Land of the Games in 2024, the agglomeration of Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines will first be a land of cycling in 2023. Already chosen to host the last stage of the next Tour de France, on Sunday July 23 in front of the national velodrome in Montigny -le-Bretonneux, the Yvelin area will also serve as a launching pad for the Paris-Nice cycle race. The course was unveiled this Thursday noon in Versailles in the salons of honor of the Hôtel du Département.
On Sunday March 5, the stars of the international peloton will meet in front of the town hall of La Verrière for the 81st edition of the “race to the sun.” The first stage will be run (for the first time) around the popular town of 6,000 inhabitants with two loops in the Chevreuse Valley for a total distance of 169.4 km. The course will borrow twice the terrible coast of Milon-la-Chapelle (passages at 20%) then the famous coast of the 17 Turnings above Dampierre.
The next day, the village of Bazainville (1,500 inhabitants) will, in turn, have the honors of the start of the second stage. The finish will be judged at Place Saint-Nicolas in Fontainebleau (Seine-et-Marne), after a hook in the plain of Houdan then a passage in Essonne.
Nearly 8 million viewers
Since 2010, Paris-Nice has set off from Yvelines every year in accordance with the partnership signed by the department with ASO, the event’s organizing company, and renewed two years ago until 2025.
Last year, Mantes-la-Ville then the village of Auffargis hosted the start of the first two stages. It’s a nice spotlight for the department since Paris-Nice brings together nearly 8 million viewers each year on France Televisions.
STEPS. Sunday March 5, 1st stage : The Verriere > The Verriere, 169.4 km
Monday March 6, 2nd stage : Bazainville > Fontainebleau, 163.7 km
Tuesday, March 7, 3rd stage : Dampierre-en-Burly > Dampierre-en-Burly (team time trial), 32.2 km
Wednesday March 8, 4th stage : Saint-Amand-Montrond > The Lodge of the Guards, 164.7 km
Thursday March 9, 5th stage : Saint-Symphorien-sur-Coise > Saint-Paul-Trois-Châteaux, 212.4 km
Friday March 10, 6th stage : Tourves > La-Colle-sur-Loup, 197.4 km
Saturday March 11, 7th stage : Nice > Col de la Couillole, 142.9 km
Sunday March 12, 8th stage : Nice > Nice, 118,4 km