British Eurosport begins its unrivalled coverage of the road cycling season with live action from the 71st running of the prestigious Paris-Nice.
As the season’s first major stage race in Europe, it provides an opportunity to test out the winter training regime but remains a major event in its own right and a key ingredient of the complete rider’s CV.
Consisting of eight stages, including tw0 individual time-trials, the 2013 Paris-Nice will cover a total distance of 1,174km from the north of France to the south coast and British Eurosport will broadcast exclusive daily live coverage of the event from March 3-10.
Considered by many as one of the more prestigous races outside the fabled Grand Tours on the UCI world calendar, Paris-Nice provides a tough early-season challenge for a number of possible Giro d’Italia and Tour de France contenders.
Bradley Wiggins’s ambitions to win the Giro d’Italia mean he will not be defending the Paris-Nice title he claimed in 2012.
In the absence of Wiggins and with Alberto Contador, Cadel Evans and Vincenzo Nibali not racing this year, the ‘Race to the Sun’ seems a wide open contest.
Top international riders Tony Martin, Tom Boonen (Omega Pharma-Quick Step), Thomas Voeckler (Team Europcar), Philippe Gilbert (BMC Racing Team) will all be in contention to succeed Wiggins as champion.
Team Sky will defend their title with Vasil Kiryienka, Richie Porte, Kanstantsin Siutsou and British rising star Jonathan Tiernan Locke set to lead the British outfits’ charge.
This year’s race will be no pushover, especially if the weather, as is so often the case in March, decides to blow both hot and cold.
British Eurosport is the only place to follow all eight stages of the 2013 Paris-Nice.
Live coverage will be split across British Eurosport and British Eurosport 2 throughout the week, with prime-time highlights every night and shown at various times, giving viewers plenty of opportunities to catch up on the action.
Alongside lead commentator David Harmon in the Eurosport commentary box will be Paris-Nice legend Sean Kelly.
The Irishman is the most success rider in the history of the race having won it seven consecutive times from 1982 to 1988.
Live streaming of Eurosport’s coverage is available online via Eurosport Player (subscription required).
ITV4 will screen a one-hour review of the 2013 Paris-Nice on Sunday, March 24, at 10.55am.
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