Schlagwort-Archive: Paris-Tours

Paris – Tours – 214 Km

Eintagsrennen, Ergebnisse, Strassenrennen, , , ,

Laporte im Sprintduell nach Schlammschlacht

Christophe Laporte (Visma) gewann Paris-Tours 2024 im Zweiersprint. Der 31-jährige Franzose setzte sich klar und souverän gegen seinen Mitausreißer Mathias Vacek (Lidl) durch. 21 Sekunden hinter dem Duo sprintete Jasper Philipsen (Alpecin) auf einer großen 28-köpfigen Verfolgergruppe auf den verbleibenden Podestplätze. Wegen Regens in Verbindung mit den vor 6 Jahren eingeführten – und diesmal aufgeweichten – Schotterabschnitten sahen die Fahrer hinterher aus wie die Schweine.

Die Fahrt um die Plätze 1 und 2 bekamen Laporte und Vacek maßgeblich von ihren Teamkollegen Edoardo Affini und Mads Pedersen vorbereitet. Pedersen war bei seinem Tours-Debüt zu den Rennfavoriten gezählt worden, wagte aber trotzdem schon rund 70 Kilometer vorm Ziel einen Vorstoß. Nur Pascal Ackermann (Israel, 125. Platz im Ziel) folgte Pedersen, platzte aber schon kurz danach ab. In der Folgezeit sammelte Pedersen eine 3-köpfige Spitzengruppe ein, aus der nur Affini das Hinterrad des Ex-Weltmeisters halten konnte.

Der Vorsprung von Pedersen und Affini lag zeitweise über eine halbe Minute, war aber schon wieder gesunken, als Laporte und Vacek 29 Kilometer vorm Ziel hinzustießen. Beide hatten kurz zuvor aus dem Hauptfeld heraus attackiert. Laporte hängte durch eine Tempoverschärfung seinen eigenen Teamkollegen Affini ab. Doch bald waren auch die Kräfte von Pedersen verbraucht, so dass das zahlenmäßige Gleichgewicht zwischen den beiden stärksten Teams wiederhergestellt war. Eine organisierte Nachführarbeit kam dahinter nicht mehr wirklich zustande, weil Teamkollegen der beiden Spitzenreiter störten und wohl auch keiner den isolierten Sprinter Philipsen zum Sieg eskortieren wollte.
@radsport-seite.de

1. Christophe Laporte (FRA) – Visma-Lease a Bike 5:00:27
2. Mathias Vacek (CZE) – Lidl-Trek gl.Zeit
3. Jasper Philipsen (BEL) – Alpecin-Deceuninck +0:21
4. Mike Teunissen (NED) – Intermarché-Wanty
5. Alexis Renard (FRA) – Cofidis
6. Cees Bol (NED) – Astana-Kasachstan
7. Arnaud de Lie (BEL) – Lotto-Dstny
8. Tom van Asbroeck (BEL) – Israel-Premier Tech
9. Fabio Christen (SUI) – Q36.5
10. Anthony Turgis (FRA) – Totalenergies
11. Matteo Trentin (ITA) – Tudor
12. Lewis Askey (GBR) – Groupama-FDJ
13. Dries de Bondt (BEL) – Decathlon-AG2R
14. Alexandre Delettre (FRA) – St Michel-Auber93
15. Pierre-Henry Basset (FRA) – Cic-U Nantes Atlantique
16. Mick van Dijke (NED) – Visma-Lease a Bike
17. Erik Resell (NOR) – Uno-X
18. Stan Dewulf (BEL) – Decathlon-AG2R
19. Alex Kirsch (LUX) – Lidl-Trek alle
20. Rui Oliveira (POR) – UAE-Emirates

Paris – Tours 2023

Eintagsrennen, Ergebnisse, , , ,

Elite – 214 Km

1 SHEEHAN Riley USA Israel-Premier Tech 04:39:05
2 ASKEY Lewis GBR Groupama-FDJ 00:00
3 JOHANNESSEN Tobias Halland NOR Uno-X Pro Cycling Team 00:00
4 DELBOVE Joris FRA Saint Michel-Mavic-Auber 93 00:00
5 LE GAC Olivier FRA Groupama-FDJ 00:07
6 LAPORTE Christophe FRA Jumbo-Visma 00:09
7 VAN ASBROECK Tom BEL Israel-Premier Tech 00:09
8 DÉMARE Arnaud BEL Team Arkéa-Samsic 00:09
9 THEUNS Edward BEL Lidl-Trek 00:09
10 PENHOËT Paul FRA Groupama-FDJ 00:09
11 DEGENKOLB John GER Team dsm-firmenich 00:09
12 TILLER Rasmus NOR Uno-X Pro Cycling Team 00:09
13 TURGIS Anthony FRA TotalEnergies 00:09
14 GIRMAY Biniam ERI Intermarché-Circus-Wanty 00:09
15 NIZZOLO Giacomo ITA Israel-Premier Tech 00:09
16 VAN BOVEN Luca BEL Bingoal WB 00:09
17 DE BONDT Dries BEL Alpecin-Deceuninck 00:09
18 BISSEGGER Stefan SUI EF Education-EasyPost 00:09
19 COQUARD Bryan FRA Cofidis 00:09
20 RAISBERG Nadav ISR Israel-Premier Tech 00:09

SHEEHAN, THE HUGE AMERICAN SURPRISE

A crazy race, a completely undecided scenario in the hot dust of the vineyard paths, and a completely new winner: it’s Riley Sheehan, a trainee with Israel-Premier Tech, who won this 117th Paris-Tours after a very close sprint against his four breakaway companions. It’s the first victory for the 23-year-old American. A major first, too, for the United States, which had never won on Avenue de Grammont. The heroic Lewis Askey (Groupama – FDJ) who led all day, took second place ahead of Tobias Halland Johannessen (Uno X).

157 riders set off in the shadow of the imposing Chartres Cathedral, bathed in bright sunlight, for the 117th edition of Paris-Tours. It was an emotional start for several riders, including Greg Van Avermaet (AG2R Citroën) and Tony Gallopin (Lidl-Trek), who pinned on their race numbers for the last time in their careers. After covering more than thirty kilometers at high speed, a group of five riders finally broke away: Lewis Askey (Groupama FDJ), Théo Delacroix (Intermarché Circus Wanty), Joseph Rosskopf (Q36.5), Maxime Jarnet (Van Rysel – Roubaix Lille Metropole), and Axel Narbonne Zuccarelli (Nice Metropole Côte d’Azur). The gap never reached extravagant proportions before the first challenges of the day.

