With the one-day hitters opening their accounts a fortnight ago at Opening Weekend, Paris-Nice offers the equivalent opportunity for the Grand Tour men when it starts this Sunday (3 March). Most notably, Tour de France hopefuls Remco Evenepoel (Soudal-Quick Step) and Primoż Roglič (Bora-Hansgrohe) will butt heads for the first time.
How much can be read into whoever emerges on top from this particular skirmish is limited this far out from July. But as an eight-stage.