The image of the barely recognizable runners in the last kilometers of Paris-Tours will be remembered. Sunday, the Classic of Dead Leaves was the scene of quite a spectacle for the Espoirs then for the Elites. The current Paris-Tours formula, with the crossing of several vineyard paths introduced in 2018, has not convinced everyone within the WorldTour staff and riders since its addition to an event that was once the preserve of road-sprinters. . But among the U23s, many promise to love the formula and the experience of this Sunday. “Honestly, I like it. At the beginning, it’s hard because you’re cold, but once you get going, I can tolerate these conditions well. I like hard races that are done with wear and tear. This is the type of race that suits me”declared the winner, Antoine L’hote, to DirectVelo right after the race.
It’s well known: winners will rarely complain about an ordeal that comes from smiling on them. But also on the losing side, we assure ourselves that they had a lot of fun despite the difficulty and the specificities of the event. “It was a very tough race, with rain and a lot of mud on the paths. But it was a great race, I enjoyed it”launches the Dane Pelle Mikkelsen, 2nd Sunday (see ranking). Same story with Corentin Devroute. “I love races like this, atypical. We don’t have the chance to do it often during the year even if with Dijon, we also did Paris-Roubaix. These Classics in naval battle mode are just fun”he explains the day after the race.
A RACE THAT CHANGES
“I’ll remember it, that’s for sure! It was a real project but I enjoyed it”also declares Victor Loulergue – photo below –. The runner from Bourg-en-Bresse AC finds nothing wrong with the choice of the organizers, even in these difficult weather conditions which forced the athletes to take a mud bath. “When you come to this type of race, you know what to expect. It’s not like it’s one leg of a week-long race. We could argue and say that it’s meh… But there, you know what it is, like in Paris-Roubaix. The sectors are obviously a hassle but that’s also why you go there. Personally, it doesn’t bother me, on the contrary”.
Like his compatriots, Henri-François Haquin also enjoyed the experience for his last one of the season. “I enjoy these paths. I’ve always done a lot of mountain biking and cross country so I’m in my element. It’s good, it’s a change”rejoices the CC Etupes runner, who saw the organizers do everything to put the athletes in the best possible conditions. “On Friday during the recce, the snow groomers were running. Unfortunately, the rain quickly dug holes on D-Day but in dry weather, it would not have been the same. If you don’t run like a fool, if you try to be flexible, it works. Either way, the terrain is the same for everyone, there are no excuses”.
DES AIRS DE CYCLO-CROSS
Former winner of Paris-Roubaix among the Juniors, Matys Grisel has also found conditions in which he has fun. “Honestly, I loved the race!”assures the Lotto-Dstny DT rider. He also had time to discuss with the leader of the ProTeam, Arnaud De Lie, on the subject of vineyard paths. “He told me it was better this time than in previous years. We didn’t have the stones as it rained. I didn’t see any punctures with my own eyes, it wasn’t just anything. There were quite a few falls because it was slipping but it was reasonable. This Paris-Tours reminded me of Paris-Roubaix. It was piloting. On the paths, it was like cyclo-cross but I like it”.
Also on the SCO Dijon side, only Romain Bréant suffered a puncture at the very start of the race. “It was slippery but guys aren’t stupid. We were careful on the paths, on the turns, continues Corentin Devroute. It was a race of warriors, as we like them”. And don’t go talking to lottery runners. “In these conditions, it was even more like war. Even if there is a part of success, it first happens in the paw”would like to remind Henri-François Haquin. The best are ahead”.
