Paris-Tours A.S.O. / Bruno Bade
Paris-Tours is the most unpredictable of the Classics with its famous finish along the avenue de Grammont. For the 103rd edition, for the very first time, starter's orders for the autumn event will be given in the Eure-et-Loir. This French department has been involved on all fronts with Amaury Sport Organisation over the last ten years. Nobody can forget the saga of Thomas Voeckler in the Tour de France yellow jersey that started at Chartres in 2004. In 1999 and 2004, Bonneval was also a stage starting point during the Tour. In 2007, Cloyes-sur-le-Loir welcomed the race to the sun, Paris-Nice, and on 5th September, the Tour de l'Avenir 2009 set out from Dreux. Finally, for the last 16 years, Bonneval has played host to the start of the Paris-Tours Espoirs.
For the first part, between Chartres and Bonneval, the route will be completely different, but will rejoin its usual course as it heads towards Tours.
The sprinters like to fight it out on the tarmac of sprinting's equivalent of the famous Alpe d'Huez climb. At the season's end, it is the final opportunity to confirm domination or make up for any mishaps encountered during the year. In general, this autumn Sunday holds in store a fine battle of the handlebars between sprinting aces. A word of warning, however: on this mainly flat and generally straight route, which in theory is not very likely to throw up surprises, the form-book can be torn up if the wind decides to invite itself along to proceedings. The Crochu, Épan, Pont Volant Petit-Pas-d'Âne slopes can also prove to be a useful ally for an attack less than thirty kilometres from the finish in Tours. Sometimes the 'race of the falling leaves' has smiled upon those willing to attack, often including French firebrands, such as Jacky Durand in 1998, Richard Virenque in 2001 or Frédéric Guédon in 2006 who drew inspiration from the tenacity of Albert Bouvet, the winner in 1956. Last year, Belgian Philippe Gilbert also managed to withstand the assault of the chasing pack, gaining fast on his tail, to add his name to the roll of honour.
In short, Paris-Tours is not a conventional Classic and this year's edition is unlikely to buck that trend.
Christian PRUDHOMME
Director of the Tour de France