Paris–Tours
 | |
| Race details | |
|---|---|
| Date | Mid-October |
| Region | Chevreuse to Loire, France |
| Competition | UCI Europe Tour |
| Type | One-day |
| Organiser | Amaury Sport Organisation |
| History | |
| First edition | 1896 |
| Editions | 110 (as of 2016) |
| First winner |
 Eugène Prévost (FRA) |
| Most wins |
|
| Most recent |
 Fernando Gaviria (COL) |
Paris–Tours is a French one-day classic cycling race held every October from the outskirts of Paris to the cathedral city of Tours. It is a predominantly flat course through the Chevreuse and Loire valleys; the highest point is 200 m, at Le Gault-du-Perche. It is known as a "Sprinters' Classic" because it frequently ends in a bunch sprint at the finish, in Tours. For several decades the race arrived on the 2.7 km long Avenue de Grammont, one of cycling's best-known finishing straits, particularly renowned among sprinters. Since 2011 the finish was moved to a different location because a new tram line was built on the Avenue de Grammont.[1]
History
Paris–Tours was first run for amateurs in 1896, making it one of the oldest cycling races in the world. It was organised by the magazine Paris-Vélo, which described that edition won by Eugène Prévost as, “A crazy, unheard of, unhoped for success”. It was five years before the race was run again and a further five years (1906) before it became an annual event for professionals, with L'Auto as organiser. L’Auto ran the Tour de France (TDF) and Paris–Tours is still run by the Tour organiser, Amaury Sport Organisation.
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The route
Paris–Tours has had many route changes although the distance has remained about 250 km. The start was moved out of Paris in the early days, first to Versailles, then to at Saint-Arnoult-en-Yvelines. Since 2009, the route has started in the Department of Eure-et-Loir.[2] A loop through Chinon was added between 1919 and 1926 to make the approach to Tours hilly lanes on the south bank of the Loire and the total distance 342 km. Sprinters continued to dominate and in 1959 the organisers added three ascents of the Alouette Hill. It made little difference.
In 1965 dérailleurs were banned and riders were limited to two gears. The race was won by Dutch first-year professional Gerben Karstens who chose 53x16 and 53x15, covering 246 km at a record 45.029kmh. The experiment was judged a failure when the 1966 race ended the same way as 1964.
The course was reversed and the route constantly changed between 1974 and 1987. It was sometimes known as the Grand Prix d'Automne and sometimes by the names of the start and finish towns. For many the event lost character as the race was run between Tours and Versailles (1974–75) Blois and Chaville (1976–77 and 1979–84), Blois to Autodrome de Montlhéry (1978) and Créteil to Chaville (1985–87). In 1988 the race reverted to its original Paris–Tours route.
The wind can often be hostile; in 1988 Peter Pieters averaged just 34kmh, slowest for 57 years. However, Paris–Tours becomes the fastest classic when the wind is behind the riders, Óscar Freire winning in 2010 at 47.730kmh. It gave him the Ruban Jaune or "Yellow Riband" for the fastest speed in a classic, in fact the Ruban Jaune has been awarded nine times (as of 2016) to riders winning Paris–Tours and posting the fastest time in a professional race.
Classic races and riders
The 1921 edition had blizzards. Half the field abandoned in Chartres. The winner, Francis Pélissier, punctured late in the race; his hands frozen, he tore the tyre off the rim with his teeth. Riding on the rim, he caught Eugène Christophe and soloed to the finish. Rik van Looy won the 1959 race, the first to feature the Alouette Hill. One of the best sprinters of his day, van Looy dropped two others on the second ascent and won alone.
The record for the most victories is three, held by Gustaf Daneels (1934, 1936, 1937), Paul Mayé (1941, 1942, 1945), Guido Reybroeck (1964, 1966, 1968) and Erik Zabel (1994, 2003, 2005).
Eddy Merckx never won Paris–Tours; he should have triumphed in 1968 but handed victory to team mate Guido Reybrouck, pulling out of the sprint, to thank him for help earlier in the season. Erik Zabel took his first big victory at Paris–Tours in 1994. He won Paris–Tours again in 2003 and 2005. Jacky Durand, Andrea Tafi, Marc Wauters, Richard Virenque, Erik Dekker and Philippe Gilbert (two times) have all won solo or from a small group, denying sprinters a chance. Virenque had just returned from a drugs ban. He broke away with Durand shortly after the start and stayed away despite Durand's dropping back outside Tours.
The Autumn Double
The Autumn Double refers to Paris–Tours and the Giro di Lombardia, considered cycling's most important classics in Autumn, run within a week of each other in October. The races are different - Lombardia is for climbers - making the double difficult. Only four have achieved it in the same year: Belgians Philippe Thys in 1917 and Rik Van Looy in 1959, Dutchman Jo de Roo twice (1962–1963) and Belgian Philippe Gilbert in 2009.