Arnaud De Lie eliminated due to a mechanical issue

The Jumbo-Visma team of Christophe Laporte, the Lotto Dstny team of Arnaud De Lie and the Bora-Hansgrohe team of Jordi Meeus were controlling the offensive before entering the first vineyard path, Limeray, at 67.1 kilometers from the finish. In the ninth sector, the Lotto Dstny leader suffered a puncture, as did Jordi Meeus, who got caught in a crash. The peloton fragmented completely, marked by multiple attacks and punctures. In the dust, European champion Christophe Laporte, Greg Van Avermaet, Magnus Cort Nielsen or Jasper Stuyven, to name a few, lost precious energy trying to get back into the first group after mechanical problems. Arnaud De Lie, on the other hand, faced numerous setbacks, leaving his hopes in the dust.

Heroic performance by Lewis Askey

In front, the impressive Lewis Askey, only twenty-two years old, put up a strong resistance as the moves kept coming. Biniam Girmay (Intermarché – Circus Wanty) tried, as did Matteo Trentin (UAE) and John Degenkolb (DSM-Firmenich). There was no letup. The British rider was finally caught on the last difficulty of the day, the Rochecobron climb, by a group of four riders who had broken away about twenty kilometers from the finish: Olivier Le Gac (Groupama FDJ), Tobias Halland Johannessen (Uno X), Riley Sheehan (Israel) and Joris Delbove (St Michel). Behind them, the Arkea Samsic team of the top favorite Arnaud Démare made the effort to close the gap before the famous Avenue de Grammont.

A first victory for the United States

However, their efforts were in vain as the breakaway group contested the victory in the shade of the plane trees. It was the American Riley Sheehan, only twenty-three years old and a trainee with Israel – Premier Tech, who proved to be the strongest at the end of an extremely close sprint.

Espoirs – U23 179 Km

1 LØLAND Sakarias Koller NOR Uno-X DARE Development Team 03:56:31
2 KEUP Pierre-Pascal GER Team Lotto-Kern Haus 00:00
3 THIERRY Pierre FRA Morbihan Fybolia GOA 00:03
4 HUENS Axel FRA Circus-ReUz-Technord 00:03
5 GELEIJN Owen BEL Jumbo-Visma DT 00:03
6 THOMAS Théo FRA VC Villefranche Beaujolais 00:03
7 DEJAEGHER Jasper BEL Circus-ReUz-Technord 00:39
8 VAN DER TUUK Axel NED Metec-SOLARWATT p/b Mantel 00:39
9 ROMELE Alessandro ITA Team Colpack Ballan 00:39
10 RACCAGNI NOVIERO Andrea ITA Soudal Quick-Step Devo Team 00:39
11 MERIS Sergio ITA Team Colpack Ballan 00:39
12 MARTI Pau ESP Israel Premier Tech Academy 00:39
13 NØRTOFT Morten DEN Jumbo-Visma DT 00:39
14 BOURG Quentin FRA SCO Dijon-Team Material-velo.com 00:39
15 MIKUTIS Aivaras LTU Tudor Pro Cycling Team U23 00:55

PARIS-TOURS 2023 : GREG VAN AVERMAET : ‘‘I WANT TO MAKE AN IMPACT ON THE RACE, ONE LAST TIME’’

Eintagsrennen, Strassenrennen, Vorschau, Weltcup und Klassiker, , , ,

Like Philippe Gilbert a year earlier, he has chosen the vineyard paths to close out his fantastic career. This Sunday, Greg Van Avermaet will pin on his final race number at Paris-Tours. This classic race is one of the highlights of his extensive list of achievements, including an Olympic title in Rio in 2016, a Paris-Roubaix victory, and two stage wins in the Tour de France, to name just a few of his most prestigious victories. At the age of 38, the Belgian rider from AG2R-Citroën intends to conclude his career with the brilliance of a great performance, after recovering from a Covid infection that had weakened him upon his return from the Canadian classics.

Born on may 17, 1985 in Lokeren (Belgium)
Previous teams
2006 : Bodysol
2007-2010 : Predictor-Lotto / Silence-Lotto / Omega Pharma-Lotto
2011-2018 : BMC Racing
2019-2020 : CCC Team
2021-2023 : AG2R-Citroën
Major achievements
. 2 stages win in the Tour de France (2015, 2016)
. Olympic champion in Rio (2016)
. Winner of Tirreno-Adricatico (2016)
. Winner of Paris-Roubaix (2017)
. Winner of Gand-Wevelgem (2017)
. Winner of Grand Prix E3 (2017)
. Double winner of Omloop Het Nieuwsblad (2016, 2017)
. Double winner of Grand Prix cycliste de Montréal (2016, 2019)
. 11 times wearer of the Yellow Jersey in the Tour de France (3 days in 2016; 8 days in 2018)
11 participations in Paris-Tours
Winner in 2011 / 6e in 2012 / 3e in 2015


Plomi Foto

©Pressesports Greg, you will hang up your racing number for the last time this sunday between Paris and Tours. A classic that you won in 2011, by the way. What does this victory mean in your career?
It’s really the first major classic I won. I had won races before, but this was different. Paris-Tours is on another level. Winning it made me realize that I could win big races. I’ve always liked this classic, it’s complete, challenging, at the end of the season. There’s a bit of everything, stress, wind, hills towards the end. I’ve always had a good race there. I remember discovering it in the Espoirs in 2006, and I immediately connected with it. I don’t remember much, but I must have finished fourth that time (Editor’s note: he actually finished… second), but I immediately knew it was for me. I won in 2011, I finished third again four years later with a flat tire. It’s really a very beautiful classic that everyone wants to win. Of course, it’s not a Monument or an Olympic title, but it still looks very nice on a palmares. (smile).

Since your victory, the classic has changed, introducing the vineyard paths. Given your profile, and the fact that you’re also competing in the Euro gravel race this Sunday, you must appreciate this new version…

I appreciate it even though it can be quite rough at times, and there are a lot more flat tires. In 2021, I had two or three flats, and the race was over for me. Now, you need the head, the legs, and a bit of luck to win Paris-Tours. I really hope to have it this sunday because I want to finish on a high note. The „punchy“ aspect, the accelerations, the hills that don’t need to be big mountains to hurt, I love that.

So, are we going to see a « fireworks » Greg Van Avermaet in Chartres this sunday?

(Laughs). I hope so. I’ve certainly done everything to be in the best shape. I’m motivated, and if my legs respond, I think I can achieve a good result. Winning won’t be easy, but I want to make an impact one last time on the race. I came back from Canada with Covid and had to take a break. I was disappointed because my condition was obviously affected, but I still have a few days to fine-tune and come back. One thing is certain, I want to stop at a high level. However, I also know that it’s such a tough race that there’s no room for gifts or sentiments. If I’m not in good shape, they won’t wait for me…
‘‘The last race is naturally filled with a lot of emotion. But no nervousness. I’m just happy with my career, happy with what I’ve managed to achieve, and happy to stop when I want to.’’

