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Paris-Tours hat trick for Zabel
 Erik Zabel perfectly rounded up his 13 years with his T-Mobile team whe he won Paris-Tours for the third time on Sunday, ahead of Italian hopeful Daniele Bennati (Lampre) and Australian Allan Davis (Liberty Seguros).
The 35-year-old Berliner had won his first great classic on the avenue de Grammont in 1994 and added a jewel to his crown on the same final stretch in 2003.
The six-times Tour de France green jersey, who will join Alessandro Petacchi’s Domina Vacanze next season, has now won 145 races in his peerless career. In the absence of Petacchi and world champion Tom Boonen, the « unofficial sprinters world championship » could hardly have dreamt of a better winner.
The film of the stage
The start was given at 11 :08 to all 192 riders in sunny, mild weather. The first hour was covered at a reckless pace of 51.2 kph yet numerous attempts took place, led notably by France’s Benoit Vauregard, second in Paris-Bourges earlier in the week. Spain’s Jose Garcia Acosta and Jose Ivan Gutierrez (both Illes Balears) were also involved in a couple of vain attempts.
With the peloton launched at a full speed, the first intermediate sprints crowned unlikely winners – France’s Loyd Mondory for the first one in Voves (km 45.5) and Ireland’s Mark Scanlon for the second in Bonneval (km 66.5).
The Bonneval sprint saw the start of the first serious breakaway of the day, led by Joost Posthuma (Rabobank), winner of a Paris-Nice stage this season. The Dutchman, who won the third intermediate sprint in Brou (km 84) was quickly joined by Gutierrez and later by France’s Stephane Berges (Agritubel).
As the bunch relaxed, the break gathered momentum and the lead reached eight minutes at the 100-kms mark and culminated at 8:20 five kilometres later.
The bunch then reacted with Credit Agricole and Davitamon Lotto riders leading the chase. The gap went under the five-minute barrier at km 157, and was down at three at the 8th intermediate sprint at Montreuil-en-Touraine (km 184).
Along the way, Gutierrez, the time trial world championship silver medallist, won five sprints in succession ahead of Posthuma and Berges, thus collecting the 500-euro bonus awarded for every one of the ten intermediate sprints in the race.
With 50 kilometres left in the race – while Danilo Di Luca was calling it quits -, the leading trio saw their lead reduced to 40 seconds and they were caught at km 211.
The Davitamon Lotto and MrBookmaker riders took the reins until the Cote de Crochu (km 226) when Stijn Devolder launched a fierce attack. First joined by Aart Vierhouten (Davitamon Lotto), Philippe Gilbert (Francaise des Jeux) and Alejandro Valverde (Illes Balears), he found himself alone with Gilbert with 25 kms to go.
The Belgian duo perfectly worked together and took a maximum lead of 58 seconds 15 kms from the finish line.  While Valverde’s Illes Balears led the chase, followed by the Quick Step, the gap had been reduced to 38 seconds.
Gilbert attacked in the Cote de Lepan but was unable to drop Devolder. He made another attempt with five kilometres left as the peloton were 25 seconda adrift.
The two still held 11 seconds under the red flame but they were finally caught 30 metres from the line on the avenue de Grammont.
Daniele Bennati (Lampre) was quickest in action but he was beaten on the line by veteran German Erik Zabel (T-Mobile), who won Paris-Tours for the third time after 1994 and 2003. Australian Allan Davis (Libery Seguros) was third. |
Newsflashes
 16:48 - Zabel makes it three
Erik Zabel perfectly crowned his last season with his T-Mobile team by winning Paris-Tours for the third time ahead of Daniele Bennati (Lampre). The bunch had caught Devolder and Gilbert 30 kms from the finish line.
16:46 - Zabel wins Paris-Tours for 3rd time!
Germany’s Erik Zabel wins Paris-Tours for the third time after 1994 and 2003.
16:44 - The two under the red flame
The leading duo are under the red flame. They lead the bunch by 11 seconds.
16:44 - 18 seconds with 2 kms to go
Gilbert and Devolder lead by 18 seconds with 2 kms left.
16:42 - Le duo de tête dans l’avenue de Grammont
Les deux hommes de tête entrent dans la grande ligne droite de l’avenue de Grammont, à trois kilomètres de l’arrivée.
16:40 - Kroon and Breschel caught
Kroon and Breschel have been caught by the speeding bunch. Devolder and Gilbert lead the main pack by 25 seconds. Gilbert makes another vain attempt with five kms left.
