This stage cycling race lasts 8 days. It is the first important stage race of the cycling season. These last years, it has been programmed almost simultaneously with Tyrreneo-Adriatico, an other stage race in Italy. Therefore the peloton is divided in two parts.
Since it ends in Nice, it's an annual event.
In 2020 the Maritime Alps will see 2 stages. On saturday the 14th a stage between Nice and la Colmiane.
On sunday the 17th, the final stage from Nice to Nice. The finish line will be next to the allianz riviera stadium.
Unfortunately, the main slopes are quite far from Nice, especially the Colmiane pass (1st category) on top of which the finish line of the 7th stage will be.
The next day, an arrival after a long and technical descent was prefered to the usual arrival on the Promenade des Anglais and the climb of the Col d'Eze.
The best place to see the race is probably the 1st category climb of Chateauneuf, 30km from the finish line, and around 20km from Nice by car. The last slope between Tourettes-Levens and Aspremont (3rd category) is not difficult enough to enable competitors to make real differences.
To compete with the best
If you like cycling and you want to compare your fitness with the champions, it's easy. Many times, and again in 2015, the last stage of the race was a time trial on the slopes of the Col d'Eze
Here is the exact itinerary (the most North, with the loop around the Observatory) : a direct climb of almost 10km on the Grande Corniche. The departure was 50m away from the crossroad between St Roch boulevard and Bischoffsheim avenue. You can start your timer at the foot of this avenue, forgetting the extra 50 meters since you may waste time crossing the crossroad. The finish line is still visible on the road, just after the inn.
The 2015 time trial winner was Richie Porte in 20'13". This enabled him to win the race.
