Organizers ASO have announced a novel course for the 72nd edition of the Paris-Nice. Rumours that there would be no time trial or big summit finish have been confirmed, meaning that the 2014 edition of the race suits the puncheurs much more than the stage race specialists.

The three most recent winners of the Paris-Nice are Richie Porte, Bradley Wiggins and Tony Martin who all excel in the time trials. However, we may see a different kind of winner of the 2014 edition of the historic race.

Rumours have long been circulating that the 72nd edition of the historic race will have no time trial or big summit finish when it kicks off on March 9. Today they were confirmed by organizers ASO who revealed a rather novel course for the race.

The Paris-Nice has rarely been a race for the pure climbers as it has only occasionally had a big mountaintop finish. In most of the recent editions, the amount of time trialing has also been limited, meaning that the classics riders and punchy guys have had a chance to come away with the goods.

This year they will have a bigger chance than ever as the race will be decided by the accumulation of 8 road stages that ASO have described as 8 classics. Littered with short, sharp ascents, the race will be a tough one but it will be won by seconds, not minutes.

For the 5th year in a row, the race will start from the Yvelines department, west of Paris. The opening day will test the riders on a 162.5km course that is likely to suit the sprinters although the wind has often ripped things apart on the opening days of the Paris-Nice.

Then the peloton heads south for a 205 kilometre stretch to Saint-Georges-sur-Baulche while the third stage finishes after 180 kilometres on the motor circuit of Magny Cours. Again those stages are expected to suit the sprinters if the wind does not cause havoc.

The riders will get their first chance to test the climbing legs on day 4 when they tackle the 201.5km stage from Nevers to Belleville. The stage features the brutal Cote du Mont Brouilly which has sections of more than 25%.

The 5th stage heads 152.5km to Rive-de-Gier and will give the riders the chance to preview 55km of the course for the 12th stage of the Tour de France. The stage offers 4 categorized climbs, with the hardest one being the Cote de Sainte-Catherine whose top is located just 12.5km from the finish.

Revenge could be exacted around Fayence on day 6, where the pack will come back into the frame on a steep ascent that will reward explosive riding. At 221.5km, the stage will be like a small classic and the roads in that area are very hilly. When a stage last finish there in 2009, Alberto Contador suffered a famous hunger knock that saw him lose the overall lead to Luis-Leon Sanchez.

As it was the case in 2012, the riders will finish with a difficult circuit in Biot on the penultimate day. Before getting there, they face a very hilly ride from Mougins that takes them up the category 1 climbs Col de Vence and Col de l'Ecre. Those difficulties are all located far from the finish though and it will be the short steep climbs on the finishing circuit that will make the real difference, with the finish line being located at the end of a small uphill section.

In 2012 and 2013, the Paris-Nice went back to its former tradition of having a time trial up the Col d'Eze on the final day. This year the race returns to its previous format of having a short stage in the Nice hinterlands instead.

In just 128km, the riders will tackle 5 climbs, 3 in the 2nd and 2 in the 1st category. The final one will be the famous Col d'Eze that leads to the 15km descent to the finish on the Promenade d'Anglais. With the race set to be determined by seconds, the win could very well be up for grabs all the way to the very end and we should see a fierce pursuit when the riders head down towards the finish line in Nice.

Stage 1, Sunday 9 March: Mantes-la-Jolie > Mantes-la-Jolie, 162.5 km

Stage 2, Monday 10 March: Rambouillet > Saint-Georges-sur-Baulche, 205 km

Stage 3, Tuesday 11 March: Toucy > Circuit de Nevers Magny-Cours, 180 km

Stage 4, Wednesday 12 March: Nevers > Belleville, 201.5 km

Stage 5, Thursday 13 March: Crêches-sur-Saône > Rive-de-Gier, 152.5 km

Stage 6, Friday 14 March: Saint-Saturnin-lès-Avignon > Fayence, 221.5 km

Stage 7, Saturday 15 March: Mougins > Biot Sofia Antipolis, 195.5 km

Stage 8, Sunday 16 March: Nice > Nice, 128 km