It was with their faces – and their entire bodies – covered in mud that the runners arrived at the end of Paris-Tours this Sunday, in a rainy 2024 edition which increased the difficulty of the vineyard paths. In these circumstances, the Groupama-FDJ cycling team nevertheless distinguished itself in the last seventy kilometers, but was not rewarded with a top result at the finish. In the sprint, Lewis Askey obtained twelfth place of the day, twenty seconds behind the duo who fought for victory, which went to Christophe Laporte.
Beyond the ten vineyard paths and eight hills on the final program, now well known to the runners, an additional difficulty came this Sunday to enhance the 118th edition of Paris-Tours: rain. Already present at the start, while a breakaway quartet quickly formed, it increased in intensity shortly after the start of the second half of the race, that is to say as the first sectors of the day approached. “This is the first time that we have competed in Paris-Tours in these conditions since the roads were introducedconfided Frédéric Guesdon. The paths were well soaked, and the earth was sticky and slow. It wasn’t the most pleasant to ride, but it made for a great Paris-Tours.” Especially since the major maneuvers started early. “From the first bumps, even before the paths, Mads Pedersen attacked and there was always a sustained pace,” Frédéric continued. While the Dane was going to join the breakaway, and take a small minute lead, the Groupama-FDJ cycling team was active at the head of the peloton. “The race was on, and given the state of the roads, it was better to be one step ahead, added Frédéric. The guys had the freedom to move forward whenever they could and whenever they felt an opportunity to go out with a small group. You had to be active and not suffer.”
“We missed the little thing,” Frédéric Guesdon
Lewis Askey notably accelerated a few times in the very first sectors, while the peloton was gradually reduced from the rear. Unfortunately, Groupama-FDJ also paid the price. “We lost Paul after a fall, and Olivier after a second puncture, confided Frédéric Guesdon. It wasn’t ideal.” Lewis Askey and Kevin Geniets nevertheless continued to participate in the movements, and the five remaining riders of the team remained in the peloton thirty kilometers from the goal. A few moments later, Christophe Laporte and Mathias Vacek left in the seventh vineyard path, and quickly took over and then dropped off Pedersen. “We cannot say that they really came out strong, but they were strong afterwards to resistcommented Frédéric. They never really dug, but it was enough because behind it it was rolling in fits and starts.” Everything then came down to a chase behind the duo. “We then tried to toughen up a little so that Valentin could express himself, but we couldn’t tell the difference,” continued Frédéric. The former French champion nevertheless tried to make the selection in the Chartier valley hill twenty-two miles from the goal. He was relayed by Kevin Geniets, the gap was reduced to fifteen seconds, but no one continued the effort.
The advantage of the leading duo thus returned to thirty seconds, and a platoon of around thirty units was recomposed behind them. The last difficulty, eleven miles from the goal, finally did not make any big changes. “In the final, we wanted to play the Clément card, but he unfortunately punctured ten miles from the finish”whispered Frédéric. Twenty seconds behind Laporte and Vacek, who arrived in that order on the line, it was Lewis Askey who joined the sprint for third place. The Briton then finished at the gates of the top-10 (12e). “Collectively, we were there, but we lacked the little thing to make the differencesaid Frédéric. The end of the race didn’t work in our favor either with this puncture. The gross result is not excellent, but we still weighed in on the race, we were active with Lewis, Kevin and Valentin in particular. We had three good performances at Paris-Tours, it didn’t happen this year, but we will come back! » Olivier Le Gac, Paul Penhoët, Lewis Askey and Clément Russo also ended their season on Sunday, while Kevin Geniets and Valentin Madouas will do so in Italy next week, just like Eddy Le Huitouze during the Chrono des Nations.
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