What do you expect in terms of the race scenario?
A race with movements, with some wind in the first part to tire out the teammates and break the peloton. This gives more chances to the strong riders to stay ahead when the big moves come. That’s how I won in 2011, with a completely scattered peloton. It’s the ideal race, completely wide open… but with my current condition, if it’s a bit calmer, that’s fine too (laughs).

Who do you see as the main favorites?
Fast guys, „punchy“ riders who know how to finish the job with a good sprint. Sprinter-punchers like Arnaud Démare, for instance. The new European champion Christophe Laporte or Arnaud De Lie also are into this category.

Will there be a touch of emotion or, on the contrary, excitement for the last race of your career on sunday?
Not much stress in any case, even though it will obviously be a very special moment. I’ve been racing for seventeen years as a pro, and thinking that it’s the last race is naturally filled with a lot of emotion. But not nervousness. I’m just happy with my career, happy with what I’ve managed to achieve, and happy to stop when I want to. It’s the right decision, and I won’t go back on it. I’m getting older, and I can tell myself, „Well, it was good“ (big smile). I still love cycling, and I’ll continue to ride, but now, it’s for me. Not with the idea of getting results. I think my mind still wants it, but my legs don’t. On Sunday, after an emotionally charged day and, I hope, a great Paris-Tours, I’m going to take a break. Take a lighter year and enjoy time with my family.

PARIS-TOURS 2023: HIGH NOON FOR DÉMARE AND LAPORTE

Eintagsrennen, Vorschau, Weltcup und Klassiker, ,

Key points:

 Arnaud Démare, riding in Arkéa–Samsic colours since last August, will be hunting for his third consecutive win in Paris–Tours when the 213.9 km long 117th edition of the race sets out from Chartres (Eure-et-Loire) on Sunday, 8 October. The man touted as his main rival, Christophe Laporte, will also be wearing a new jersey after securing the title in the European Championships.

 10 km of vineyard tracks, concentrated in the final 50 km, will inject a big dose of uncertainty into the race. From sprinters to long-range attack specialists, there is no shortage of riders eager to crash the French party: Arnaud De Lie, Kaden Groves, Magnus Kort, Tobias Johannessen, Jordi Meeus, Matteo Trentin, Edward Theuns, John Degenkolb, etc.

After five editions featuring vineyard tracks, Paris–Tours continues to stand out for how unpredictable the fight for the win can be, from a small group of tough guys trading blow after blow to the fast men turning on the afterburners in a bunch sprint. The only thing that has remained almost immutable, with or without vineyards, with or without wind, has been Arnaud Démare performing at a high level in his traditional last race of the season. The French sprinter has cracked the top 5 on Avenue de Grammont five times, including a brace of victories in the last two editions. Now that he has got the finale in Tours down to a science, will he be able to become the first rider ever to score a hat-trick in the Classic of the Falling Leaves, weeks after jumping ship to a new team mid-season? While the Arkéa–Samsic leader has yet to score a win with his new squad, his form is clearly where it needs to be (third in the Grand Prix d’Isbergues), and he will also enjoy the support of Luca Mozzato and Matis Louvel, two luxury domestiques who finished in the top 10 last year.

Démare certainly has what it takes to clinch the race, but he is far from a shoo-in, as a host of other riders stands ready to pounce and wrap up the season in style. Chief among them is Christophe Laporte, who put in a barnstorming performance to overcome Wout van Aert and Olav Kooij in the European Championships. His stellar performance in the Netherlands makes him a hot favourite, but the vagaries of the race could also play into the hands of riders cut from a different mould. Alpecin–Deceuninck, for instance, will be banking on the Australian Kaden Groves, the winner of three stages and the green jersey in the Vuelta, if it all comes down to a bunch sprint, and on the former winner Søren Kragh Andersen if it degenerates into a slugfest. The same goes for EF, which can play their cards with Magnus Cort and Stefan Bisseger, whereas Lotto–Dstny will be pinning their hopes on their leader, Arnaud De Lie. Among the dark horses, the Norwegian Uno-X outfit is fielding the Tour de Luxembourg stage winner Tobias Johannessen along with Rasmus Tiller, who snapped up a stage in the Tour of Britain a short while earlier. As for the super-speedsters, Bora is lining up with two former winners of the Champs-Élysées stage in the Tour: Jordi Meeus (2022) and Sam Bennett (2020).

Main contenders (as of 29/09):

Germany
Bora–Hansgrohe: Bennett (IRL), Meeus (BEL) and Van Poppel (NED)

Belgium
Lotto–Dstny: De Lie, Campenaerts and Segaert (BEL)
Alpecin–Deceuninck: Groves (AUS) and Kragh Andersen (DEN)
Intermarché–Circus–Wanty: Girmay (ERI), De Gendt (BEL), Teunissen (NED) and Page (FRA)
Bingoal–WB: Van Rooy and Peyskens (BEL)

United Arab Emirates
UAE Team Emirates: Trentin (ITA) and Wellens (BEL)

United States
Lidl–Trek: Gallopin (FRA), Stuyven and Theuns (BEL)
EF Education–EasyPost: Cort (DEN) and Bisseger (SUI)

Spain
Equipo Kern Pharma: Adrià, Arrieta and García (ESP)

France
AG2R Citroën: Cosnefroy (FRA), Van Avermaet and Dewulf (BEL)
Groupama–FDJ: Le Gac (FRA)
Cofidis: Coquard, Périchon (FRA) and Wallays (BEL)
TotalEnergies: Turgis, Dujardin, Soupe (FRA) and Van Gestel (BEL)
Team Arkéa–Samsic: Démare, Louvel (FRA) and Mozzato (ITA)
St. Michel–Mavic–Auber93: R. Barbier (FRA)
Van Rysel–Roubaix Lille Métropole: Boudat (FRA) and Ärm (EST)
CIC-U Nantes Atlantique: P. Barbier and Guégan (FRA)
Nice Métropole Côte d’Azur: Couanon (FRA)

Israel
Israel–Premier Tech: Nizzolo (ITA), Van Asbroeck (BEL) and Gee (CAN)

Norway
Uno-X Pro Cycling Team: T. Johannessen, Tiller and Waerenskjold (NOR)

Netherlands
Jumbo–Visma: Laporte (FRA) and Van Baarle (NED)
Team DSM–Firmenich: Degenkolb (GER) and Eekhoff (NED)

Switzerland
Q36.5 Pro Cycling Team: Bauer (NZL) and Parisini (ITA)