16:37 - Kroon and Breschel counter-attack
Karsten Kroon (Rabobank) and Matti Breschel (CSC) have parted company with the main bunch to chase the Belgian leaders.
16:35 - Gilbert attacks
Philippe Gilbert attacks in the Cote de l’Epan but Devolder reacts.
16:32 - Lead down to 38 seconds
Quick Step riders have now taken the peloton reins over from Illes Balears. The bunch are now 38 seconds back with 10 kms to go.
 16:22 - Lead up to 50 seconds
Devolder and Gilbert now lead the pack by 50 seconds with precisely 20 kms to go.
16:22 - Illes Balears lead the chase
The Illes Balears are leading the chase at the front of the bunch, probably hoping to bring Alejandro Valverde back on the two escapees.
16:19 - The leading two extend lead
The gap is widening between Devolder, Gilbert and the peloton, the Belgian duet now leading by 38 seconds (km 230.5)
16:15 - Devolder and Gilbert attack
Belgian Stijn Devolder (Discovery Channel) launched a fierce attack in the Cote de Crochu (km 226). He was joined by another serious contender, fellow-Belgian Rodolphe Gilbert (Francaise des Jeux)
16:09 - Result of the 10th intermediate sprint
Km 220 - Belgian Wim Vansevenant (Davitamon Lotto) won the 10th and last intermediate sprint in Esvres-sur-Indre ahead of team-mate and compatriot Mario Aerts. Another Belgian, Kurt van de Wouwer (MrBookmaker) was third.
Jose Ivan Gutierrez won the intermediate sprint overall classification and a 3,000 euros cheque.
15:58 - Berges dropped
After his long breakaway with Posthuma and Gutierrez, Berges is unable to keep up with the peloton and has been dropped.
15:57 - Heading for a mass sprint?
The bunch is now closely packed with 40 kms to go. Davitamon Lotto and MrBookmaer are leading the way, working for the sprinters in their ranks.
15:51 - End of the breakaway
Posthuma and Gutierrez are caught in turn. The break is over at km 211.
15:48 - Berges back in the bunch
Stephane Berges decided to stop his effort and was caught by the pack at km 211. Only two men are left in front.
15:44 - Lead now down to 40 seconds
The leading trio’s lead is now down to 40 seconds with less than 50 kms left in the race.
15:43 - Di Luca calls it quits
Italian Danilo Di Luca (Liquigas Bianchi), winner of the Fleche Wallonne, Tour of the Basque country and Amstel Gold Race, called it quits after 203 kms.
15:34 - Patanchon wins under-23 race
France’s Fabien Patanchon just won the under-23 edition of Paris-Tours (186.5 kms)
15:26 - Two minutes and five seconds at km 193
Km 193 - The advantage of the three leaders is down to 2:05. Gutierrez, the world time trial silver medallist, won his 5th intermediate sprint in succession in Vilvent.
15:19 - Prize money for sprints
The prize money for intermediate sprints is 500 euros for each sprint won (200 euros for a second place) while 3,000 euros go to the overall sprints winner.
15:17 - Three minutes at Montreuil en Touraine
The leading trio’s edge is now down to exactly three minutes at Montreuil en Touraine.
15:15 - Gutierrez wins sprint again
Gutierrez again won the intermediate sprint at Montreuil en Touraine (km 184.5), the 8th in this edition of Paris-Tours. Posthuma was second and Berges third.
 15:12 - The pace slows down
The tempo slowed down dramatically in the fourth hour with an average speed at 40.4 kph for an overall average speed of 45.2 kph
15:07 - Lead now down to 3:45
The leading trio are losing more ground. Their advantage after 180 kms has now been reduced to 3:45.
14:54 - Results of the 7th intermediate sprint
Gutierrez won the 7th intermediate sprint at Chateau-Renault (km 171.5) ahead of Posthuma and Berges.
14:47 - Km 165 - The bunch 4:30 behind
Josst Posthuma, Jose Ivan Gutierrez and Stephane Berges have been in front for nearly 100 kms and the bunch is now 4:30 behind.
14:38 - Gap under five minutes
The peloton now trail the breakaways by less than five minutes. At km 157, the gap is down to 4:55.
14:34 - Gap stable at 5:25
The lead of the three escapees - Posthuma, Gutierrez and Berges - is stable, at 5:25 after 150 kms.
14:33 - Three riders give up
Three more riders have given up after 150 kms — Italian Daniele Nardello (T-Mobile), German Sebastian Lang (Gerolsteiner) and Dane Thomas Bruun (CSC).
