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Cycling fans are in for a treat over the next eight days as the 76th Paris-Nice - aka the Race to the Sun - gets under way this weekend.

Defending champion Sergio Henao will lead the charge for Team Sky, who have won five of the last six races.

The eight-stage race starts with a 135km stage from Chatou to Meudon. .

Stage two takes the riders on a .

The third stage, on Monday, March 5, is the longest of the race - a .

After three long runs, the riders face an between La Fouillouse and Saint-Etienne, before hitting the long and winding roads again for a - as the landscape starts to provide more of a challenge.

Stage six, a , includes a 6.6km category 2 climb at Col de Luens.

The seventh and penultimate stage takes riders on a . A day later the riders at the head of the standings can bask in the glory of the processionary day's .

To get you in the mood, here are some highlights from last year's race