Results
List of winners
| Rider | Team | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| 1896 | |
Prevost, EugeneEugène Prévost (FRA) | individual |
| 1901 | |
Fischer, JeanJean Fischer (FRA) | individual |
| 1906 | |
Petit-Breton, LucienLucien Petit-Breton (FRA) | Peugeot |
| 1907 | |
Passerieu, GeorgesGeorges Passerieu (FRA) | Peugeot-Wolber |
| 1908 | |
Beaugendre, OmerOmer Beaugendre (FRA) | Peugeot-Wolber |
| 1909 |  |
Faber, FrancoisFrançois Faber (LUX) | Alcyon-Dunlop |
| 1910 | |
Faber, FrancoisFrançois Faber (LUX) | Alcyon-Dunlop |
| 1911 | |
Lapize, OctaveOctave Lapize (FRA) | La Française-Diamant |
| 1912 | .svg.png){kind=small} |
Heusghem, LouisLouis Heusghem (BEL) | Alcyon-Dunlop |
| 1913 | |
Crupelandt, CharlesCharles Crupelandt (FRA) | La Française-Diamant |
| 1914 |  |
Egg, OscarOscar Egg (SUI) | Peugeot-Lion |
| 1917 | |
Thys, PhilippePhilippe Thys (BEL) | Peugeot-Wolber |
| 1918 | |
Mantelet, CharlesCharles Mantelet (FRA) | individual |
| 1919 | |
Tiberghien, HectorHector Tiberghien (BEL) | individual |
| 1920 | |
Christophe, EugeneEugène Christophe (FRA) | individual |
| 1921 | |
Pelissier, FrancisFrancis Pélissier (FRA) | J.B. Louvet |
| 1922 | |
Pelissier, HenriHenri Pélissier (FRA) | J.B. Louvet |
| 1923 | |
Deman, PaulPaul Deman (BEL) | O. Lapize |
| 1924 | |
Mottiat, LouisLouis Mottiat (BEL) | Alcyon-Dunlop |
| 1925 | |
Verschueren, DenisDenis Verschueren (BEL) | Wonder |
| 1926 | |
Suter, HeiriHeiri Suter (SUI) | Olympique-Wolber |
| 1927 | |
Suter, HeiriHeiri Suter (SUI) | Olympique-Wolber |
| 1928 | |
Verschueren, DenisDenis Verschueren (BEL) | J.B. Louvet |
| 1929 | |
Frantz, NicolasNicolas Frantz (LUX) | Alcyon-Dunlop |
| 1930 | |
Marechal, JeanJean Maréchal (FRA) | Colin-Wolber |
| 1931 | |
Leducq, AndreAndré Leducq (FRA) | Alcyon-Dunlop |
| 1932 | |
Moineau, JulesJules Moineau (FRA) | France Sport-Dunlop |
| 1933 | |
Merviel, JulesJules Merviel (FRA) | Colin-Wolber |
| 1934 | |
Danneels, GustaveGustave Danneels (BEL) | Alcyon-Dunlop |
| 1935 | |
Greves, Rene LeRené Le Grèves (FRA) | Alcyon-Dunlop |
| 1936 | |
Danneels, GustaveGustave Danneels (BEL) | Alcyon-Dunlop |
| 1937 | |
Danneels, GustaveGustave Danneels (BEL) | Alcyon-Dunlop |
| 1938 |  |
Rossi, JulesJules Rossi (ITA) | Alcyon-Dunlop |
| 1939 | |
Bonduel, FransFrans Bonduel (BEL) | Dilecta-Wolber |
| 1941 | |
Maye, PaulPaul Maye (FRA) | Alcyon-Dunlop |
| 1942 | |
Maye, PaulPaul Maye (FRA) | Alcyon-Dunlop |
| 1943 | |
Gaudin, GabrielGabriel Gaudin (FRA) | Peugeot-Dunlop |
| 1944 | |
Teisseire, LucienLucien Teisseire (FRA) | France Sport-Dunlop |
| 1945 | |
Maye, PaulPaul Maye (FRA) | Alcyon-Dunlop |
| 1946 | |
Schotte, AlbericAlberic Schotte (BEL) | Alcyon-Dunlop |
| 1947 | |
Schotte, AlbericAlberic Schotte (BEL) | Alcyon-Dunlop |
| 1948 | |
Caput, LouisLouis Caput (FRA) | Olympia-Dunlop |
| 1949 | |
Ramon, AlbrechtAlbrecht Ramon (BEL) | Bertin-Wolber |
| 1950 | |
Mahe, AndreAndré Mahé (FRA) | Stella-Dunlop |
| 1951 | |
Dupont, JacquesJacques Dupont (FRA) | Peugeot-Dunlop |
| 1952 | |
