Oh, this one is interesting. The 2012 ‘Race to the Sun’ (March 4th to 11th) won’t be ending on the usual Promenade des Anglais in Nice this year, but high up above the city on the Col d’Eze, via a last-stage uphill time trial. This, I just learned, was the normal final stage of Paris-Nice until the 1990s. Check out the official website for a little video of some famous finishes.
Otherwise, the route has shifted a little more to the west than usual, riding through the Massif Central and pretty much completely missing the Alps en route to Nice. My birthday just happens to be the day before it ends, so I may treat myself to a drive over to Nice for the weekend…if the deep-freeze we are in right now is over by then.
Here’s the profile of the ITT on the last day.
The Vicious Cycle 
Now that looks like it’s coming close to us for once. Brilliant – I must check it out.
(And thanks for buddying up on LinkedIn.)
No problem about Linkedin. Good to have some connections in the boonies! And yes, it does look close to you, you’re right. Not me, though, but I think a trip to Nice is in the cards, so I’m not complaining.