Guesdon snaps French losing streak at Paris-Tours
- By VeloNews.com
- Published Oct. 8, 2006
The long French victory drought at Paris-Tours was just a hazy memory on Sunday as Frederic Guesdon won the 100th edition of the classic race. The veteran rider from Brittany beat Norway’s Kurt-Asle Arvesen at the line, the two of them representing the final, desperate remnant of a 28-man pack that broke away more than four hours earlier.
Crossing the finish on the famous Avenue du Grammont in Tours, just eight seconds behind the first two riders, were 35 pursuers led by Stuart O’Grady. They had come some 254km, under sunny skies, from the outskirts of Paris.
Guesdon, who turns 35 next week, had not won a major race since 1997, when he won Paris-Roubaix. In all that time he has worn the Française des Jeux uniform (both Arvesen and O’Grady ride for CSC).
Guesdon was the third Frenchman to win the classic race in eight years, but just the fourth in the last half-century. Albert Bouvet, who won in 1956 and watched a French drought last until 1998, pointed out that Guesdon was, like him, from Brittany, unlike Jacky Durand (1998) and Richard Virenque (2001).
“They won because they attacked, and I followed their example,” said Guesdon, who broke away on a small climb with 8km to go. “I felt this morning that I could do something with that climb. I even told one of the younger riders on the team. I was very motivated this morning.”
When Guesdon sprang forward, he was part of a five-man group that also included Kevin Van Impe (QuickStep), Christian Moreni (Cofidis), Enrico Gasparotto (Liquigas) and Arvesen. For much of the last 40km of the race, they had led by about 20 seconds.
Arnesen blinked when Guesdon dumped his daylong mates, but then decided to join the Frenchman for the long, tree-lined boulevard into Tours. Having just looked over his shoulder and seen a massive group moving up on him, Arvesen needed the inspiration.
“When I saw the peloton behind us before the last three climbs, I didn’t believe it,” said Arvesen. “But you never give up when you’ve been away for so long.”
Arvesen said that he blew it tactically as he and Guesdon took turns leading at the finish. “I did everything wrong there, so he deserved to win,” he said. “To be second after a long break like that is not so fun, but he was strong.”
O’Grady has come on strong at the end of the season, finishing first in the points at the Tour of Denmark in August, second overall in the Zurich Championship earlier this month, and now third here in the sprinter’s classic.
“Nice to have some form back,” he said. “2006 wasn’t my year, but at least I can see the form’s good and I’m already looking forward to carrying this strength on. I’ll carry this strength on and we’ll see some carnage.”
It was the 100th running of the Paris-Tours, the sprinter’s classic that winds southwest through France from the outskirts of the capital to this ancient city on the Loire. The sun was out and the air was crisp for this, the second-to-last scored race on the UCI Pro Tour calendar.
An early break of 28 riders jumped out to a big lead, and another 40 went after them in the second hour of the race, catching all but Guesdon and Arvesen.
The second group included contenders like O’Grady, Filippo Pozzato (Quick Step), Daniele Bennati (Lampre), Thor Hushovd (Crédit Agricole) and his teammate Jaan Kirsipuu, riding in his last professional race.
“There was wind, so we had to be concentrated the whole time,” said Hushovd, who had high praise for Kirsipuu.
Of the original 196 riders, only 72 stayed in the race beyond the feed zone at the 149km mark. A huge pack dropped out at that point, having failed to join a large chase group that set out in pursuit of an early breakaway group.
Among those dropping out at the feed zone were last year’s winner Erik Zabel of Milram (who also won here in 1994 and 2003) and Belgian star Tom Boonen of Quick Step-Innergetic.
Boonen said he’s looking forward to going somewhere warm for a vacation. “Last year I took seven or eight weeks off, so I’ll do the same this year,” he said at the start. “The season’s always getting longer and harder, so it’s necessary to take longer breaks.”
Race notes
In a race that rewards great sprinters, one of the greatest – Robbie McEwen of Davitamon-Lotto – was absent, choosing instead to race in the Sun Tour in his native Australia.
Only the Tour of Lombardy, which begins October 14, remains on the UCI Pro Tour calendar. Alejandro Valverde of Spain has already clinched the season title.
