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For the first time in four years, Paris – Tours was decided in a bunch sprint at the finishing line in Tours, with Team Belkin’s Jetse Bol narrowly denied an upset victory.
With fellow Dutch team Argos – Shimano reeling in Bol’s late attack just a few hundred metres from the finishing line.
The hard work of Argos – Shimano’s sprint train ultimately paying off in style as John Degenkolb obliterated his rivals in the sprint. As the German defeated Michael Mørkøv of Team Saxo – Tinkoff and Arnaud Demare of FDJ.fr, who finished second and third respectively, rounding out the podium positions.
With the last four editions of Paris – Tours decided by late breakaway attacks, it initially appeared that Jetse Bol would spoil the day for the sprinters.
With Jetse Bol successfully breaking free with less than seven kilometres remaining, as teammate Lars Boom did everything he could behind to disrupt any chase efforts, much to the anger of the other teams.
Initially FDJ.fr, with young French sprinter Arnaud Demare, appeared to have the upper hand approaching the finishing line, as their sprint train manoeuvred itself in to pole position.
Everything seemed to be going perfectly for the French outfit, as Arnaud Demare launched his sprint ahead of his rivals.
However, despite lacking a lead out, due to the gruelling chase to catch Jetse Bol, John Degenkolb managed to lock himself in to the rear wheel and slipstream of Demare.
When the German felt the moment to begin his sprint had arrived, he shot out of the rear wheel of Demare to storm on by.
With second placed Michael Mørkøv just behind Degenkolb, locked in to his slipstream.
Arnaud Demare would fade slightly towards the finishing line, allowing Michael Mørkøv to opportunity to pip him to second by almost a bike’s length.
With Tyler Farrar of Garmin – Sharp and Michael van Staeyen of Topsport Vlaanderen – Baloise battling it out for fourth and fifth just behind Demare’s rear wheel, the veteran American sprinter claiming fourth by the smallest of margins over the Belgian.
Australia’s Heinrich Haussler, of IAM Cycling, would lead the best of the rest over the finishing line shortly afterwards to claim sixth in Paris – Tours.
This, despite the name of the race, has not begun within Paris (Proper) for an age. Instead, similar to modern Tour de France stages, rival towns bid for the honours of starting the race..
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