"I don't think it will happen often here anymore" - Démare beyond surprised with bunch sprint win at Paris-Tours

In 2021 Arnaud Démare conquered Paris-Tours after going on in the attack and outsprinting a small group. 2022 saw a completely different race situation, but the same winner as the Groupama - FDJ sprinter showed his best legs.

“I did not expect such a final, with almost forty riders together. I don't know how that could have happened," Démare said after the finish. "Still it hurt a lot, but each time groups were able to return from the back. I think it was because there were several big teams, so the cooperation was sometimes not good.”

Several groups went up the road throughout the final two hours of racing, frequently with the French team putting on a chase in order to favour a sprint. Eventually that proved a successful effort as several teams joined.

“We didn't really know what to do either. We didn't want to take Olivier [Le Gac] back, we trusted him," he said of his teammate who was in the late attacking group. "That's why it kept quiet after the gravel sectors. But I don't think it will happen often here anymore that so many riders sprint for victory."

What followed was then a bunch sprint of around 40 riders. Démare had the company and leadout of Stefan Küng, and despite an early launch, he managed to keep the lead and take his second consecutive win in the French classic. “We rode fantastic as a team. With two kilometers to go, we still had Olivier Le Gac in the front. We had all made it over the gravel sections well, except Kévin Geniets, who had a puncture," he described. 

"For me it ended fantastic, I'm very happy! I took six second places in the past two months. But if I wanted to win one, it was this one. We knew the field was strong, but I was still able to win. I have a great end to my season," he concluded. Now, time to rest before looking towards 2023.