It was the final professional race for Jaan Kirsipuu. The 37-year-old Estonian rider, who said before the race that he felt no different than on any other race day, finished in the bunch. The result sheet says he finished 26th, eight seconds behind Guesdon.
Students of European history know that the city of Tours is most famous for a battle that occurred in 732, in which Charles Martel defeated an invading Muslim army, marking the northernmost incursion of Islamic empires into Europe.
Top 10
1. Frederic Guesdon (F) Francaise des Jeux, 5:31:09
2. Kurt-Asle Arvesen (Nor), CSC. same time
3. Stuart O’Grady (Aus), CSC, at 0:08
4. Thor Hushovd (Nor), Crédit Agricole, s.t.
5. Alexandre Usov (Blr), Ag2r, s.t.
6. Baden Cooke (Aus), Unibet.com, s.t.
7. Frank Hoj (Den), Gerolsteiner, s.t.
8. Danilo Napolitano (I), Lampre, s.t.
9. Tom Steels (B), Davitamon-Lotto, s.t.
10. Filippo Pozzato (I), Quick Step-Innergetic, s.t.
Photo Gallery
Results
Results
1.Frédéric Guesdon (F), Francaise des Jeux
2. Kurt-Asle Arvesen (Nor), CSC, 00:00
3. Stuart O’Grady (Aus), CSC, 00:08
4. Thor Hushovd (Nor), Credit Agricole, 00:08
5. Alexandre Usov (Blr), Ag2r Prevoyance, 00:08
6. Baden Cooke (Aus), Unibet.com, 00:08
7. Frank Hoj (Dk), Gerolsteiner, 00:08
8. Danilo Napolitano (I), Lampre, 00:08
9. Tom Steels (B), Davitamon-Lotto, 00:08
10. Filippo Pozzato (I), Quick Step-Innergetic, 00:08
11. Vladimir Gusev (Rus), Discovery Channel, 00:08
12. Anthony Geslin (F), Bouygues Telecom, 00:08
13. Philippe Gilbert (B), Francaise des Jeux, 00:08
14. Mathew Hayman (Aus), Rabobank, 00:08
15. Amorison Frédéric (B), Landbouwkrediet – Colnago, 00:08
16. Minard Sébastien (F), Cofidis, 00:08
17. Olaf Pollack (G), T-Mobile, 00:08
18. Gorik Gardeyn (B), Unibet.com, 00:08
19. Cristian Moreni (I), Cofidis, 00:08
20. Thomas Fothen (G), Gerolsteiner, 00:08
21. Aart Vierhouten (Nl), Skil-Shimano, 00:08
22. Fabio Sacchi (I), Milram, 00:08
23. Jan Boven (Nl), Rabobank, 00:08
24. Aaron Kemps (Aus), Astana, 00:08
25. Geoffroy Lequatre (F), Cofidis, 00:08
26. Jaan Kirsipuu (Est), Credit Agricole, 00:08
27. Finot Frédéric (F), Francaise des Jeux, 00:08
28. Stijn Devolder (B), Discovery Channel, 00:08
29. Nick Nuyens (B), Quick Step-Innergetic, 00:08
30. Luca Paolini (I), Liquigas-Bianchi, 00:08
31. Franck Renier (F), Bouygues Telecom, 00:08
32. Pablo Lastras (Sp), Caisse d'Epargne-I.B., 00:08
33. Maarten Tjallingii (Nl), Skil-Shimano, 00:08
34. Karsten Kroon (Nl), CSC, 00:08
35. Thomas Voeckler (F), Bouygues Telecom, 00:12
36. Alberto Ongarato (I), Milram, 00:14
37. Daniele Bennati (I), Lampre, 00:14
38. Manuel Quinziato (I), Liquigas-Bianchi, 00:34
39. Sebastian Siedler (G), Milram, 00:34
40. PÃœtsep Erki (Est), Ag2r Prevoyance, 01:02
41. Carlos Abellan (Sp), Astana, 01:08
42. Lars Michaelsen (Dk), CSC, 04:14
43. Alessandro Ballan (I), Lampre, 04:14
44. Enrico Gasparotto (I), Liquigas-Bianchi, 04:14