Guegan, RaymondRaymond Guegan (FRA) | Gitane |
| 1953 | |
Schils, JosJos Schils (BEL) | Bianchi-Pirelli |
| 1954 | |
Scodeller, GilbertGilbert Scodeller (FRA) | Mercier-BP-Hutchinson |
| 1955 | |
Dupont, JacquesJacques Dupont (FRA) | La Perle-Hutchinson |
| 1956 | |
Bouvet, AlbertAlbert Bouvet (FRA) | Mercier-BP-Hutchinson |
| 1957 | |
Bruyne, Fred DeFred De Bruyne (BEL) | Carpano-Coppi |
| 1958 | |
Desmet, GilbertGilbert Desmet (BEL) | Faema |
| 1959 | |
Looy, Rik VanRik Van Looy (BEL) | Faema |
| 1960 |  |
Haan, Jo deJo de Haan (NED) | Rapha-Gitane |
| 1961 | |
Wouters, JosJos Wouters (BEL) | Solo-Terrot-Van Steenbergen |
| 1962 | |
Roo, Jo deJo de Roo (NED) | Saint-Raphael-Helyett-Hutchinson |
| 1963 | |
Roo, Jo deJo de Roo (NED) | Saint-Raphael-Gitane-Geminiani |
| 1964 | |
Reybroeck, GuidoGuido Reybroeck (BEL) | Flandria-Romeo |
| 1965 | |
Karstens, GerbenGerben Karstens (NED) | Televizier |
| 1966 | |
Reybroeck, GuidoGuido Reybroeck (BEL) | Romeo-Smith's |
| 1967 | |
Looy, Rik vanRik van Looy (BEL) | Willem II-Gazelle |
| 1968 | |
Reybroeck, GuidoGuido Reybroeck (BEL) | Faema |
| 1969 | |
Springel, Herman VanHerman Van Springel (BEL) | Dr.Mann-Grundig |
| 1970 |  |
Tschan, JurgenJürgen Tschan (GER) | Peugeot-BP-Michelin |
| 1971 | |
Linden, Rik vanRik van Linden (BEL) | Hertekamp-Magniflex-Novy |
| 1972 | |
Vantyghem, NoelNoël Vantyghem (BEL) | Novy-Dubble Bubble |
| 1973 | |
Linden, Rik vanRik van Linden (BEL) | Rokado |
| 1974 | |
Moser, FrancescoFrancesco Moser (ITA) | Filotex |
| 1975 | |
Maertens, FreddyFreddy Maertens (BEL) | Flandria-Carpenter |
| 1976 | |
Dewitte, RonaldRonald Dewitte (BEL) | Brooklyn |
| 1977 | |
Zoetemelk, JoopJoop Zoetemelk (NED) | Gan-Mercier |
| 1978 | |
Raas, JanJan Raas (NED) | Ti Raleigh |
| 1979 | |
Zoetemelk, JoopJoop Zoetemelk (NED) | Gan-Mercier |
| 1980 | |
Willems, DanielDaniel Willems (BEL) | IJsboerke - Warncke |
| 1981 | |
Raas, JanJan Raas (NED) | Ti Raleigh |
| 1982 | |
Vandenbroucke, Jean-LucJean-Luc Vandenbroucke (BEL) | La Redoute |
| 1983 | |
Peeters, LudoLudo Peeters (BEL) | Ti Raleigh |
| 1984 |  |
Kelly, SeanSean Kelly (IRL) | Skil-Sem |
| 1985 | |
Peeters, LudoLudo Peeters (BEL) | Kwantum Hallen |
| 1986 |  |
Anderson, PhilPhil Anderson (AUS) | Panasonic |
| 1987 | |
Poel, Adri van derAdri van der Poel (NED) | PDM-Concorde |
| 1988 | |
Pieters, PeterPeter Pieters (NED) | TVM–Van Schilt |
| 1989 | |
Nijdam, JelleJelle Nijdam (NED) | Superconfex–Yoko–Opel–Colnago |
| 1990 |  |
Sorensen, RolfRolf Sørensen (DEN) | Ariostea |
| 1991 | |
Capiot, JohanJohan Capiot (BEL) | TVM–Sanyo |
| 1992 | |
Redant, HendrikHendrik Redant (BEL) | Lotto–Mavic–MBK |
| 1993 | |
Museeuw, JohanJohan Museeuw (BEL) | GB–MG Maglificio |
| 1994 | |
Zabel, ErikErik Zabel (GER) | Team Telekom |
| 1995 | |
Minali, NicolaNicola Minali (ITA) | Gewiss-Ballan |
| 1996 | |
Minali, NicolaNicola Minali (ITA) | Gewiss-Playbus |
| 1997 |  |
Tchmil, AndreiAndrei Tchmil (UKR) | Lotto–Mobistar–Isoglass |
| 1998 | |
Durand, JackyJacky Durand (FRA) | Casino–Ag2r |
| 1999 | |
Wauters, MarcMarc Wauters (BEL) | Rabobank |