Paris – Tours Elite – 214 Km

Eintagsrennen, Ergebnisse, Teamnews, , , , , ,

1 DÉMARE Arnaud FRA GROUPAMA-FDJ 04:53:01
2 THEUNS Edward BEL TREK-SEGAFREDO 00:00
3 BENNETT Sam IRL BORA-HANSGROHE 00:00
4 CONSONNI Simone ITA COFIDIS 00:00
5 MOZZATO Luca ITA B&B HOTELS-KTM 00:00
6 VAN GESTEL Dries BEL TOTALENERGIES 00:00
7 DUJARDIN Sandy FRA TOTALENERGIES 00:00
8 LOUVEL Matis FRA TEAM ARKÉA-SAMSIC 00:00
9 CAPIOT Amaury BEL TEAM ARKÉA-SAMSIC 00:00
10 HOFSTETTER Hugo FRA TEAM ARKÉA-SAMSIC 00:00
11 PASQUALON Andrea ITA INTERMARCHÉ-WANTY-GOBERT 00:00
12 KOOIJ Olav NED JUMBO-VISMA 00:00
13 TILLER Rasmus NOR UNO-X PRO CYCLING TEAM 00:00
14 VERMEULEN Emiel BEL GO SPORT-ROUBAIX LILLE MÉTROPOLE 00:00
15 JARNET Maxime FRA GO SPORT-ROUBAIX LILLE MÉTROPOLE 00:00
16 GUÉGAN Maël FRA TEAM U NANTES ATLANTIQUE 00:00
17 VENTURINI Clément FRA AG2R CITROËN TEAM 00:00
18 VERMEERSCH Florian BEL LOTTO SOUDAL 00:00
19 DE BONDT Dries BEL ALPECIN-DECEUNINCK 00:00
20 MAAS Jan NED TEAM BIKEEXCHANGE-JAYCO 00:00


Photo by Plomi

Paris-Tours: Sam Bennett wird beim letzten Rennen der Saison starker Dritter

Der letzte Startschuss der Saison fiel für BORA – hansgrohe heute beim Herbstklassiker Paris-Tours in Frankreich. 213,5km zwischen Chartres im Südwesten der französischen Hauptstadt und Tours standen im Roadbook dieses finalen Renntages. Mit insgesamt zehn Sektoren auf Schotter und acht anspruchsvollen Rampen lagen die Hauptschwierigkeiten des Tages innerhalb der letzten 70km. Eine frühe, fünfköpfige Ausreißergruppe konnte Zwischenzeitlich über sechs Minuten Vorsprung herausfahren. 60km vor dem Ziel, am ersten Schotter-Sektor, konnte sich Sam Bennett zusammen mit K. Heiduk vom Peloton absetzen und die Verfolgung der Spitzengruppe aufnehmen. Während Bennett nach einer enorm starken Vorstellung zehn Kilometer vor dem Ziel vom Peloton gestellt wurde, erfolgte der finale Zusammenschluss mit den verbliebenen Ausreißern erst auf dem letzten Kilometer. Im Sprint des deutlich reduzierten Feldes sicherte sich Sam Bennett als Dritter zum Saisonabschluss noch ein Podium. Der Sieg ging heute an A. Démare.

„Ich habe am Beginn des ersten Schotter-Sektors die Möglichkeit zur Flucht gesehen und glücklicherweise schnell eine starke Gruppe gefunden. So schafften wir es ohne größere Fights, ohne kräftezehrende Antritte und mit einer konstanten Geschwindigkeit durch die anspruchsvollen Schotter-Abschnitte. Entscheidend war auch, dass wir die wichtigen Passagen gestern gut besichtigt haben. Am Ende bin ich super zufrieden diese Saison auf einem Hoch und mit einem Podium zu beenden.“ Sam Bennett

„Wir wollten uns heute nicht auf einen Massensprint verlassen und haben deshalb schon am ersten Schotter-Sektor versucht mit Sam Bennett nach vorne zu kommen. Sam hat in der Verfolgergruppe ein richtig starkes Rennen gezeigt, während seine Teamkollegen im Feld gut aufgepasst und jede Attacke pariert haben. Klar wäre ein Sieg möglich und schön gewesen, mit einem Podium zum Saisonabschluss sind wir aber mehr als zufrieden.“ Jean-Pierre Heyderickx, Sportlicher Leiter

DÉMARE EMULATES GILBERT WITH BACK-TO-BACK VICTORY

Arnaud Démare (Groupama-FDJ) retained his crown in Tours on Sunday, outsprinting the peloton on Avenue de Grammont to score the first back-to-back double in the last classic of the season since Philippe Gilbert in 2009. The Frenchman, who perfectly managed the 10 dirt-road sections on the course, surged in the final stretch to outpower Sam Bennett (Bora-Hansgrohe) and Exard Teuns (Trek Segafredo). Gilbert, who finished 27th, was riding the very last race of his career.

Farewell to Gilbert
160 riders started from Chartres, where an homage was paid to 2008 and 2009 winner Philippe Gilbert, who retired today. Alexis Gougeard (B&B Hotels), Jonas Abrahamsen (Uno-X) and Clement Carisey (Go Sport) attacked from the gun and had to wait for 30 km for the peloton to give them the go-ahead as the gap grew over three minutes.
Mael Guegan (Team U-Nantes Atlantique) and Romain Cardis (St Michel-Aubert 93) chased behind the leading trio and caught them at kilometre 33.
After 25 km, Benoit Cosnefroy (Ag2R-Citroen) and Fernando Gaviria (UAE-Team Emirates were involved in a crash but were quickly back on their bikes and in the bunch. Hugo Hostetter also crashed later but was unhurt.

Philipsen and De Lie out after crashes
The lead of the five escapees increased to reach 6:45 after 90 km over a peloton led by the Groupama-FDJ and Alpecin-Deceuninck outfits. With 100 km completed, Niki Tersptra (Total Energies), who is retiring this season, and Ben Turner (Ineos Grenadiers) crashed in turn but were able to make it back in the pack. Another crash shortly before the first path involved Sebastian Langeveld, Jonas Rutsch (EF Education-Easypost) and Shane Archbold (Bora-Hansgrohe). The most massive pile-up took place shortly before the first vineyard path and the most seriously hurt was Alpecin-Deceuninck leader Jasper Philipsen, who was treated on the spot by the medical service. Among the riders to call it quits after the several crashes were Brent van Moer and Arnaud de Lie (both Lotto-Soudal).

Scattered bunch
The crashes and punctures on the first gravel sections scattered the peloton and at the end of the first dirt road, Sam Bennett (Bora-Hansgrohe) and Kim Heiduk (Ineos Grenadiers) parted with the pack to chase behind the escapees. Seven other riders – Olivier Le Gac (Groupama-FDJ), Tim Van Dijke (Jumbo-Visma), Antoine Raugel (Ag2R-Citroen), Rui Alves Oliviera (UAE), Luca Mozzato (B&B Hotels), Clement Russo (Arkea-Samsic) and Alex Kirsch (Trek-Segafredo) – also broke to try and close the gapwith the break. With 50 km left, Bennett, Heiduk, Le Gac, Russo and Kirsch were the only five men left in the chase.

