 The previous edition had been an unusual race with no time trials or summit finishes , but the 2015 edition of the race was a return to the traditional form : the race began with a prologue individual time trial near Paris ; this was followed by a series of road stages south through France , including one summit finish ; the race ended with a mountain time trial on Col d 'Eze . The race is known as the " race to the Sun " and is seen as a mini Tour de France , where riders need to be both competent time @-@ trialists and capable of climbing mountains . The key stages were expected to be the summit finish to Col de la Croix de Chaubouret on stage 4 and the concluding time trial on Col d 'Eze . 
