Paris-Nice
| Paris-Nice | |
|---|---|
| Local name: | Paris-Nice |
| Region: | Central and Southern France |
| Date: | March |
| Type: | Stage Race |
| History | |
| First Edition: | 1933 |
| Number of Editions: | 63 |
| First Winner: | Alfons Schepers, (Belgium) |
| Most Wins: | Sean Kelly (Ireland) 7 times |
Paris-Nice, nicknamed "the race to the sun", is an annual professional cycling stage race held annually each March.
The first Paris-Nice was held in 1933 when the winner was Alfons Schepers from Belgium. The most successful cyclist in Paris-Nice was Sean 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 2005) was won by Bobby Julich 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.
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.
Winners
- 2005 Bobby Julich (USA)
- 2004 Jorg Jaksche (Germany)
- 2003 Alexandre Vinokourov (Kazakhstan)
- 2002 Alexandre Vinokourov (Kazakhstan)
- 2001 Dario Frigo (Italy)
- 2000 Andreas Klöden (Germany)
- 1999 Michael Boogerd (Netherlands)
- 1998 Frank Vandenbroecke (Belgium)
- 1997 Laurent Jalabert (France)
- 1996 Laurent Jalabert (France)
- 1995 Laurent Jalabert (France)
- 1994 Tony Rominger (Switzerland)
- 1993 Alex Zülle (Switzerland)
- 1992 Jean-Francois Bernard (France)
- 1991 Tony Rominger (Switzerland)
- 1990 Miguel Indurain (Spain)
- 1989 Miguel Indurain (Spain)
- 1988 Sean Kelly (Ireland)
- 1987 Sean Kelly (Ireland)
- 1986 Sean Kelly (Ireland)
- 1985 Sean Kelly (Ireland)
- 1984 Sean Kelly (Ireland)
- 1983 Sean Kelly (Ireland)
- 1982 Sean Kelly (Ireland)
- 1981 Stephen Roche (Ireland)
- 1980 Gilbert Duclos-Lassalle (France)