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Paris-Nice or "The Race to the Sun" is an early season race held each March. The route head south from Paris to the warmer climate of the south of France.
The 2007 Paris-Nice race is the focus of a dispute between the Amaury Sport Organisation (ASO) and the Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI). ASO have requested that the 2007 edition be downgraded from Pro Tour status to NE (national calendar status), therefore lacking UCI world-ranking points. If this occurs, Pro Tour teams are forbidden from taking part.[1]
The first Paris-Nice was held 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 times (1982-1988).
Although the name is Paris-Nice, the race does not always start in Paris any more. 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.
The most recent edition (in 2006) was won by Floyd Landis from the United States. The 2005 edition was won by Bobby Julich, also from the United States. The 2004 edition was won by Jörg Jaksche from Germany. In 2002 and 2003 Paris-Nice was won by Alexandre Vinokourov from Kazakhstan. During the latter race, Vinokourov's friend and countryman 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 famous Tour de France and Paris-Roubaix and other sport events like Paris-Dakar and the Paris Marathon.