Démare makes it two
Gougeard was dropped by his four breakaway companions in the Cote de la Rochere (km 185) while Carisey punctured, leaving only Abrahamsen, Guegan and Cardis in the front with 25 km to go. The trio held their ground until Abrahamsen decided to try his luck on his own with 12 km to go. The Norwegian was reeled in by Le Gac, Heiduk and Kirsch five kilometres further down the road. The peloton waited for the red flame and Avenue de Grammont to close the gap and set up a bunch sprint. Like a year ago, Arnaud Démare was the strongest man, as he outpaced Bennett, perhaps a bit tired after his chasing efforts all day.

PARIS-TOURS 2022: DÉMARE IN THE SPOTLIGHT

Eintagsrennen, Vorschau, ,

Key points:

 The 116th edition of Paris-Tours, which will begin in Chartres on 9 October, will mark the end of the career of two-time winner Philippe Gilbert. The former Belgian world champion is less favoured than the defending winner Arnaud Démare who is one of the leading contenders for his succession.

 Among the other favourites, the silver and bronze medallists from the last World Championships, Christophe Laporte and Michael Matthews, will have to make the difference versus candidates such as Benoit Cosnefroy, Jasper Philipsen, Matteo Trentin, and Michal Kwiatkowski. It is sure to be a pitched battle.

Before seeing if the gusts of wind will affect the peloton’s fate on the plains of Beauce, a breeze of history is already blowing over Paris-Tours when examining the entry list. Philippe Gilbert, winner of the 2008 and 2009 editions in the jerseys of Française des Jeux and Silence-Lotto, will pin on his last bib in a professional race, putting an end to an exceptional career as a chaser of classics. It seems that the specialists of the past, present and future will gather, as six former winners in total will be present at the start, in addition to the future Belgian retiree, John Degenkolb (winner 2013), Jelle Wallays (2014, 2019), Matteo Trentin (2015, 2017) and Arnaud Démare (2022). Among them, the defending champion has the highest ambitions, launched on a series of victories and top finishes since his return at the Tour of Poland in August. The Groupama-FDJ sprinter scored two top-three results before winning last year… this could be a roadmap to inspire Benoit Cosnefroy (3rd in 2018, 2nd in 2020), who has decided to continue his season and take advantage of the form that saw him win the Grand Prix de Québec.

French hopes for Paris-Tours will also ride with Christophe Laporte, who has just returned from the World Championships in Australia with a silver medal that gives him every reason to be optimistic. His speed could be decisive if he finishes in a small group. In this case, he might have to beat Michael Matthews, who accompanied him on the 3rd step of the podium in Wollongong last weekend. Depending on the selection of the vineyard paths and the climbs of the course; several top sprinters could be in with a good chance for victory, like Jasper Philipsen or his compatriot Jasper Stuyven, but also Bryan Coquard, Giacomo Nizzolo and Elia Viviani. Lastly, the characteristics of Paris-Tours in its winegrowing version offer fertile ground for long attacks from strong riders like Stefan Küng, Michal Kwiatkowski, Alberto Bettiol, Magnus Cort Nielsen or Anthony Turgis. There are many candidates for the final major win of the season.

The leading riders (as of 29/09):

Australia
Team BikeExchange-Jayco: Matthews, Groves (Aus), Craddock (Usa)

Belgium
Lotto Soudal: Gilbert, De Lie, Vermeersch (Bel)
Alpecin-Deceuninck: Philipsen (Bel)
Intermarché-Wanty-Gobert Matériaux: Petit, Page (Fra), Van der Hoorn (Ned)
Bingoal Pauwels Sauces WB: Aniolkowski (Pol), Menten (Bel)

France
AG2R Citroën Team: Cosnefroy (Fra), Dewulf (Bel)
Groupama-FDJ: Démare (Fra), Küng (Sui), Stewart (Gbr)
Cofidis: Coquard, Zingle (Fra), Wallays (Bel)
Total Energies: Turgis (Fra), Bodnar (Pol)
Team Arkea-Samsic: Louvel, Hofstetter (Fra)
B&B Hotels-KTM: Bonnamour, Koretzky (Fra), Mozzato (Ita)
St Michel-Auber 93: Tesson (Fra)
Go Sport-Roubaix Lille Métropole: Siskevicius (Lit)
Team U Nantes Atlantique: Morin, Mariault (Fra)
Nice Métropole Côte d’Azur: Delacroix (Fra)

Germany
Bora-Hansgrohe: Meeus (Bel), Laas (Est)

Great Britain
Ineos Grenadiers: Kwiatkowski (Pol), Viviani (Ita), Turner (Gbr)

Israel
Israel-Premier Tech: Nizzolo (Ita), Van Asbroeck, Vanmarcke (Bel)

Netherlands
Jumbo-Visma: Laporte (Fra), Teunissen, Kooij (Ned)
Team DSM: Degenkolb (All), Eekhoff (Ned)

Norway
Uno-X Pro Cycling Team: Tiller (Nor)

United Arab Emirates
UAE Team Emirates: Trentin (Ita), Ackermann (All), Gaviria (Col)

United States
Trek-Segafredo: Stuyven, Theuns (Bel), Gallopin (Fra)
EF Education-Easypost: Nielsen (Den), Bettiol (Ita), Bissegger (Che)

©A.S.O.

PARIS-TOURS 2022: AN EARLY HARVEST

Eintagsrennen, Strassenrennen, Vorschau, ,

Key points:

 The 116th edition of Paris-Tours, to be contested on 9 October over a total distance of 213.5 km, features a slight change of route this year, with the addition of two vineyard paths. While the length of the unpaved sections remains nearly the same (10 km vs. 9.5 km in 2021), the battle between the contenders to succeed Arnaud Démare could begin a little earlier.

 The stage will be set earlier in the day for the riders of Paris-Tours Espoirs, who will start in Bonneval on a 178.4-kilometre-long course. The under-23 riders will, like their elders, battle on the scheduled eight climbs and ten vineyard paths, with just as many opportunities to excel.

 The youngest riders, i.e. the cadets and juniors, both girls and boys, selected by 14 departmental and regional committees, will be invited to sprint on the Kilometre de Paris-Tours.
The seventh departure of Paris-Tours from Chartres also coincides with the fifth act of a classic renewed by the inclusion of vineyard paths and new climbs, offering opportunities for confident attackers.
Serious determination is required to attack, as Jelle Wallays showed in 2019 on his solo break-away 50 kilometres from the city hall of Tours. Or a powerful spring in the legs to stay in contact with the best riders through the vineyards and then emerge on the Avenue de Grammont and win as Arnaud Démare did in the autumn of 2021.

