Sunday, March 13th, 2005 Stage 7 - Nice > Nice - 135 km             Nice Nice loves the bicycle, as a sport and as a leisure activity. Its long history with the Paris-Nice race is proof enough. But seeing is believing, and all one need do is go for a ride along one of the world's most beautiful cycling trails: the Promenade des Anglais, in its enchanting surroundings. Of the many sporting events punctuating the calendar, the mythical "Paris-Nice" race is, with out a doubt, the one dearest to the inhabitants of the city. Every year since 1951, this prestigious race is the not to be missed opener of the international cycling season. Prelude to the first contest of the Coupe du Monde, the "Course au Soleil", whose famous finish line has been on located on the famous Promenade des Anglais, was first launched in 1933. The city of Nice is thus especially delighted and proud to host the 2005 "Paris-Nice" and, with it, all the prestigious riders that ensure its continueed fame and high level of competition.   Nice Nice, France's fifth-largest city, capital of the French Riviera and heart of the greater urban area is a world-renowned tourist destination of exceptional quality. It is also a highly sports-oriented city with not only a superb football team that stokes the fires of enthusiasm of the entire population, but elite teams in many other disciplines as well, whether in water polo, volleyball, basketball or athletics. The city of Nice has also regularly reaffirmed its standing year after year as a the city for hosting major sporting events, by becoming home to such prestigious events as the Davis Cup finals, World Championship Figure Skating, the World Championship of Lyonnais bowls, the European Championship of Indoor Supercross, World Cup Roller-skating, not to forget the classics, which include the International Triathlon, the International Semi-Marathon, the Europétanque (with its 1500 players) or the International Cup for skating (which welcomes the world's greatest teams). Finally, two magnificent projects currently under development in Nice must be mentioned: the future main stadium, which will seat 32,000 spectators, and the Cité des Sports, a complex of 80 hectares dedicated to a broad range of sporting disciplines. Yes, Nice is a city of sports, a city in movement! www.nice.fr   Map of the stage The route P Sunday, March 6th 4 km    Issy-les-Moulineaux 1 Monday, March 7th 186,5 km    Etampes > Chabris 2 Tuesday, March 8th 46,5 km    La Châtre (Aigueperse) > Thiers 3 Wednesday, March 9th 117,5 km    Thiers > Le Chambon-sur-Lignon (Craponne-sur-Arzon) 4 Thursday, March 10th 101 km    Le Chambon-sur-Lignon (Saint-Peray) > Montélimar 5 Friday, March 11th 172,5 km    Rognes > Toulon (Mont-Faron) 6 Saturday, March 12th 184 km    La Crau > Cannes 7 Sunday, March 13th 135 km    Nice > Nice  Total 947 km      Profile of Col de la Porte     Profile of last kilometers