Davide Rebellin wore the yellow jersey in ’07

Franco Pellizotti enjoys the yellow jersey

THE VENTOUX ON PARIS-NICE MENU

Paris-Nice, the ‘race to the sun’, has over the years become a real institution of world cycling. For 75 years now, it serves as a key moment for cycling enthusiasts who can start considering what the season will look like.

The course of the 2008 edition, unveiled this morning by the organisers, offers its first innovation with the start in Amilly in the heart of the faithful Montargis area. The course will then head off to southern France with visits to cities that have marked the history of the event like Nevers, Saint-Etienne and Sisteron.

Beyond the historical touch, a dense and difficult program has been planned for the first big meeting of the professional cycling year. The climb up to the resort of Mont Serein, situated on the ‘unexplored’ side of the Mont Ventoux, could prove to be decisive on the way to overall victory. Unless, instead, the hierarchy is to be decided after the climb up the Col de la Croix de Chaubouret, shortly before the finish at Saint-Etienne…

Perhaps the suspense will build all the way to the twisty roads that go up to the Col du Tanneron or the Col d’Eze during the final weekend…

THE PROGRAMME

Sunday 9 March

Prologue: Amilly – Amilly (4.6 km)

Monday 10 March

Stage 1: Amilly – Nevers (184.5 km)

Tuesday 11 March

Stage 2: Nevers – Belleville (201 km)

Wednesday 12 March

Stage 3: Fleurie – Saint-Etienne (164.5 km)

Thursday 13 March

Stage 4: Montélimar – Station du Mont Serein / Mont Ventoux (176 km)

Friday 14 March

Stage 5: Althen-des-Paluds – Sisteron (172.5 km)

Saturday 15 March

Stage 6: Sisteron – Cannes (203.5 km)

Sunday 16 March

Stage 7: Nice – Nice (122.5 km)

Total kilometres: 1230 km

Find all the details on the course at www.letour.frwww.letour.fr