On Sunday, the Classic of Dead Leaves was won in difficult weather conditions at the end of the 214 kilometers of racing by Christophe Laporte (Team Visma Lease a Bike) in a two-man sprint. Mathias Vacek (Lidl – Trek) and Jasper Philipsen (Alpecin – Deceuninck) took 2nd and 3rd places at the finish, rue de Grammont. Laporte, who scored his first victory of the season, succeeds Riley Sheehan (Israel – Premier Tech) on the list of winners.
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The summary of Paris – Tours 2024
This Sunday, Christophe Laporte (Team Visma Lease a Bike) won the 118th edition of Paris-Tours, a race marked by difficult weather conditions. In the pouring rain and on vineyard paths transformed into real quagmires, the Frenchman managed to do well by dominating the Czech Mathias Vacek (Lidl-Trek) in a two-man sprint on Avenue de Grammont. This victory ends a period of scarcity for Laporte, who had not raised his arms since his title of European champion in September 2023. With this success, he becomes the 30th Frenchman to win this autumn classic, succeeding to Arnaud Démare, last French winner in 2021.
A grueling and tactical race
Leaving Chartres in persistent rain, this autumn edition of Paris-Tours offered a real battle of resistance. From the start, a quartet composed of Edoardo Affini (Team Visma Lease a Bike), Enzo Boulet (CIC U Nantes Atlantique), Mikel Retegi (Equipo Kern Pharma) and Ceriel Desal (Bingoal WB) formed at the head of the race , digging up to five minutes ahead. However, as we approached the final 75km, things started to seriously liven up. Unfortunately, Desal suffered a fall, leaving the remaining trio heading towards a daunting finale, marked by eight climbs and ten muddy vineyard paths.
Laporte’s decisive attack
The first difficulties broke up the peloton and revealed the toughest contenders. Mads Pedersen (Lidl-Trek), one of the big favorites, attempted a daring attack 70 kilometers from the finish. Impressively powerful, the former world champion joined the leading group, accompanied by Affini, the last survivor of the initial breakaway. But the constant effort ended up wearing out the leading men.
It was 33 kilometers from the finish, on the Noizay vineyard path, that Christophe Laporte launched his decisive offensive. Followed by Mathias Vacek, the duo quickly returned to Pedersen and Affini, who ended up giving in under the intensity of the required relays. Behind, the peloton was disorganized and struggled to reduce the gap, despite the efforts of Groupama-FDJ and other teams.
A final duel in the rain
With around thirty seconds ahead of a peloton reduced to its simplest expression, Laporte and Vacek worked together perfectly until the last kilometers. On Avenue de Grammont, the two men found themselves alone to compete for victory. Christophe Laporte, serene and confident, launched his sprint from afar, easily overtaking the young Czech to clinch his first victory of the season. Jasper Philipsen (Alpecin – Deceuninck) for his part settled the sprint of the peloton, around twenty seconds, for third place.
A success that puts an end to a long wait
With this victory, Christophe Laporte finally returns to success after a year without a victory. The Frenchman, often overshadowed by his teammates in big races, showed that he knew how to respond during demanding events, as he had already proven at Paris-Roubaix. Paris-Tours 2024 will therefore remain a race marked by the combativeness and experience of Laporte, who puts his name on the list of winners of a classic where rain and mud will have been the judges of the peace.
The top 5 of the race was completed by Mike Teunissen (Intermarché – Wanty) and Frenchman Alexis Renard (Cofidis), who confirms the great collective performance of the Tricolores with Anthony Turgis (TotalEnergies) in 10th place. Arnaud De Lie (Lotto-Dstny), despite an attempted attack in the last kilometers, had to settle for 7th place.
With this 32nd career success, Christophe Laporte closes in the most beautiful way a season marked by ups and downs, while asserting his place among the big names in French cycling.
Paris Ranking – Tours 2024 – Top 10
1 – LAPORTE Christophe (Team Visma | Lease a Bike) les 213,8 km en 5:00:27 (42,7 km/h)
2 – VACEK Mathias (Lidl – Trek) m.t
3 – PHILIPSEN Jasper (Alpecin – Deceuninck) + 0:21
4 – TEUNISSEN Mike (Intermarché – Wanty) mt
5 – RENARD Alexis (Cofidis) m.t
6 – BOL Cees (Astana Qazaqstan Team) mt
7 – DE LIE Arnaud (Lotto Dstny ) m.t
8 – VAN ASBROECK Tom (Israel – Premier Tech) m.t
9 – CHRISTEN Fabio (Q36.5 Pro Cycling Team) m.t
10 – TURGIS Anthony (TotalEnergies) m.t
Read also: The complete ranking of Paris – Tours 2024
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