13 Geraint Thomas (GB) Team Sky, st
14 Michal Kwiatkowski (Pol) Etixx – Quick-Step, +1:02

General classification

1 Tony Gallopin (Fra) Lotto Soudal, 28:49:42
2 Richie Porte (Aus) Team Sky, +36secs
3 Michal Kwiatkowski (Pol) Etixx – Quick-Step, +37
4 Geraint Thomas (GB) Team Sky, +38
5 Jakob Fuglsang (Den) Astana, st
6 Rui Costa (Por) Lampre-Merida, +42
7 Simon Spilak (Slo) Katusha, +53
8 Rafael Valls (Esp) Lampre-Merida, +1:01
9 Gorka Izagirre (Esp) Movistar, +1:19
10 Tim Wellens (Bel) Lotto Soudal, +2:00 

Stage 7: Sunday, March 15 - Nice to Col d'Eze - 9.5km | Report

Result

1 Richie Porte (Aus) Team Sky, 20:23
2 Simon Spilak (Slo) Katusha, +13secs
3 Rui Costa (Por) Lampre-Merida, +24
4 Tony Martin (Ger) Etixx – Quick-Step, +29
5 Michal Kwiatkowski (Pol) Etixx – Quick-Step, same time
6 Andrew Talansky (USA) Cannondale-Garmin, +37
7 Geraint Thomas (GB) Team Sky, +39
8 Ion Izagirre (Esp) Movistar, +50
9 Tim Wellens (Bel) Lotto Soudal, +54
10 Gorka Izagirre (Esp) Movistar, +55
Selected other
29 Tony Gallopin (Fra) Lotto Soudal, +1:39

Final general classification

1 Richie Porte (Aus) Team Sky, 29:10:41
2 Michal Kwiatkowski (Pol) Etixx – Quick-Step, +30secs
3 Simon Spilak (Slo) Katusha, same time
4 Rui Costa (Por) Lampre-Merida, st
5 Geraint Thomas (GB) Team Sky, +41
6 Tony Gallopin (Fra) Lotto Soudal, +1:03
7 Jakob Fuglsang (Den) Astana, +1:05
8 Rafael Valls (Esp) Lampre-Merida, +1:24
9 Gorka Izagirre (Esp) Movistar, +1:38
10 Tim Wellens (Bel) Lotto Soudal, +2:18

KEY STAGE

Stage four. The summit finish on Croix de Chaubouret has the potential to create the biggest gaps between the contenders for overall victory.

THE FAVOURITES

Richie Porte (Team Sky)
The Australian won the race in 2013 and is back as part of his build-up for May's Giro d'Italia. He has been in excellent form so far this season, winning the Australian national time trial title and mountain stages at the Tour Down Under and Volta ao Algarve.

Geraint Thomas (Team Sky)
The Welshman would probably have won last year's race had it not been for an untimely crash while in the overall lead. He is likely to initially ride in support of Porte, but having won the Volta ao Algarve, don't be surprised to see him challenge for a place on the podium.

Michal Kwiatkowski (Etixx - Quick-Step)
The world road race champion is a strong climber and time-triallist, but keeping up with Porte on stage four's summit finish could be a tough ask.

Tejay van Garderen (BMC Racing)
Twice fifth at the Tour de France, the American can climb and time trial well, so the course suits him. He will also be supported by a strong BMC Racing team containing the likes of Rohan Dennis.

THE OUTSIDE BETS

Rafal Majka (Tinkoff-Saxo)
The excellent Pole should be a contender on the summit finish but the time trials could undermine his challenge for a place on the overall podium.

Romain Bardet (Ag2r-La Mondiale)
Similar to Majka, Bardet should be able to climb with the best on stage four's summit finish, so it will just be a case of limiting losses on the time trials.

BRIT WATCH

- Luke Rowe (Team Sky).
- Ben Swift (Team Sky).
- Geraint Thomas (Team Sky).
- Sir Bradley Wiggins (Team Sky).
- Simon Yates (Orica-GreenEdge).

THE JERSEYS

- Yellow: General classification.
- Green: Points classification.
- Red and white polka dots: Mountains classification.
- White: Best young rider classification.

TIME BONUSES

- 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.

PREVIOUS WINNERS

2014: Carlos Betancur (Col).
2013: Richie Porte (Aus).
2012: Sir Bradley Wiggins (GB).
2011: Tony Martin (Ger).
2010: Alberto Contador (Esp).
2009: Luis Leon Sanchez (Esp).
2008: Davide Rebellin (Ita).
2007: Alberto Contador (Esp).
2006: Floyd Landis (USA).
2005: Bobby Julich (USA).

THE TEAMS

AG2R-LA MONDIALE

Country: France. Status: WorldTour
Team: Samuel Dumoulin (Fra), Romain Bardet (Fra), Jan Bakelants (Bel), Mikael Cherel (Fra), Ben Gastauer (Lux), Jean-Christophe Peraud (Fra), Johan Vansummeren (Bel), Sebastian Minard (Fra).

ASTANA

Country: Kazakhstan. Status: WorldTour
Team: Lars Boom (Ned), Luis Leon Sanchez (Esp), Jakob Fuglsang (Den), Fabio Aru (Ita), Rein Taaramae (Est), Andriy Grivko (Ukr), Borut Bozic (Slo), Laurens de Vreese (Bel).

BMC RACING

Country: United States. Status: WorldTour
Team: Tejay van Garderen (USA), Philippe Gilbert (Bel), Amael Moinard (Fra), Ben Hermans (Bel), Rohan Dennis (Aus), Peter Velits (Svk), Michal Schar (Sui), Silvan Dillier (Sui).

