Paris–Nice

Infobox Cycling race
name = Paris–Nice
current_event =


date = March
region = France
english =
localnames =
nickname = "The race to the sun"
discipline = Road race
competition =
type = Stage race
organiser = ASO
director = Christian Prudhomme
first = 1933
number = 66 (as of 2008)
last =
firstwinner = flagicon|BEL Alphonse Schepers
mostwins = flagicon|Ireland Seán Kelly (7 times)
mostrecent = flagicon|ITA Davide Rebellin

Paris–Nice, "the race to the sun", is a professional cycling stage race held each March.

The first Paris–Nice was 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 titles (1982-1988).

Although the name is Paris–Nice, the race does not always start in Paris. 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 2008) was won by Davide Rebellin from Italy. The 2006 one was won by American Floyd Landis, and the 2005 edition 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 Tour de France and Paris-Roubaix and other sport events like Paris-Dakar and the Paris Marathon.

Paris–Nice has changed hands several times. It was run by the French cycling journalist Jean Leulliot and then, when he died, by his family. It was then taken over by the Tour de France winner, Laurent Fignon before it was passed to ASO.

Winners

Cycling past winner rider|year=1936|name=Maurice Archambaud|nat=FRA|natvar=|team=Mercier-Hutchinson|teamnat=FRA|teamnatvar= Cycling past winner rider|year=1954|name=Raymond Impanis|nat=BEL|natvar=|team=Mercier-BP-Hutchinson|teamnat=FRA|teamnatvar= Cycling past winner rider|year=1956|name=Fred De Bruyne|nat=BEL|natvar=|team=Mercier-BP-Hutchinson|teamnat=FRA|teamnatvar= Cycling past winner rider|year=1957|name=Jacques Anquetil|nat=FRA|natvar=|team=Helyett|teamnat=FRA|teamnatvar= Cycling past winner rider|year=1961|name=Jacques Anquetil|nat=FRA|natvar=|team=Helyett-Fynsec|teamnat=FRA|teamnatvar= Cycling past winner rider|year=1963|name=Jacques Anquetil|nat=FRA|natvar=|team=St.Raphael-Gitane|teamnat=FRA|teamnatvar= Cycling past winner rider|year=1965|name=Jacques Anquetil|nat=FRA|natvar=|team=Ford-Gitane|teamnat=FRA|teamnatvar= Cycling past winner rider|year=1969|name=Eddy Merckx|nat=BEL|natvar=|team=Faema|teamnat=BEL|teamnatvar= Cycling past winner rider|year=1970|name=Eddy Merckx|nat=BEL|natvar=|team=Faemino|teamnat=BEL|teamnatvar= Cycling past winner rider|year=1972|name=Raymond Poulidor|nat=FRA|natvar=|team=Gan-Mercier-Hutchinson|teamnat=FRA|teamnatvar= Cycling past winner rider|year=1974|name=Joop Zoetemelk|nat=NED|natvar=|team=Gan-Mercier-Hutchinson|teamnat=FRA|teamnatvar= Cycling past winner rider|year=1975|name=Joop Zoetemelk|nat=NED|natvar=|team=Gan-Mercier-Hutchinson|teamnat=FRA|teamnatvar= Cycling past winner rider|year=1982|name=Seán Kelly|nat=IRL|natvar=|team=Sem-France Loire|teamnat=FRA|teamnatvar= Cycling past winner rider|year=1983|name=Seán Kelly|nat=IRL|natvar=|team=Sem-France Loire|teamnat=FRA|teamnatvar= Cycling past winner rider|year=1984|name=Seán Kelly|nat=IRL|natvar=|team=Skil-Sem-Reydel|teamnat=FRA|teamnatvar= Cycling past winner rider|year=1985|name=Seán Kelly|nat=IRL|natvar=|team=Skil-Sem-Reydel|teamnat=FRA|teamnatvar= Cycling past winner rider|year=1986|name=Seán Kelly|nat=IRL|natvar=|team=Kas-Mavic|teamnat=FRA|teamnatvar= Cycling past winner rider|year=1987|name=Seán Kelly|nat=IRL|natvar=|team=Kas|teamnat=ESP|teamnatvar= Cycling past winner rider|year=1989|name=Miguel Indurain|nat=ESP|natvar=|team=Reynolds|teamnat=ESP|teamnatvar= Cycling past winner rider|year=1995|name=Laurent Jalabert|nat=FRA|natvar=|team=Team ONCE|teamnat=ESP|teamnatvar= Cycling past winner rider|year=1996|name=Laurent Jalabert|nat=FRA|natvar=|team=Team ONCE|teamnat=ESP|teamnatvar= Cycling past winner rider|year=2002|name=Alexandre Vinokourov|nat=KAZ|natvar=|team=Team Telekom|teamnat=GER|teamnatvar=

References

External links

*Official|http://www.letour.fr/2008/PNC/COURSE/fr/index.html