As long as they stay fit until the end of the season, all strong riders who live to race the classics are welcome to seize their chance. This year, they will have many opportunities to shake up the race. They could tack in the wind that sweeps across the plains of Beauce or after traversing Vendôme (km 97.3). The hostilities will most likely begin when the race arrives at the Limeray city limit (km 144.6), with both the first climb and a short kilometre-long vineyard path at the top. The conditions will be ideal for an early lead group to form, which will continue quickly on the road to Pocé-sur-Cisse (km 151.9), the second new addition on the course of the „Classique des Feuilles Mortes“. Numerous battles and 50 kilometres later, the remaining contenders could find themselves in a decisive confrontation on the path and/or on the côte de Rochecorbon, 10.5 km from the finish line.

©A.S.O.

2022 PARIS-TOURS: TEAM SELECTION

Eintagsrennen, Vorschau, ,

The organisers of Paris-Tours Elite have chosen the teams for the 116th edition, which will take place on Sunday, October 9th.

The 24 selected teams are:

World Teams
AG2R CITROËN TEAM (FRA)
BORA-hansgrohe (GER)
Cofidis (FRA)
EF Education-EasyPost (USA)
Groupama-FDJ (FRA)
INEOS Grenadiers (GBR)
Intermarché-Wanty-Gobert Matériaux (BEL)
Israël-Premier Tech (ISR)
Jumbo-Visma (NED)
Lotto Soudal (BEL)
Team BikeExchange-Jayco (AUS)
Team DSM (NED)
Trek-Segafredo (USA)
UAE Team Emirates (UAE)

Pro Teams
Alpecin-Deceuninck (BEL)
B&B Hotels – KTM (FRA)
Bingoal Pauwels Sauces WB (BEL)
Team Arkea-Samsic (FRA)
TotalEnergies (FRA)
Uno-X Pro Cycling Team (NOR)

Continentales
Go Sport – Roubaix Lille Métropole (FRA)
St Michel-Auber 93 (FRA)
Nice Métropole Côte d’Azur (FRA)
Team U Nantes Atlantique (FRA)

Moreover, the organisers have chosen as well the teams for the 80th edition of Paris-Tours Espoirs which will take place on the same day (Sunday, October 9th 2022).
The 35 selected teams are:

Clubs
AG2R Citroën U23 Team
AVC Aix-en-Provence
Bourg-en-Bresse Ain Cyclisme
Charvieu-Chavagneux Isère Cyclisme
Côtes d’Armor-Marie Morin-U
Dinan Sport Cycling
Dunkerque Grand Littoral
CC Etupes Le Doubs Pays de Montbéliard
GSC Blagnac Vélo Sport 31
Laval Cyclisme 53
Océane Top 16
SCO Dijon-Team Matériel-Vélo.com
Sojasun espoir-ACNC
VC Pays de Loudéac
VC Rouen 76
VC Villefranche Beaujolais
Vendée U-Pays de la Loire
WB-Fybolia Locminé
EC Saint-Etienne Loire

Regional committee
Centre Val de Loire

Other structures
Uno-X DARE Development Team (NOR)
Abloc CT (NED)
Groupama-FDJ (FRA)
Team Colpack Ballan (ITA)
Team Lotto-Kern Haus (GER)
Development Team DSM (GER)
Bingoal Pauwels Sauces WB Development Team (BEL)
German national team (GER)
EFC – L&R – AGS (BEL)
Tudor Pro Cycling Team (SUI)
Jumbo-Visma Development Team (NED)
Elevate P/B Home Solution-Soenens (BEL)
Lotto Soudal Development (BEL)
Metec-SOLARWATT P/B MANTEL (NED)
Israel Cycling Academy U23 (ISR)

©A.S.O.

Paris – Tours 2021 plus U23

Eintagsrennen, Ergebnisse, , , , , , , ,

U23 177km:

1 HVIDEBERG Jonas Iversby NOR UNO-X PRO CYCLING TEAM 03:57:32
2 VAN UDEN Casper NED DEVELOPMENT TEAM DSM 00:28
3 VAN DEN BERG Marijn NED GROUPAMA-FDJ CONTI 00:28
4 PARET-PEINTRE Valentin FRA AG2R CITROËN U23 TEAM 00:28
5 COSTIOU Ewen FRA CÔTES D’ARMOR-MARIE MORIN 00:28
6 JOHANSEN Julius DEN UNO-X PRO CYCLING TEAM 00:28
7 DAUPHIN Florian FRA V.C.PAYS DE LOUDÉAC 00:28
8 VAN VEENENDAAL Hidde NED JUMBO-VISMA DT 00:28
9 DE LIE Arnaud BEL LOTTO SOUDAL U23 00:28
10 DE MEESTER Luca BEL EFC – L&R – VULSTEKE 00:28
11 BERCKMOES Jenno BEL HOME SOLUTION-SOENENS 00:28
12 URIANSTAD Martin NOR UNO-X PRO CYCLING TEAM 00:28
13 KNOLLE Jon GER GERMANY 00:28
14 LECLAINCHE Gwen FRA C.C.ETUPES 00:28
15 JEGAT Jordan FRA TEAM UC NANTES – ATLANTIQUE 00:28

ELITE 212km:

1 DEMARE Arnaud FRA GROUPAMA – FDJ 04:33:07
2 BONNAMOUR Franck FRA B&B HOTELS P/B KTM 00:00
3 STUYVEN Jasper BEL TREK – SEGAFREDO 00:00
4 DEWULF Stan BEL AG2R CITROËN TEAM 00:03
5 VAN POPPEL Danny NED INTERMARCHÉ – WANTY – GOBERT MATÉRIAUX 00:40
6 COQUARD Bryan FRA B&B HOTELS P/B KTM 00:40
7 MARIT Arne BEL SPORT VLAANDEREN – BALOISE 00:40
8 PASQUALON Andrea ITA INTERMARCHÉ – WANTY – GOBERT MATÉRIAUX 00:40
9 TRARIEUX Julien FRA DELKO 00:40
10 CAPIOT Amaury BEL TEAM ARKÉA SAMSIC 00:40
11 VAN HOECKE Gijs BEL AG2R CITROËN TEAM 00:40
12 PHILIPSEN Jasper BEL ALPECIN-FENIX 00:40
13 LEROUX Samuel FRA XELLISS – ROUBAIX LILLE MÉTROPOLE 00:40
14 TABELLION Valentin FRA XELLISS – ROUBAIX LILLE MÉTROPOLE 00:40
15 ALLEGAERT Piet BEL COFIDIS, SOLUTIONS CRÉDITS 00:40

Arnaud Démare (Groupama-FDJ) won a thrilling 115th edition of Paris-Tours on Sunday ahead of Franck Bonnamour (B&B Hotels p/b KTM) and Jasper Stuyven (Trek-Segafredo). The pace was relentless from the start, with a hard battle through the wind, and the attackers lit fireworks on the vineyard trails leading to Tours. Among them, Bonnamour was still alone in the front with San Dewulf as they entered the last kilometre… But Démare, after a strong attack on the final climb of the day, produced a massive effort to bridge the gap and dominate the four-man sprint. He is the first French winner of Paris-Tours since 2006, when Frédéric Guesdon claimed victory. Today, Guesdon was in perfect position to enjoy Démare’s win, as a sports director for Groupama-FDJ.