45. Jan Kuyckx (B), Davitamon-Lotto, 04:29
46. Inaki Isasi (Sp), Euskaltel-Euskadi, 04:29
47. Yuriy Krivtsov (Ukr), Ag2r Prevoyance, 05:27
48. Van Impe Kévin (B), Quick Step-Innergetic, 07:37
49. Peter Wrolich (A), Gerolsteiner, 09:36
50. Lars Bak (Dk), CSC, 09:36
51. David Vitoria (Swi), Phonak, 09:36
52. Evert Verbist (B), Chocolade Jacques – T Interim, 09:36
53. Koen De Kort (Nl), Astana, 09:36
54. Steven De Jongh (Nl), Quick Step-Innergetic, 09:36
55. Graeme Brown (Aus), Rabobank, 09:36
56. David Loosli (Swi), Lampre, 09:36
57. Pedro Horrillo (Sp), Rabobank, 09:36
58. Enrico Franzoi (I), Lampre, 09:36
59. Christoph Meschenmoser (G), Skil-Shimano, 11:27
60. Kasper Klostergaard (Dk), CSC, 11:27
61. Mark Renshaw (Aus), Credit Agricole, 11:27
62. Jurgen Van Goolen (B), Discovery Channel, 11:27
63. Tyler Farrar (USA), Cofidis, 11:27
64. Mauro Santambrogio (I), Lampre, 11:27
65. Volodimir Bileka (Ukr), Discovery Channel, 11:27
66. Mauro Da Dalto (I), Liquigas-Bianchi, 11:27
67. Poulhies Stéphane (F), Ag2r Prevoyance, 11:27
DNF
Damien Monier (F), Cofidis
Unai Uribarri (Sp), Euskaltel-Euskadi
Xavier Florencio (Sp), Bouygues Telecom
Vincent Jerome (F), Bouygues Telecom
Yoann Le Boulanger (F), Bouygues Telecom
Rony Martias (F), Bouygues Telecom
Matthieu Sprick (F), Bouygues Telecom
Christophe Detilloux (B), Francaise des Jeux
Arnaud Gerard (F), Francaise des Jeux
Matthieu Ladagnous (F), Francaise des Jeux
Bradley Mc Gee (Aus), Francaise des Jeux
Roy Jérémy (F), Francaise des Jeux
Johan Coenen (B), Unibet.com
Hunt Jérémy (GB), Unibet.com
Jonas Ljungblad (Swe), Unibet.com
Ruben Perez (Sp), Euskaltel-Euskadi
Iban Mayoz (Sp), Euskaltel-Euskadi
Staf Scheirlinckx (B), Cofidis
Cadel Evans (Aus), Davitamon-Lotto
Olivier Kaisen (B), Davitamon-Lotto
Bjorn Leukemans (B), Davitamon-Lotto
Nico Mattan (B), Davitamon-Lotto
Pieter Mertens (B), Davitamon-Lotto
Bert Roesems (B), Davitamon-Lotto
Renaud Dion (F), Ag2r Prevoyance
Christophe Riblon (F), Ag2r Prevoyance
Tomas Vaitkus (Lit), Ag2r Prevoyance
Samuel Sanchez (Sp), Euskaltel-Euskadi
Andoni Aranaga (Sp), Euskaltel-Euskadi
Koldo Fernandez (Sp), Euskaltel-Euskadi
Inigo Landaluze (Sp), Euskaltel-Euskadi
Luis Pasamontes (Sp), Unibet.com
Laurens Ten Dam (Nl), Unibet.com
Andy Cappelle (B), Landbouwkrediet – Colnago
Bert De Waele (B), Landbouwkrediet – Colnago
Kevin Neyrinck (B), Landbouwkrediet – Colnago
Nico Sijmens (B), Landbouwkrediet – Colnago
James Vanlandschoot (B), Landbouwkrediet – Colnago
Jurgen Van Loocke (B), Landbouwkrediet – Colnago
Floris Goesinnen (Nl), Skil-Shimano
Paul Martens (G), Skil-Shimano
Piet Rooijakkers (Nl), Skil-Shimano
Van Hummel Kenny Robert (Nl), Skil-Shimano
Weissinger René (G), Skil-Shimano
Carlos Barredo (Sp), Astana
Daniel Navarro (Sp), Astana
Joaquin Jose Joaquin (Sp), Astana
Johan Verstrepen (B), Landbouwkrediet – Colnago
Benoit Sinner (F), Agritubel
