09/10/2022

Back to back titles for Arnaud Démare in Paris-Tours

Arnaud Démare is more than just a pure sprinter, and he has brought Paris-Tours home once again, taking the win in very different circumstances, but crossing the line first for Groupama - FDJ.

The early breakaway kept a healthy lead well into the depths of the race, and Uno-X Pro Cycling Team rider Jonas Abrahamsen kept his lead in the front of the race until six kilometers to go, as Kim Heiduk, Olivier Le Gac and Alex Kirsch joined him.

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The trio jumped from a group that had been chasing beforehand, whilst Groupama-FDJ - and later Arkéa Samsic and Lotto Soudal - took up most of the work in the relatively big peloton that survived the small hills and gravel sectors spread throughout the final hours of racing.

Eventually however, the quartet couldn't hold off the peloton. Groupama managed to lead Démare out, who was the most powerful in the final sprint. It was a tight win in a small bunch sprint, beating Sam Bennett and Edward Theuns completed the remaining spots in the podium.