Today's brutal final climb at Paris-Nice is a lot harder than it looks on paper
Mont Brouilly is not to be underestimated

Here's the profile of today's Paris-Nice time trial. Take a quick look and you'd be forgiven for thinking that this is a flat stage that will yield only very small time gaps at the finish.
But what that profile is hiding is a seriously tough finishing climb up Mont Brouilly that could really split the field up, making lots of riders pay dearly if they've set off too hard in the opening kilometres.
The full road book contains a profile of the final climb, but even this doesn't really show just how tough this climb is.
The profile on the left is the one that the riders will currently be casting their eyes over as they prepare for today's stage, and appears to show a relatively steady climb that gradually gets steeper as it reached the top.
However the profile on the right, which is what the organisers used when the race went over Mont Brouilly in 2014, gives a much better indication of the the true nature of this climb, with wild variation in gradients up to 25 per cent, and a final kilometre averaging double figures even with a few flat sections.
>>> Watch: Paris-Nice 2017 stage three highlights
This will make pacing crucial to the very end of today's 14.5km time trial, as riders will have to hold a little back to the very end, and anyone who tries to hit the bottom of the climb hard and hold on to the top will surely pay the price.
Get The Leadout Newsletter
The latest race content, interviews, features, reviews and expert buying guides, direct to your inbox!
The good news for the riders is that the weather should stay dry throughout the day, a far cry from the race's last visit to Mont Brouilly in 2016, when the stage had to be called off due to heavy snow.
Thank you for reading 20 articles this month* Join now for unlimited access
Enjoy your first month for just £1 / $1 / €1
*Read 5 free articles per month without a subscription
Join now for unlimited access
Try first month for just £1 / $1 / €1
Henry Robertshaw began his time at Cycling Weekly working with the tech team, writing reviews, buying guides and appearing in videos advising on how to dress for the seasons. He later moved over to the news team, where his work focused on the professional peloton as well as legislation and provision for cycling. He's since moved his career in a new direction, with a role at the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.
-
Can anyone stop Primož Roglič or Juan Ayuso from winning the Giro d’Italia?
Roglič and Ayuso's form suggest they are the two outright favourites for overall victory in Rome next month
By Tom Thewlis Published
-
How to watch Dwars door Vlaanderen 2025: Everything you need to live stream the cobbled Belgian Classic
All the information on broadcasters and live streams for Dwars door Vlaanderen on 2 April, as Wout van Aert, Mads Pedersen, Marianne Vos and Lotte Kopecky take on the cobbles.
By Tom Davidson Published
-
Jonas Vingegaard out of Volta a Catalunya after Paris-Nice crash
Visma-Lease a Bike say two-time Tour de France winner needs more time to recover from wrist injury sustained in France last week
By Tom Thewlis Published
-
Matteo Jorgenson aiming to 'set the bar higher' and target a Grand Tour after securing second Paris-Nice title
American explained that targeting a win in one of the sport's biggest three-week races was now the logical next step in his career
By Tom Thewlis Published
-
Matteo Jorgenson rules out Tour de France leadership after Jonas Vingegaard's withdrawal from Paris-Nice
The American is on the cusp of a second consecutive victory at the Race to the Sun
By Tom Thewlis Published
-
Mattias Skjelmose: 'Cycling is a relentless sport. One day you feel great, the next everything can change in a split second'
Lidl-Trek rider was forced to abandon Paris-Nice after a heavy crash on stage seven
By Tom Thewlis Last updated
-
'A tough day' - Mads Pedersen outsprints Josh Tarling to win Paris-Nice stage 6 after echelons chaos
Wind forces GC shake-up as Matteo Jorgenson holds race lead
By Tom Davidson Published
-
Jonas Vingegaard abandons Paris-Nice after stage 5 crash
Former Tour de France winner to recover from injuries at home
By Tom Davidson Published
-
'Given the circumstances, it's very impressive that he finished this stage' - Jonas Vingegaard crashes at Paris-Nice, loses 26 seconds on stage 5
Visma-Lease a Bike rider left with cut on lip and and ceded race lead on Thursday, understood to have hurt wrist
By Adam Becket Published
-
'The legs were on fire' - Lenny Martinez powers to victory on stage 5 of Paris-Nice as Matteo Jorgenson moves back into the race lead
American takes over the yellow jersey after Jonas Vingegaard ships time on steep final climb to La Côte-Saint-André
By Tom Thewlis Published