Marco Zanotti (I), Unibet.com
Nico Eeckhout (B), Chocolade Jacques – T Interim
Steven Caethoven (B), Chocolade Jacques – T Interim
Jens Renders (B), Chocolade Jacques – T Interim
Tom Stubbe (B), Chocolade Jacques – T Interim
Frederik Veuchelen (B), Chocolade Jacques – T Interim
Maarten Wynants (B), Chocolade Jacques – T Interim
Serge Pauwels (B), Chocolade Jacques – T Interim
Hans Dekkers (Nl), Agritubel
Linas Balciunas (Lit), Agritubel
Aivaras Baranauskas (Lit), Agritubel
Buffaz Mickaël (F), Agritubel
Benjamin Johnson (Aus), Agritubel
Olivier Lenaïc (F), Agritubel
Eladio Sanchez (Sp), Astana
Moinard Amaël (F), Cofidis
Erik Zabel (G), Milram
Roy Sentjens (B), Rabobank
Fumuyuki Beppu (Jpn), Discovery Channel
Leif Hoste (B), Discovery Channel
Benjamin Noval Gonzalez (Sp), Discovery Channel
Max Van Heeswijk (Nl), Discovery Channel
Claudio Corioni (I), Lampre
Paolo Fornaciari (I), Lampre
Clerc Aurélien (Swi), Phonak
Fabrizio Guidi (I), Phonak
Uros Murn (Slo), Phonak
Hugo Victor Hugo (Col), Phonak
Gregory Rast (Swi), Phonak
SchÄr Michael (Swi), Phonak
Florian Stalder (Swi), Phonak
Löwik Gerben (Nl), Rabobank
Antonio Juan Antonio (Sp), Rabobank
Simone Cadamuro (I), Milram
Alessandro Cortinovis (I), Milram
Enrico Poitschke (G), Milram
Marco Velo (I), Milram
Marcus Ljungqvist (Swe), CSC
Luke Roberts (Aus), CSC
Gutierrez José Ivan (Sp), Caisse d'Epargne-I.B.
Aleixei Markov (Rus), Caisse d'Epargne-I.B.
Francisco Perez Sanchez (Sp), Caisse d'Epargne-I.B.
Mathieu Perget (F), Caisse d'Epargne-I.B.
Nicolas Portal (F), Caisse d'Epargne-I.B.
Mikel Pradera (Sp), Caisse d'Epargne-I.B.
Vicente Reynes (Sp), Caisse d'Epargne-I.B.
Michael Boogerd (Nl), Rabobank
Eric Baumann (G), T-Mobile
Lorenzo Bernucci (I), T-Mobile
Ronny Scholz (G), Gerolsteiner
Dario Andriotto (I), Liquigas-Bianchi
Magnus Backstedt (Swe), Liquigas-Bianchi
Marco Righetto (I), Liquigas-Bianchi
Stefano Zanini (I), Liquigas-Bianchi
Laszlo Bodrogi (Hun), Credit Agricole
Alexandre Botcharov (Rus), Credit Agricole
Jimmy Engoulvent (F), Credit Agricole
Hinault Sébastien (F), Credit Agricole
Cyril Lemoine (F), Credit Agricole
Tom Boonen (B), Quick Step-Innergetic
Kevin Hulsmans (B), Quick Step-Innergetic
Sebastien Rosseler (B), Quick Step-Innergetic
Wouter Weylandt (B), Quick Step-Innergetic
Sebastian Lang (G), Gerolsteiner
Sven Krauss (G), Gerolsteiner
Bas Giling (Nl), T-Mobile
Andre Greipel (G), T-Mobile
Korff André (G), T-Mobile
Daniele Nardello (I), T-Mobile
Stephan Schreck (G), T-Mobile
Cobo Acebo Juan Jose (Sp), Saunier Duval
Benitez José (Sp), Saunier Duval
Peter Mazur (Pol), Saunier Duval
Javier Meijas (Sp), Saunier Duval
Luciano Pagliarini (Bra), Saunier Duval
David Canada (Sp), Saunier Duval
Carlos Zarate (Sp), Saunier Duval
Ramos Fernandez De La Puebla (Sp), Saunier Duval
Rene Haselbacher (A), Gerolsteiner
Thierry Marichal (B), Cofidis
FILED UNDER: Race Report / Race Result / Road