The meeting is given in Vernou-sur-Brenne. While the 118th edition of Paris-Tours is being held this Sunday, October 6we asked two local runners, the former professional Cyril Lemoine and Benjamin Masset, both licensed at the US Saint-Pierre-des-Corps, to take part in the exercise of recognition of the vineyard paths, a real attraction of the cycle race since 2018. The president of the cycling section of the Corpopétrussien club, Hervé Pouant, takes us in his car. And off we go for around thirty kilometers on the winding and steep roads of Vouvrillon.
The first path is a formality. The second one that we take, on the other hand, requires more concentration. “You notice, we cannot hold the wheel of the comrade who is in frontexplains Hervé Pouant, while the two cyclists in front of us prefer to stand side by side. There are small bumps, stones, holes, sometimes filled with water, because it rained a lot. We can see that the car is a little shaken.” Cyril Lemoine, moreover, takes the shoulder on several occasions. When Benjamin Masset twice does a little goat jump to pass over a crevasse. “There are times when we see him at the last momenthe said. You have to avoid it to protect yourself from punctures, you have to be hyper vigilant, even on the shoulders, which can be quite tricky with sometimes a little dirt.”
A course that punishes the slightest misstep
“That’s the difficulty of the Paris-Toursadds the president of the cycling section of US Saint-Pierre-des-Corps. With vineyard paths, you have 1,001 reasons to make mistakes. It is the one who does none who will win. As you can’t always follow the wheel of the guy in front, and therefore take the slipstream, the selection is made. Also, the roads are not wide. So the best are ahead. With this layout, you can’t hide. If you are less good, you will end up breaking down.”
Because after the vineyard paths, very often, you have to start again. Restore watts. In the open wind, on the hillsides. Before heading downhill, then hitting a new wall, with a slope of more than 10%, to find the vineyard paths. A pattern that will repeat itself several times. The vineyard paths – 10 kilometers in total – are spread over 10 different sectors. “This series of paths, restarts and small climbs is toughassures Benjamin Masset, at the end of this recognition. The slopes are not very long, but very steep. We can get 15% sometimes. With momentum, it can happen. When you’re in the peloton, it can be fine, but when you’re a little behind and you’ve already been struggling for quite some time, then it can be very complicated.” Cyril Lemoine acquiesce. “When we attack the last 50 kilometers, the key word is to stay in front. If we start to go backwards, as they say in the jargon, we go through the trap.”
Criticized during the first edition, in 2018, because of large stones present on the route, the Paris-Tours vineyard paths seem to have found their place on the classic of dead leaves. Today, above all, they allow you to add a little salt to the finale. Also avoid systematic massive sprints, as in the past, with a few exceptions. “It restores interest to a race which had lost a little of its splendor, it had to be restarted”recognizes Hervé Pouant.
A race to follow live on France Bleu Touraine
Sunday October 6, France Bleu Touraine shakes up its programs and offers you a special Paris-Tours broadcast from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. All sectors in the vineyard paths will be broadcast live. A reporter will be on a motorbike and another at the finish with the teams, to collect the first reactions from the riders, as soon as the line is crossed.
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