The 152-man peloton roll from Chartres just before noon. With winds blowing from the North-East and riders battling for the early breakaway, it’s a very fast start.
Gijs Leemreize (Jumbo-Visma) attacks in the first kilometre. He is quickly joined by Julien Duval (AG2R-Citroën Team) but they can’t open much of a gap as the battle is ongoing.
After 15km, Rune Herregodts (Sport-Vlaanderen-Baloise), winner of Paris-Tours Espoirs in 2020, bridges the gap to the early attackers. The break eventually gets away, with a lead of 2’30’’ at km 18.

Hard battles in the wind
Groupama-FDJ put the hammer down through the wind and the peloton splits in several parts. Calm returns at km 30 and the gap hits a maximum of 7’30’’ after a very fast first hour of racing (47.1km covered by the attackers).
Several teams (Team DSM, Alpecin-Fenix, Team TotalEnergies, St Michel – Auber 93…) work together to control the breakaway. The gap is down to 3’30’’ when a new acceleration in the bunch turns the race upside down into the last 100km.
Only 34 riders remain in the first bunch, including the three former winners participating in this edition: Casper Pedersen and Soren Kragh Andersen for Team DSM, as well as AG2R Citroën’s Greg Van Avermaet. With such a battle through the wind, the breakaway is reeled in at km 124.

Fireworks in the vineyards
The 37 leaders hit the first vineyard track (51km to go) with a 30’’ gap to their chasers. Arkéa-Samsic try to make the most of their numbers at the front with a series of attacks. But Connor Swift suffers a puncture with 43km, after he had managed to launch a new breakaway.
Stan Dewulf (AG2R Citroën Team), Frederik Frison (Lotto Soudal) and Franck Bonnamour (B&B Hotels p/b KTM) remain at the front. Riders previously dropped get back together and Jasper Stuyven’s Trek-Segafredo try to control.


Photo by Plomi

Impressive Démare
Valentin Madouas (Groupama-FDJ) attacks again and again until a group of six chasers get away with 16km to go. Among them, Arnaud Démare (Groupama-FDJ) and Jasper Stuyven (Trek-Segafredo) drop their rivals on the final climb of the day, the côte de Rochecorbon.
With 10km to go to Tours, without any vineyard track left ahead, they’re only 8’’ behind the leading duo. They held on… until Arnaud Démare produced a strong effort inside the last kilometre. Bonnamour and Dewulf were eventually caught with 350m to go. And Démare still had enough energy to sprint to victory.

PARIS-TOURS 2021: INFO WITH ONE DAY TO GO

Allgemein, Eintagsrennen, Vorschau, ,

Key points:
 The 115th edition of Paris-Tours, which will start from Chartres on Sunday morning, follows the same route as last year, with a 212.3 km course including nine vineyard trails in the last 51 km.
 A nice field of sprinters (Philipsen, Démare, Groenewegen), heroes of the recent Paris-Roubaix (Vermeersch, Laporte, Turgis) and three former winners are at the rendezvous of the last classic of the year.
 Defending champion Casper Pedersen promises to be “on the attack” with a strong DSM squad also featuring 2018 winner Soren Kragh Andersen.

A WINDY THRILLER
Paris-Tours is always a thriller of a race, and the 115th edition of the classic should be no exception with a cohort of classics experts (Stuyven, Laporte, Turgis…) to try and upset a strong field of sprinters (Philipsen, Démare, Groenewegen…). “We’ve found our formula and we’re repeating last year’s route, with seven climbs and nine vineyard trails in the last 50km”, race director Cédric Coutouly explains. “The trails are preceded by climbs, so the legs do the positioning. It’s hard for the teams to work well together so a lone rider doesn’t lose much time against the peloton. It will be nice weather, and the wind will blow from the North-East. So there could be a risk of echelons, but it’s coming mostly from behind so we should have a very fast start, and then, once on the trails, the wind direction will change a lot so it will be a factor.” With all these elements, “the riders who were at the front towards Roubaix should also be up there on Sunday”, Coutouly foresees. Among them, the young and talentful Florian Vermeersch (Lotto Soudal) is looking for a maiden professional victory…

PEDERSEN : ”WE WILL BE ON THE ATTACK”
Three former winners will be at the start. Among them, AG2R-Citroën Team’s Greg Van Avermaet (winner in 2011) is a veteran of Paris-Tours, with 10 participations under his belt, but he hasn’t come since 2016 and thus doesn’t know the new format with vineyard trails. The other two former winners ride with Team DSM, with the Dane Soren Kragh Andersen (2018) and his compatriot Casper Pedersen, the defending champion, who rose to victory after Kragh Andersen suffered a crash. “We have several cards to play”, Pedersen says in 2021 as well. “I think our team is stronger than last year. We will be on the attack with classics experts such as Soren Kragh Andersen and Nils Eekhoff. And if it ends up with a sprint, we’ll ride for Cees Bol. Looking at the start-list, it may be harder this year. It will be interesting to see if sprint teams will be able to control and if sprinters can follow attacks on the climbs.”

LAPORTE: “AN ATTRACTIVE RACE”
Sixth in Paris-Roubaix and back in action this Sunday, Christophe Laporte says he took longer than usual to recover from Hell of the North and the toll it took on everyone with dire conditions. “But I’m in a good shape, I feel ready and motivated for Sunday. It’s hard to stay motivated at the end of the season, but Paris-Tours is an attractive race, it is one of the biggest in France.“ His 7th participation in the Classic of the Falling Leaves, his first in three years, will have a very special flavor. „I will really give the maximum for my last race in the Cofidis jersey“, Laporte promises as he’s set to leave the French team to join Jumbo-Visma, who come to Paris-Tours with the sprinter Dylan Groenewegen and the recent winner of the Ronde de l’Isard, Gijs Leemreize. “I expect an open race in the finale, and that’s what I like. If I feel good, I won’t wait for a sprint.”

