2011 Paris–Tours

2011 Paris–Tours VAN AVERMAET Greg.jpg Van Avermaet and Marcato, in the winning break 2010–11 UCI Europe Tour 9 October 2011 1 230.5 km 5 hr 21' 43" Greg Van Avermaet BEL BMC 2011 Marco Marcato ITA VCD 2011 Kasper Klostergaard DEN SBS 2011 2010 2012 The 2011 Paris–Tours was the 105th edition of this single day road bicycle racing event. Greg Van Avermaet outsprinted Marco Marcato in the final meters to stay out of the grip of the chasing group and peloton. Van Avermaet thereby won the biggest race of his career so far. Course The course saw the introduction of a new finale; the construction of a tram line on the Avenue de Grammont in central Tours led to the organisers shortening the finishing straight by 2.4 km.http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/paris-tours-1-hc-1/paris-tours/preview Paris-Tours: One for the sprinters Cycling News Future Publishing Limited Westemeyer, Susan 4 October 2011 14 October 2011 https://web.archive.org/web/20111012050704/http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/paris-tours-1-hc-1/paris-tours/preview 2011-10-12 dead The new finish led to suggestions that the traditional sprint finish could be hampered, as there would be less time for the peloton to chase down any breakaways after the final climb.http://www.velonation.com/News/ID/10003/New-Paris-Tours-finish-could-fox-the-sprinters-in-the-Sprinters-Classic.aspx New Paris–Tours finish could fox the sprinters in the Sprinters’ Classic Velonation Atkins, Ben 5 October 2011 14 October 2011 Pre-race favourites Given the race's status as the "Sprinters' Classic", several sprinters were named among the favourites.https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/othersports/cycling/mark-cavendish/8800150/World-champion-Mark-Cavendish-aiming-to-become-first-Briton-to-win-Paris-Tours-sprinters-classic.html World champion Mark Cavendish aiming to become first Briton to win Paris-Tours sprinters' classic The Daily Telegraph Liew, Jonathan 30 September 2011 14 October 2011 Among them, Mark Cavendish, fresh off his world road race title in Copenhagen, reigning champion Óscar Freire, 2007 winner Alessandro Petacchi and Romain Feillu were considered favourites. 2008 and 2009 champion Philippe Gilbert was enjoying a successful season, being ranked first in the UCI World Tour rankingshttp://www.uci.ch/templates/BUILTIN-NOFRAMES/Template3/layout.asp?MenuId=MjExMw&LangId=1 UCI WorldTour Ranking – 2011 Union Cycliste Internationale 12 September 2011 14 October 2011 dead https://web.archive.org/web/20100724043126/http://www.uci.ch/templates/BUILTIN-NOFRAMES/Template3/layout.asp?MenuId=MjExMw&LangId=1 24 July 2010 and looking to claim his 19th victory of the season.http://www.velonation.com/News/ID/9781/Gilbert-wins-GP-Wallonie-rides-everyone-off-his-wheel.aspx Gilbert wins GP Wallonie, rides everyone off his wheel Velonation Haake, Bjorn 14 September 2011 14 October 2011http://cyclingarchives.com/coureurfiche.php?coureurid=4177 https://archive.today/20120708143237/http://cyclingarchives.com/coureurfiche.php?coureurid=4177 usurped July 8, 2012 Philippe Gilbert profile Cycling Archive 14 October 2011 Despite not being a sprinter, the changes to the route were suggested as being to his advantage – the final climb of the Côte de l’Epan seven kilometres from the end, followed by a winding descent from the climb and a shorter run-in on the Avenue de Grammont were mentioned as various factors which could prevent the traditional sprint finish. Other candidates for a breakaway victory were Sylvain Chavanel, Thomas Voeckler and Frédéric Guesdon. Race The race departed from Voves amid wet and windy conditions, which led to suggestions that the race was less likely to end in