First mountain clash in Paris-Nice promises thrilling finale with steep finish
The phrase “the sting is in the tail” was made for the finale of the fourth stage of Paris-Nice. The final climb in Uchon – especially the ultra-steep last kilometer – promises excitement. Will Jonas Vingegaard strike? WielerFlits looks ahead!
Route
The fourth stage of Paris-Nice is a tough hilly ride of 195 kilometers with over 2500 meters of climbing. In Paris–Nice, the peloton usually heads mainly south, but this year is different: this stage cuts across Burgundy more eastward.
The start is in Bourges, a city known for an impressive Gothic cathedral listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site. From this historic location, the peloton rides towards the granite hills of southern Burgundy. Most of the climbing is concentrated in the last 70 kilometers, with constant ups and downs. The first climb is the Côte de la Croix des Cerisiers (6.2 km at 4.3%), followed by the Côte de la Croix de la Libération (4.6 km at 5.3%).
The finish is in Uchon, often called the “roof of southern Burgundy.” This is the first uphill finish of Paris-Nice 2026. Uchon (8 km at 4.5%) sits on a plateau surrounded by short but steep slopes. The final kilometer is especially brutal, with an average gradient of 12.8%.
Classifications
Favorites
After the team time trial, the overall classification of Paris-Nice has been thoroughly shaken up, but perhaps Wednesday will see a new shake-up. The GC contenders might save their ammunition for the final climb—especially that last kilometer—but the gaps could still open up significantly on this final stretch.
We can describe the final climb as a rider with a 'Muur van Hoei-like' last kilometer. In other words, we should focus on climbers with a strong punch in their legs. First and foremost, this makes us think of Jonas Vingegaard, who could potentially deal a blow to his rivals here. The Dane from Visma | Lease a Bike will, however, have to contend with several strong punchers.
His biggest rival for the overall victory, Juan Ayuso, will undoubtedly have marked this stage as key as well. The Spaniard made a strong impression in the opening days – even collecting some bonus seconds along the way – and will want to build on his good start to the season for his new team Lidl-Trek. And ahead of the Tour de France, he will certainly be eager to test himself against Vingegaard.
INEOS Grenadiers fields no less than three cards with Oscar Onley, Carlos Rodríguez, and Kévin Vauquelin, while Red Bull-BORA-hansgrohe boasts two interesting riders in Daniel Felipe Martínez and Aleksandr Vlasov. UAE Emirates XRG is hoping for a strong showing from Brandon McNulty or Marc Soler. Lenny Martinez (Bahrain Victorious) will certainly try his luck too.
Other riders to watch include David Gaudu (Groupama-FDJ), Pablo Castrillo (Movistar), Valentin Paret-Peintre (Soudal Quick-Step), Nicolas Prodhomme (Decathlon CMA CGM), Harold Tejada (XDS Astana), and Eddie Dunbar (Pinarello-Q36.5).
Weather and TV
Riders can expect to get wet on Wednesday. There will be significant rainfall throughout the day between Bourges and Uchon, around 9 to 15 millimeters. Moreover, it will be quite chilly: temperatures won’t rise above 8 degrees Celsius in the afternoon. The wind (4 Beaufort) will come from the south-southwest.
