Snow and intense cold forecast for Paris-Nice's key mountain stage this weekend raises fears of repeat cancellation or major alteration

Forecasts for snow and intense cold have thrown a significant shadow over Paris-Nice's upcoming mountain stage. The key Saturday stage, culminating in a summit finish at the Auron ski station, faces potential cancellation or major alteration due to the adverse weather. This very ascent was already removed from the 2024 edition, and organisers are now grappling with a familiar challenge just days before the peloton is due to tackle the high mountains, raising concerns for rider safety and race integrity.

This recurring meteorological drama highlights the inherent fragility of early-season stage races traversing high altitudes. Paris-Nice, often dubbed the "Race to the Sun," frequently encounters such conditions, with past editions seeing stages shortened, rerouted, or even abandoned entirely due to snow, ice, or extreme cold. For teams and riders, particularly those targeting overall classification, this uncertainty is a logistical and strategic nightmare, forcing last-minute adjustments and potentially favouring less climatically sensitive profiles.

Another year, another high-altitude stage in March threatened by winter's lingering grip. One might almost suspect the race organisers enjoy this annual meteorological roulette.