Concerns of the coronavirus are reshaping the 2020 WorldTour calendar, but the 78th edition of the stage race affectionately known as the Race to the Sun will begin as planned this Sunday. 

Though a number of WorldTour team doctors have called for the cancelation of the 2020 Paris-Nice amidst the spread of the COVID-19 virus, race organizer ASO has remained resolute in its intention to hold the race. The race has been held every year since 1933 except during Germany's occupation of France from 1940 to 1945. 

Team rosters have been increased from seven to eight riders to fill out the field in the absence of several WorldTour teams. At last count, Team Ineos, Astana, CCC, Mitchelton-Scott, Movistar and Jumbo-Visma have all suspended their race programs through the end of March in an effort to shield racers and staff from the coronavirus.

While ASO maintains the race must go on, the organizers have made drastic changes to the ceremonial pre and post race protocols in an effort to mitigate contact between racers, race media and staff, as well as the general public.

• The start, finish and route barriers will be reinforced
• The announcers will not interview the riders on the departure podium
• At the end of each stage, there will not be a press conference in the press room or in the mixed zone at the finish
• There will not be contact between the riders and public figures on the final podium
• At the teams' request, paper documents will not be given to the riders

Additionally, riders have been instructed not to take selfies with fans.

A number of racers who’d previously intended on competing in the Italian spring classics have subsequently altered their race programs to attend Paris-Nice, including Michael Woods, Vincenzo Nibali, Peter Sagan and Elia Viviani.

The show will go on, with eight stages across a variety of terrain, from the rugged, wind-whipped hills of Northern France to the sunny Côte d’Azur of Nice. These are the stages and racers to watch for in the 2020 Paris-Nice.

A Route For All Comers

A variety of specialists—sprinters, puncheurs, climbers and time trialists—will all be given opportunities for victory thanks to a balanced Paris-Nice route.

The race kicks off with an unpredictable stage 1, featuring two ascents of the 1.5km cobblestone climb of Neauphle le Château. The second climb of the pavé hill, which averages 6.5 percent in gradient, is followed by a 15km descent to the finish. With time bonuses of 10, 6 and 4 seconds on the line, watch for the attackers to steal an early lead.

In the absence of harsh weather and crosswinds (never to be discounted in Paris-Nice) stages two and three appear tailor-made for the fast men.

In the stage 4 time trial, the GC battle begins to unfold. The technical 15km route features two shallow ascents and a long downhill drag to a flat final 3km.

As the race approaches the French Riviera, the route becomes more mountainous. The 227km stage five appears tailor-made for the breakaway, while stage six contains a half dozen classified climbs, but nothing more difficult than a category 2.

The queen stage arrives on the race’s penultimate day, with the 16.3km summit finish at Valdblore la Colmaine. In 2018, Simon Yates effectively used La Colmaine to seize the race’s overall lead when he attacked 4km from the summit. However, Yates lost the lead the following day on a short and challenging circuit similar to the final stage of the 2020 Paris-Nice.

At just 114km in length, stage 8 kicks off with the 11km, category 1 ascent of the Col de la Porte. A succession of three categorized climbs follow the Porte, with the final 4km ascent of the Côte d’Aspremont coming roughly 20km from the finish. Watch for an aggressive start and a late-race bid for victory on this dynamic final day of Paris-Nice.

Woods Debuts Against Competitive Field

Following the birth of his first child, Canadian Mike Woods will toe the start line for the first time in 2020. The dynamic course favors Woods for a strong ride, but he’ll have to mitigate his losses in the stage 4 time trial should he hope to stay in the GC running.

French Tour de France hopefuls Julian Alaphalippe, Thibau Pinot and Romain Bardet will face-off on a course not so dissimilar from what they’ll see in July. The defending champion of the now-cancelled Strade Bianche and Milano-Sanremo, Alaphalippe will have the opportunity to test himself against his grand tour rivals. Was his yellow jersey performance at the 2019 Tour de France a revelation, or a once in a lifetime type of ride?

Trek-Segafredo’s Vincenzo Nibali and Richie Porte will race together for the first time on the WorldTour stage. Trek’s announced team leadership will go to the Italian Nibali, an interesting move considering Porte’s dominating victory at the Tour Down Under.

Finally, we cannot forget Colombian Nairo Quintana, who scorched up Mount Ventoux in the Tour de La Provence, winning the stage and taking the overall title. Quintana’s Arkea-Samsic team is off to a strong start in 2020, and will arrive at Paris-Nice prepared to win.