| 2000 | |
Tafi, AndreaAndrea Tafi (ITA) | Mapei–Quick-Step |
| 2001 | |
Virenque, RichardRichard Virenque (FRA) | Domo-Farm Frites |
| 2002 | |
Piil, JakobJakob Piil (DEN) | CSC–Tiscali |
| 2003 | |
Zabel, ErikErik Zabel (GER) | Team Telekom |
| 2004 | |
Dekker, ErikErik Dekker (NED) | Rabobank |
| 2005 | |
Zabel, ErikErik Zabel (GER) | T-Mobile Team |
| 2006 | |
Guesdon, FredericFrédéric Guesdon (FRA) | Française des Jeux |
| 2007 | |
Petacchi, AlessandroAlessandro Petacchi (ITA) | Team Milram |
| 2008 | |
Gilbert, PhilippePhilippe Gilbert (BEL) | Française des Jeux |
| 2009 | |
Gilbert, PhilippePhilippe Gilbert (BEL) | Silence–Lotto |
| 2010 |  |
Freire, OscarOscar Freire (ESP) | Rabobank |
| 2011 | |
Van Avermaet, GregGreg Van Avermaet (BEL) | BMC Racing Team |
| 2012 | |
Marcato, MarcoMarco Marcato (ITA) | Vacansoleil–DCM |
| 2013 | |
Degenkolb, JohnJohn Degenkolb (GER) | Argos–Shimano |
| 2014 | |
Wallays, JelleJelle Wallays (BEL) | Topsport Vlaanderen–Baloise |
| 2015 | |
Trentin, MatteoMatteo Trentin (ITA) | Etixx–Quick-Step |
| 2016 | |
Gaviria, FernandoFernando Gaviria (COL) | Etixx–Quick-Step |
Multiple winners
Riders in italics are still active
| Wins | Rider | Nationality | Editions |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | Gustave Danneels | Belgium | 1934 + 1936 + 1937 |
| Paul Maye | France | 1941 + 1942 + 1945 | |
| Guido Reybrouck | Belgium | 1964 + 1966 + 1968 | |
| Erik Zabel | Germany | 1994 + 2003 + 2005 | |
| 2 | François Faber | Luxembourg | 1909 + 1910 |
| Denis Verschueren | Belgium | 1925 + 1928 | |
| Heiri Suter | Switzerland | 1926 + 1927 | |
| Briek Schotte | Belgium | 1946 + 1947 | |
| Jacques Dupont | France | 1951 + 1955 | |
| Rik Van Looy | Belgium | 1959 + 1967 | |
| Jo de Roo | Netherlands | 1962 + 1963 | |
| Rik Van Linden | Belgium | 1971 + 1973 | |
| Joop Zoetemelk | Netherlands | 1977 + 1979 | |
| Jan Raas | Netherlands | 1978 + 1981 | |
| Ludo Peeters | Belgium | 1983 + 1985 | |
| Nicola Minali | Italy | 1995 + 1996 | |
| Philippe Gilbert | Belgium | 2008 + 2009 |
Winners by Nationality
| # of Victories | Country |
|---|---|
| 41 | Belgium |
| 31 | France |
| 12 | Netherlands |
| 8 | Italy |
| 5 | Germany |
| 3 | Luxembourg |
| 3 | Switzerland |
| 2 | Denmark |
| 1 | Ireland |
| 1 | Australia |
| 1 | Ukraine |
| 1 | Spain |
| 1 | Colombia |
Tours–Paris
In 1917 and 1918 a race was held from Tours–Paris as well as Paris–Tours.
The winners of Tours–Paris were:
| Rider | Team | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| 1917 | |
Deruyter, CharlesCharles Deruyter (BEL) | |
| 1918 | |
Thys, PhilippePhilippe Thys (BEL) |
Notes
- ↑ "Paris-Tours' last showdown on the Avenue de Grammont". Cyclingnews.com. October 10, 2010.
- ↑ http://www.letour.com/2013/PAT/COURSE/us/le_parcours.html
References
- The Spring Classics: Cycling's Greatest One-Day Races
- European Cycling (The Twenty Greatest Races) - Noel Henderson. ISBN 0-941950-20-4
- A Century of Cycling - William Fotheringham. ISBN 1-84000-654-4
- Guided Private Tour of Paris