Christophe Laporte has spent a lot of the season working as a domestique in Team Visma | Lease a Bike, but when he got his own freedom he has managed to thrive. At the Olympic Games he rode to the final podium and again in France today, the home rider managed to take a strong win at Paris-Tours under difficult weather conditions.
"I hadn't won for a while. The Olympic Games were fantastic, I was very happy with that. But for the rest, it was a difficult season,," the Frenchman admitted. "Today, however, I was very motivated. I finished the race in the best possible way". Edoardo Affini was part of the day's breakaway and was part of the team's strategy. He was joined by Mads Pedersen, but Visma didn't have to do any work behind with their rider in front; instead Laporte managed to take advantage of rival teams' work.
"He (Pedersen, ed.) went from very far away. It is always difficult to ride on the gravel sections and Alpecin-Deceuninck controlled everything at that moment". With around 30 kilometers to go Laporte made the jump from the peloton, at the ideal time. I made a big effort to get back to Edo (Edoardo Affini, ed.) and Pedersen. I got Vacek with me. He was very strong.”
Affini did some work for the Frenchman, who then also managed to drop Pedersen after his strong effort. It was down to Laporte and Vacek in the final kilometers, but the Czech rider didn't take advantage of his outsider status and put pressure on Laporte. In a head-to-head sprint, the victory was not too difficult.
“I started my sprint at the right moment and managed to finish it. I am very happy. It was a long, tough day with a beautiful finale," he concluded.
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- Good Point, I wonder if he's been testedmhfrvz03-11-2026
- A busy boy!Lozza03-11-2026
- I hope 2027 is his year.mij03-11-2026
- why does he have to? many GT riders from Froome to Contador to Indurain didn't do them.mij03-11-2026
- I think Jonas would have lost the TDF by 4+ minutes (at the least) and might not have even been in the top 3. Too much talent in the younger riders to say anyone not named Pogačar would have been top 3md197503-11-2026
- this is just stupid. you already have 23%, gravel is over the topabstractengineer03-11-2026
- There was once a time when Lance was supremely popular and he used his artificial "It's Not About the Bike: My Journey Back to Life" persona to lead his mob in going after Greg. There was no one Lance did not abuse in protecting his phony hero image. Lance promoted himself as a divine megastar and he let down millions of cancer victims and gullible devotees who clung far too long to the charade. Lance is the epitome of a corrupt person and because of his power, many around him, including business enterprises, succumbed to the evil. All who got in Armstrong's way were mercilessly attacked by him and his minions. This remarkably continues today with a new generation. LeMond was a number one enemy and paid a huge price. Who do you think slandered who?Yepperoni03-11-2026
- You despise him because he calls out the truth....OK clown !frieders303-11-2026
- JV is really slighting himself with not doing the 1 dayers.. 🤷
leedorney02-11-2026 - Watch the interview on youtube. I don't speak French. I do speak English and Spanish and you can hear it in his voice. Years ago LeMond had real personal problems I imagine in no small part because of Armstrong. then Armstrong goes round "full blast" re: LeMond having drinking and drug problems. The same way Andreu was expelled from mainstream cycling so was LeMond. On the positive side the clips of the ride and chatting with old teammates and was good. To seemed like a fun day and experience and good reason brush up his French.atom02-11-2026
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🇫🇷 #ParisTours 𝐌𝐚𝐠𝐧𝐢𝐟𝐢𝐪𝐮𝐞 Christophe! 🔥
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