Paris-Nice kicks off this Sunday, and while last year’s champion Matteo Jorgenson is back to defend his title, the clear favorite is his Visma-Lease a Bike teammate, Jonas Vingegaard. Both riders come into this race in top form—Vingegaard recently dominated the Volta ao Algarve, while Jorgenson looked strong at Opening Weekend in Belgium. But the dynamic between the two will be fascinating. Will Visma race fully in support of Vingegaard? Or will Jorgenson get the opportunity to defend his title in the race that put him on the map as a GC contender?

A Brutal Route Built For Climbers

This year’s edition of Paris-Nice is built for the climbers, with three summit finishes and a brutal final stage in the mountains around Nice. But before the peloton even reaches the high mountains, one of the most decisive moments of the race could come in Stage 3—a team time trial on a rolling 28.4km course, featuring a steep mid-stage climb. Last year, this discipline played a huge role in determining the final podium, and in 2025, it could be just as important. Visma-Lease a Bike brings a powerhouse squad, including time trial specialist Victor Campenaerts, making them the favorites to gain time here.

Once the GC battle moves to the mountains, the real test begins. Stage 4 is the first major shakeup, finishing atop La Loge des Gardes, where Vingegaard lost time to Tadej Pogačar in 2023. Stage 5 is a relentless day with short, steep climbs, including the brutal Notre-Dame-de-Sciez, which averages 11% and maxes out at 18%. It’s the kind of stage where a well-timed attack could cause serious damage. Then, Stage 7 brings the first big summit showdown at Auron (7.3km at 7.2%), and finally, Stage 8 delivers the traditional mountain gauntlet before the dramatic descent into Nice. This final day is where Jorgenson made his decisive move last year to take the overall victory.

The GC Contenders: Who Can Challenge Visma?

Beyond Visma, the biggest threats to Vingegaard and Jorgenson will be João Almeida (UAE Team Emirates), who finished second to Vingegaard in Algarve and is known for his consistency, and Santiago Buitrago (Bahrain Victorious), a punchy climber with the ability to steal time if given an opportunity. Lidl-Trek’s Mattias Skjelmose and Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe’s Aleksandr Vlasov are also GC contenders to watch.

The Sprinters’ Battles

Paris-Nice isn’t just about the GC fight—there are three stages tailored for the fast men. Mads Pedersen (Lidl-Trek) and Tim Merlier (Soudal-QuickStep) enter as the top sprint contenders, with both riders already claiming multiple wins this season. Sam Welsford (Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe) is another name to watch, but his lead-out train will need to improve after struggling at the UAE Tour. Veteran sprinters like Arnaud Démare (Arkea-B&B Hotels) and Alexander Kristoff (Uno-X Mobility) will also be looking for opportunities, while Michael Matthews (Jayco-AlUla) will be eyeing the lumpier sprint stages.

Don’t Miss The Action

Paris-Nice 2025 is shaping up to be one of the most exciting stage races of the early season, and you can catch every stage live and on demand on FloBikes. This race is available for our viewers in Canada, and with the biggest names in the sport lining up, you won’t want to miss a second of the action.

The Race To The Sun Begins

Paris-Nice isn’t just another early-season stage race—it’s the first true test of the Grand Tour contenders, the first real showdown in the mountains, and the first time we see who’s ready to dominate 2025. Vingegaard wants to prove he’s untouchable, Jorgenson wants to defend his crown, and the rest of the peloton is desperate to shake up the script.

With brutal climbs, a decisive time trial, and sprint battles that will push the fast men to their limits, this race is set to deliver fireworks from start to finish. Buckle up—the Race to the Sun is about to ignite.