YOUNGSTERS GET THE ACTION ROLLING
Before the pros, the famous Avenue de Grammont will be surveyed by cadets and juniors (men and women) participating in the Kilomètre de Paris-Tours, then by riders in the Under 23 category. Paris-Tours Espoirs, celebrating its 78th edition, has always revealed the talents of tomorrow. Three of the top four in last year’s edition are competing in the elite event this Sunday: Rune Herregodts (1st), Jordi Meeus (2nd) and Jason Tesson (4th). The 3rd, Florian Dauphin (VCP Loudéac), is again at the start of the U23 race, five days after a solid ride among the pros in Binche-Chimay-Binche (20th). His French compatriot Louis Barré (4th in Liège-Bastogne-Liège Espoirs), the Norwegian Soren Waerenskjold (winner of two stages of the Tour de l’Avenir) and the Belgian Arnaud De Lie (winner Friday of the 2nd stage of the Circuit des Ardennes) count among the main favorites who will try to succeed Thor Hushovd, Tom Boonen, Tony Gallopin and Mike Teunissen on the Paris-Tours Espoirs winners list. The race will start from Bonneval and follow the last 177 kilometers of the professional race.

ALL EYES AND CAMERAS ON PARIS-TOURS
The 115th edition of Paris-Tours enjoys increased coverage with 25 broadcasters making the race available for the fans in 190 territories. The last 1h50 of action will be broadcasted live. Highlights are also available through news agencies and dedicated cycling media, as well as on the official website of the race and on its social media. The first images of the day will be broadcasted on Facebook and Twitter with the team presentation (from 10 AM) and the first pedal strokes as the peloton rolls from Chartres (11:40).

Paris-Tours 2021 – The heroes are ready for more

Eintagsrennen, Vorschau, ,

Key points:

 The 115th edition of Paris-Tours, which starts on Sunday morning in Chartres at 11.40 am, will be contested on a 212.3 km course, including nine vineyard paths in the last 50 km, for a total of 9.5 km.
 Among the contenders for the title, former winners like Casper Pedersen, Soren Kragh Andersen, and Greg Van Avermaet will have to contend with one of the heroes of Paris-Roubaix, Florian Vermeersch (2nd), who showed what he is capable of in his first participation.

They want more. Less than a week after a historic edition of Paris-Roubaix moved to the autumn for the first time, the classics season ends this weekend with Paris-Tours and presents itself in this unprecedented calendar as an ideal opportunity for redemption and revenge. After the Flemish cobbles of the World Championships and the slippery cobbles of Paris-Roubaix, it is on the vineyard trails that have been part of the programme of the classic for the past three years that the champions will battle it out. And they are not just any champions! Florian Vermeersch excelled in Leuven, finishing on the U23 time-trial podium before he rode another stellar race on the cobbled sectors and then at the Roubaix velodrome, where he came close to becoming the youngest winner of the modern era (2nd). Hungry for more, the 22-year-old could get his first professional victory before the end of this season. To do that, he will have to surprise or dominate some of last Sunday’s standouts, which include Christophe Laporte (6th), Tom Van Asbroeck (8th), Anthony Turgis (13th), Sep Vanmarcke (23rd), Jasper Stuyven (25th and winner of this year’s Milan-San Remo). Or some big names who didn’t do well, like Arnaud Démare and Stefan Küng with Groupama-FDJ and Greg Van Avermaet in the AG2R-Citroën Team jersey, who is a former Paris-Tours and Paris-Roubaix winner!

Two riders who have been able to exploit the vineyard roads, the defending race winner, Casper Pedersen from Denmark and his compatriot-teammate Soren Kragh Andersen, will also be among the favourites for the win. There are also serious candidates who did not take part in this year’s edition of Paris-Roubaix. That is the case for Valentin Madouas, who was in good form in the Classic Loire Atlantique (2nd) after participating in the conquest of Julian Alaphilippe’s rainbow jersey and sprinters Pascal Ackermann, Nacer Bouhanni, Danny van Poppel (winner of Binche-Chimay-Binche) and Bryan Coquard.

Paris-Tours Espoirs: riders to watch

In its current form as a classic for the under 23s, Paris-Tours Espoirs is celebrating its 25th anniversary. And among the riders who have followed Franck Perque on the list of winners are world champions, namely Thor Hushovd (1998 winner) and Tom Boonen (2000); Tour de France stage winners like Samuel Dumoulin (2001), Tony Gallopin (2008), Mike Teunissen (2014) and Jasper Philipsen (2017); and a Paris-Tours elite winner, Jelle Wallays (2010). No one knows how successful the contenders for this 79th edition will be in a few years, but some already have impressive credentials. British rider Askey Lewis, who finished 5th in this year’s World Championships, is already a favourite, as is Danish rider Johan Price-Petjersen, who last month won the World and European time trial championships. Outsiders like Louis Barré, 4th on Liège-Bastogne-Liège Espoirs and 7th in the European championships, or Valentin Retailleau, who won a stage in the recent Tour de Bretagne, will also be watched closely.

Main contenders (as of 06/10):

Belgium
Lotto-Soudal: Vermeersch (Bel), Sweeny (Aus)
Alpecin-Fenix: Philipsen (Bel),
Intermarché-Wanty-Gobert Matériaux: D.Van Poppel, Van der Hoorn (Ned)
Sport Vlaanderen-Baloise: Herregodts (Bel)
Bingoal Pauwels Sauces WB: Dupont (Bel)

France
AG2R Citroën Team: Van Avermaet (Bel), Jungels (Lux)
Groupama-FDJ: Démare, Madouas (Fra), Küng (Swi)
Cofidis : Laporte (Fra), Drucker (Lux)
TotalEnergies: Turgis, Petit (Fra), Terpstra (Ned)
Team Arkea-Samsic: Bouhanni, Riou (Fra), Swift (Gbr)
B&B Hotels p/b KTM: Bonnamour, Coquard, Lemoine (Fra)
Delko : Siskevicius (Lit)
St Michel-Auber 93: Tesson (Fra)
Xelliss-Roubaix Lille Métropole: Vermeulen, Levasseur (Fra)

Germany
Bora-Hansgrohe: Ackermann (Ger)
Team DSM: Kragh Andersen, C.Pedersen (Dan), Bol (Ned)

Israel
Israel Start-Up Nation: Vanmarcke, Van Asbroeck (Bel), Hofstetter (Fra)

Norway
Uno-X Pro Cycling Team: Tiller (Nor)

The Netherlands
Jumbo-Visma: Teunissen, Groenewegen (Ned)

Spain
Equipo Kern Pharma: Berrade, Galvan Fernandez (Esp)
Euskaltel-Euskadi: Bizkarra (Esp)

United States
Trek-Segafredo: Stuyven, Theuns (Bel)