14:16 - Credit Agricole and Davitamon Lotto lead chase
Credit Agricole and Davitamon Lotto riders, working for their leaders Thor Hushovd and Robbie McEwen, are currently leading the bunch, 5:15 behind the break (km 144).
14:11 - Third hour average speed
The average speed for the third hour of the race was 43.2 kph. The overall average speed so far is 47.7 kph.
13:59 - Gutierrez wins sixth sprint
The sixth intermediate sprint at Savigny-sur-Braye (km 134) was won by Jose Ivan Gutierrez ahead of Joost Posthuma and Stephane Berges.
13:58 - Six-minute gap
KM 130 - The lead of the three breakaways down to six minutes.
13:39 - Lead down to 7:25
Spurred by the Credit Agricole team-mates of Norway’s Thor Hushovd, the Tour de France green jersey winner, the peloton reacted and the lead meted down to 7:25 after 115 kms.
13:27 - Lead reaches 8:20 at 4th sprint
Posthuma, Gutierrez and Berges now lead the peloton by 8:20 at Le Gault du Perche (Km 105.5), where the fourth intermediate sprint took place.
13:16 - Lead reaches 5:40
KM 99.5 - The lead of the break reaches 5:40
13:01 - Lead is now two minutes
The three breakaways lead has reached two minutes.
12:59 - Peloton slows down
The peloton has apparently decided to calm down and let the escapees go. Posthuma and Gutierrez now lead the bunch by over a minute. They have been joined by Berges (km 92).
12:56 - Posthuma wins third intermediate sprint
Posthuma took the third intermediate sprint in Brou (km 84) ahead of Guttierez. The leading two are chased by Frenchman Stephane Berges (Agritubel)
 12:54 - Posthuma and Guttierez in the lead
Dutchman Joost Posthuma (Rabobank) and Jose Ivan Guttierez (Illes Balears) parted company with the main bunch after the second sprint. Their lead after 82 kms reached 22 seconds.
12:32 - Scanlon wins second sprint
Ireland’s Mark Scanlon (AG2R)won the second intermediate sprint in Bonneval (km 66.5)ahead of Manuel Quinziato (Saunier Duval) and Wilfried Cretskens (Quick Step)
12:17 - Two men out of the race
The first hour tempo was too fast for two riders, Antonio Luengo (Euskaltel) and Samuel Marzoli (Lampre), who gave up.
12:16 - Average speed 51.2 kph
The first hour of the race has been covered at an amazing pace — 51.2 kph!
12:04 - Mondory wins first intermediate sprint
France’s Loyd Mondory (AG2R) won the first intermediate sprint in Voves (km 45.5) ahead of compatriot Mickael Delage (Francaise des Jeux).
11:56 - Levecot caught
Km 40 - Levecot has been caught.
11:53 - Levecot in the lead
KM 36 - France’s Benjamin Levecot (RAGT Semences) broke clear and leads the pack by 10 seconds.
11:47 - Vaugrenard is restless
Benoit Vaugrenard is restless. The French rider attacked on the 30-kms mark, followed by Garcia Acosta, Michaelsen and Zberg. But the peloton again reacted straightaway.
11:32 - Attempt by Guttierez
Km 17 - Spain’s Jose Ivan Guttierez (Illes Balears) attacked in turn but was also caught rapidly. The bunch rides at a steady pace in beautiful weather.
11:25 - Hruska in the lead
Czech Jan Hruska (Liberty Seguros) is now alone in the front.
11:19 - Blood tests
39 riders from teams Francaise des Jeux, AG2R, RAGT Semences, Landbouwkrediet and Mr Bookmaker have been blood tested before the start in St Arnould. All were declared fit to start.
11:17 - Three riders on the move
Three riders have decided to move from the start — Benoit Vaugrenard (Francaise des Jeux), Jose Garcia-Acosta (Illes Balears) and Rafael Nuritdinov (Domina Vacnaze). They were quickly reined in by the main bunch.
11:10 - The last five winners
2004 - Erik Dekker
2003 - Erik Zabel
2002 - Jakob Piil
2001 - Richard Virenque
2000 - Andrea Tafi
 The only two former winners in the race are Zabel and Belgian Marc Wauters, who leads Dutch team Rabobank.
11:04 - They have started
The start of the 99th edition of the Paris - Tours classic has been given to 192 riders in St Arnoult.
10:58 - Welcome to the Paris-Tours official website
Follow the race live with us all day here. A few quick facts : this is the 99th edition of Paris-Tours taking place over 253.5 kms between St Arnoult en Yvelines and Tours. The finish will take place on the 3-kms long avenue de Grammont. |
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