a sprint finish.http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/paris-tours-1-hc-1/live-report Paris–Tours – Complete live report Cycling News Benson, Daniel Westemeyer, Susan 9 October 2011 14 October 2011 The early breakaway of the day was soon formed, and composed of seven riders: Rubens Bertogliati (TT1 2011b), David Boucher (OLO 2011), Will Clarke (LEO 2011), Sébastien Delfosse (LAN 2011), Jurgen Van Goolen (VWA 2011), Andreas Klier (GRM 2011) and Rony Martias (SAU 2011).http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/paris-tours-1-hc-1/results Van Avermaet victorious in Paris-Tours Cycling News 9 October 2011 14 October 2011 The group were allowed a gap of over 11 minutes before the peloton began working to reduce the gap, and it was caught shortly after the 170 kilometre mark. But no sooner had it been caught than several riders seized the opportunity to attack – a group of 14 including Greg Van Avermaet (BMC 2011), László Bodrogi (TT1 2011b), Mickaël Delage (FDJ 2011), Arnaud Gérard (FDJ 2011), Kasper Klostergaard (SBS 2011), Marco Marcato (VCD 2011) and Ian Stannard (SKY 2011) managed to create a gap to the peloton.http://www.velonation.com/News/ID/10044/Greg-Van-Avermaet-beats-Marco-Marcato-to-win-Paris-Tours.aspx Greg Van Avermaet beats Marco Marcato to win Paris–Tours Velonation Stokes, Shane 9 October 2011 14 October 2011 The lead grew to around two minutes before HTC-Highroad began the chase to set up a sprint finish, but the breakaway riders were able to cooperate and keep the peloton at bay. After Cavendish began feeling fatigued, HTC gave up the chase. The gap remained steady until 19 kilometres from the end, when a group led by Philippe Gilbert split from the main pack. Despite creating a small gap, they did not manage to catch up to the leading breakaway of the day and were eventually reeled back in by the peloton. Sylvain Chavanel also tried his luck but struggled to pull away. The first move from the leaders came from Gérard, 14 kilometres out, and he stayed away on his own for a time. Van Avermaet and Marcato made a joint move in the final ten kilometres; working together they caught and passed the Frenchman on the final climb of the Côte de l'Epan. The two pulled away from the rest of their breakaway companions, despite Delage's efforts to bring teammate Gérard back into contact with them. Klostergaard attacked the remainder of the breakaway with two kilometres to go and created a gap, but was unable to catch up with the two leaders. With one kilometre left the group of two held an advantage of 20 seconds, and were left to sprint against each other for the victory. Marcato began his sprint first, with Van Avermaet on his wheel, but quickly slowed after his leg cramped up. Van Avermaet sprinted past him to take the victory, his 4th of the season. Marcato finished two seconds back, with Klostergaard holding off Stannard and Bodrogi for third. The rest of the top ten was rounded out by other members of the telling 14-man breakaway, while the peloton came home over a minute down.http://www.cyclingweekly.co.uk/news/latest/530406/van-avermaet-wins-paris-tours-stannard-fourth.html Van Avermaet wins Paris-Tours, Stannard fourth Cycling Weekly IPC Media Ltd. Wynn, Nigel 9 October 2011 14 October 2011 General standings CyclistTeamTime1Greg Van Avermaet BELBMC 2011 5h 21' 43" 2Marco Marcato ITAVCD 2011 + 2"3Kasper Klostergaard DENSBS 2011 + 15"4Ian Stannard GBRSKY 2011 + 15"5László Bodrogi FRATT1 2011b + 15"6Mickaël Delage FRAFDJ 2011 + 22"7Geoffroy Lequatre FRARSH 2011 + 22"8Stuart O'Grady AUSLEO 2011 + 22"9Roy Curvers NEDSKS 2011 + 22" 10Arnaud Gérard FRAFDJ 2011 + 26" References 2 External links Official website Paris Category:Paris–Tours Paris-Tours