Taking place this year a week before the Tour of Lombardy, Paris-Tours stay a reference in the world calendar and THE last big meeting of the season in France. Contested this Sunday, October 6 in difficult conditions, with a lot of rain throughout the 213.8 kilometers to be covered between Chartres and Tours, the 118th edition of the other “Classic of dead leaves“was the theater of a warrior’s race, especially on the famous vineyard paths which have become very muddy. And so it’s covered in mud that Christophe Laporte (Visma | Lease a Bike) has established itself on Avenue de Grammont, the dominant Frenchman Mathias Vacek (Lidl-Trek) in a two-man sprint in the final straight.
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Christophe Laporte finds success more than a year later
Coming out strong just over 30 miles from the finish, the two men were never seen again by a very small peloton at the finish and settled by Jasper Philipsen (Alpecin-Deceuninck) for the last place on the podium. The top 5 is completed by the Dutchman Mike Teunissen (Intermarché-Wanty) in front of another French runner, Alexis Renard (Cofidis). Arnaud De Lie (Lotto Dstny) must be satisfied with 7th place, whileAnthony Turgis (TotalEnergies) completes the very good race of the French with its 10th place. With this success, the first for him in 2024, Christophe Laporte puts an end to a drought lasting more than a year, he who had not raised his arms since his title of European champion in September 2023!
The summary of thea course
As announced for several days, the rain is one of the main players in this 118th Paris-Tours from the start given from Chartres, for an edition which promises to be very autumnal. Despite a few sections exposed to the wind, the start of the race was very calm and a quartet broke away quickly enough to form the day’s breakaway. Edoardo Affini (Visma | Lease a Bike), Enzo Boulet (CIC U Nantes Atlantique), Mikel Retegi (Equipo Kern Pharma) et Ceriel Desal (Bingoal WB) will have a lead of up to 5 minutes over a peloton which is waiting for the last 75 kilometers to really launch the hostilities. The Belgian Ceriel Desal is unfortunately the victim of a fall and loses his place at the front, it is therefore a trio which approaches with a little less than two minutes of margin this formidable final and its 8 listed hills and 10 vineyard paths.
And the serious things do not take long to begin since from the first difficulty listed, the coast of Limeray, Mads Pedersen (Lidl-Trek) himself stands on the pedals and attacks almost 70 miles from the finish! Very clearly one of the big favorites of the day, the Dane can be seen from afar but knows better than anyone that it is better to always be one step ahead on this type of course and in these conditions that he particularly likes. First followed by Pascal Ackermann (Israel – Premier Tech), the former world champion finally lets go of the German rider and goes alone in pursuit of the breakaway. Impressively, he ends up joining the leading trio around ten km further and takes direct control of the group, the peloton trailing around 45 seconds.
Christophe Laporte and Mathias Vacek the strongest
The first vineyard paths, inevitably very muddy this Sunday, cause direct damage at all levels. Pedersen continues at his own pace and takes with him Relatedthe Italian being the only survivor of the breakaway able to follow. About thirty seconds behind this duo, the peloton explodes into several groups, there are everywhere! But it delays once back on the asphalt, and the package ends up reforming. The team Alpecin-Deceuninck of Jasper Philipsen takes charge of the pursuit and keeps me away for half a minute as we enter the last 40 km.
The situation stabilizes until 33 km from the goal, a moment chosen by Christophe Laporte (Visma | Lease a Bike) to attack the Noizay vineyard path! He is followed by Mathias Vacek (Lidl-Trek), the Czech and the French returning 5 miles further on their two teammates at the front. Logically after their many efforts, Related Then Pedersen end up letting go and are left behind. There aren’t many people left in the peloton, which is struggling a little to organize itself but is only 25″. This is the Groupama-FDJ who tries to revive the pace and the hunt in the Côte de la Vallée Chartier, 23 km away. Valentin Madouas in place one and hurts, the runners are one by one. The pursuers come back to just 10 seconds behind the leading duo, but they are visible and regroup once again once back on the flat. Despite a good job of Kevin Enjoys (Groupama-FDJ), the peloton reduced to only thirty units saw the leading men take off again, the gap returning to above 30″ 15 miles from the goal.
Christophe Laporte the strongest in the sprint, 1st victory in 2024!
The agreement is notas ideaale in pursuit, there a plus vrlike teammates to come and rideoffront of the platoon,autant more than the latest difficulties of the trace desorganise a little morea chenough. The mano à mano seems to turn in favor of the leading duo, Christophe Laporte et Mathias Vacek taking turns perfectly and not showing signs of fatigue. There is always half a minute between the two groups at the 5 terminals, and unless the two men stand still in the final, the mass is said. They arrive with a good lead on Avenue de Grammont and can therefore afford to play a little. Very serene and sure of his strength, Laporte places himself behind the young Czech then easily overtakes him after launching his sprint from afar, all powerful. First victory of the season for the former European champion, who had not raised his arms since his European title more than a year ago!
Paris-Tours – General classification
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