BRETAGNE-SECHE ENVIRONNEMENT

Country: France. Status: Pro Continental
Team: Dan McLay (GB), Jonathan Hivert (Fra), Pierrick Fedrigo (Fra), Eduardo Sepulveda (Arg), Yauheni Hutarovich (Blr), Florian Vachon (Fra), Arnaud Gerard (Fra), Anthony Delaplace (Fra).

CANNONDALE-GARMIN

Country: United States. Status: WorldTour
Team: Dylan van Baarle (Ned), Andrew Talansky (USA), Sebastian Langeveld (Ned), Tom-Jelte Slagter (Ned), Ben King (USA), Ted King (USA), Jack Bauer (NZ), Alex Howes (USA).

COFIDIS

Country: France. Status: Pro Continental
Team: Nacer Bouhanni (Fra), Jonas Ahlstrand (Swe), Dominique Rollin (Can), Florian Senechal (Fra), Cyril Lemoine (Fra), Nicolas Edet (Fra), Luis Angel Mate (Esp), Geoffrey Soupe (Fra).

EUROPCAR

Country: France. Status: Pro Continental
Team: Bryan Coquard (Fra), Antoine Duchesne (Can), Cyril Gautier (Fra), Yohann Gene (Fra), Bryan Nauleau (Fra), Romain Sicard (Fra), Angelo Tulik (Fra), Thomas Voeckler (Fra).

ETIXX - QUICK-STEP

Country: Belgium. Status: WorldTour
Team: Julian Alaphilippe (Fra), Maxime Bouet (Fra), Tony Martin (Ger), Tom Boonen (Bel), Michal Kwiatkowski (Pol), Stijn Vandenbergh (Bel), Matteo Trentin (Ita), Michal Golas (Pol).

FDJ.FR

Country: France. Status: WorldTour
Team: Arnaud Demare (Fra), Arthur Vichot (Fra), Anthoyn Roux (Fra), Arnold Jeannesson (Fra), Laurent Pichot (Fra), Mikael Delage (Fra), Sebastien Chavanel (Fra), William Bonnet (Fra).

GIANT-ALPECIN

Country: Germany. Status: WorldTour
Team: Warren Barguil (Fra), Ramon Sinkeldam (Ned), John Degenkolb (Ger), Tom Dumoulin (Ned), Koen de Kort (Ned), Zico Waeytens (Bel), Georg Preidler (Aut), Roy Curvers (Ned).

IAM CYCLING

Country: Switzerland. Status: WorldTour
Team: Vicente Reynes (Esp), Sylvain Chavanel (Fra), David Tanner (Aus), Mathias Frank (Sui), Jonas van Genechten (Bel), Heinrich Haussler (Aus), Jerome Pineau (Fra), Dries Devenyns (Bel).

KATUSHA

Country: Russia. Status: WorldTour
Team: Tiago Machado (Por), Alexander Kristoff (Nor), Egor Silin (Rus), Yuri Trofimov (Rus), Simon Spilak (Slo), Viacheslav Kuznetsov (Rus), Jacopo Guarnieri (Ita), Sergei Chernetckii (Rus).

LAMPRE-MERIDA

Country: Italy. Status: WorldTour
Team: Mario Costa (Por), Rui Costa (Por), Nelson Oliveira (Por), Rafael Valls (Esp), Ruben Plaza (Esp), Davide Cimolai (Ita), Matteo Bono (Ita), Niccolo Bonifazio (Ita).

LOTTONL-JUMBO

Country: Netherlands. Status: WorldTour
Team: Wilco Kelderman (Ned), Moreno Hofland (Ned), Maarten Tjallingii (Ned), Maarten Wynants (Bel), Bram Tankin (Ned), Geroge Bennett (NZ), Jos van Emden (Ned), Steven Kruijswijk (Ned).

LOTTO SOUDAL

Country: Belgium. Status: WorldTour
Team: Tim Wellens (Bel), Tony Gallopin (Fra), Andre Greipel (Ger), Adam Hansen (Aus), Thomas de Gendt (Bel), Marcel Sieberg (Ger), Greg Henderson (NZ), Lars Ytting Bak (Den).

MOVISTAR

Country: Spain. Status: WorldTour
Team: Imanol Erviti (Esp), Ion Izagirre (Esp), Gorka Izagirre (Esp), Ruben Fernandez (Esp), Jose Joaquin Rojas (Esp), Eros Capecchi (Ita), Dayer Quintana (Col), Benat Intxausti (Esp).

ORICA-GREENEDGE

Country: Australia. Status: WorldTour
Team: Simon Yates (GB), Jens Keukeleire (Bel), Michael Matthews (Aus), Michael Albasini (Sui), Simon Clarke (Aus), Mitchell Docker (Aus), Daryl Impey (RSA), Christian Meier (Can).

TEAM SKY

Country: Great Britain. Status: WorldTour
Team: Richie Porte (Aus), Geraint Thomas (GB), Sir Bradley Wiggins (GB), Ben Swift (GB), Luke Rowe (GB), Lars Petter Nordhaug (Nor), Nicolas Roche (Irl), Bernhard Eisel (Aut).

TINKOFF-SAXO

Country: Russia. Status: WorldTour
Team: Rafal Majka (Pol), Robert Kiserlovski (Cro), Pawel Poljanski (Pol), Matti Breschel (Den), Michael Valgren (Den), Michael Morkov (Den), Sergio Paulinho (Por), Chris Anker Sorensen (Den).

TREK FACTORY RACING

Country: United States. Status: WorldTour
Team: Bob Jungels (Lux), Riccardo Zoidl (Aut), Kristof Vandewalle (Bel), Gert Steegmans (Bel), Greogry Rast (Sui), Marco Coledan (Ita), Giacomo Nizzolo (Ita), Eugenio Alafaci (Ita).