Paris-Nice 2025 Route stage 4: Vichy

Paris-Nice 2025 Route stage 4: Vichy - La Loge des Gardes

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Wednesday, 12 March - Paris-Nice serves up the first summit finish in the 4th stage. After a hilly day in the saddle, the stage concludes with a 6.7-kilometre climb at 7.1%.

Two years ago, Paris-Nice also visited the ski resort of La Loge des Gardes. Back then, the fight for stage honours came down to Tadej Pogacar and David Gaudu, with the Slovenian clearly outsprinting his rival for the win.

Two years ago, most of the climbing was packed into the final part of the race, this time the elevation gain is more evenly distributed throughout the route. The climbing starts right from the start and becomes more intense after 26 kilometres, when the riders tackle the Côte de Lavoine – a 7.6-kilometre ascent at 4.1%.

A long descent leads to Cusset, where the Côte de la Bruyère throws in 3.9 kilometres with an average gradient of 4.8%. By this point, the peloton has covered just shy of 80 kilometres.

About 20 kilometres later – which is a flat stretch followed by a descent – the riders face the Côte de la Croix Bruyère. At 3.2 kilometres with a 5% gradient, it’s remarkably similar to the previous climb, even in name. Without much of a descent, the riders then hit the Côte du Canon, which ramps up for 3.5 kilometres at 6.7%.

The KOM sprint doesn’t coincide with the actual summit of the Côte du Canon, as the road continues to rise for a few kilometres at more moderate gradients before finally descending. Roughly 30 kilometres from the finish, the route climbs 1.4 kilometres at 5.9% to Le Mayet-de-Montagne, the site of the intermediate sprint.

Another 11 kilometres down the road, the Côte de La Chabanne serves as the warm-up for the final climb. The 2.7-kilometre climb averaging 5.3%, is followed by a flat-to-gently-descending section of 6.3 kilometres. Then, it’s time for the grand finale: the climb to La Loge des Gardes. This 6.7-kilometre ascent, averaging 7.1%, is steepest in its first half.

The first three riders on the line gain time bonuses of 10, 6 and 4 seconds, while the intermediate sprint offers 6, 4 and 2 seconds.

Ride the route yourself? Download GPX stage 4 Paris-Nice 2025.

Another interesting read: results 4th stage 2025 Paris-Nice.