Arnaud Démare from France celebrates his victory. Photo: dpa
Tours (dpa) - Professional cyclist Arnaud Démare has won the last autumn classic of the year. The Frenchman won the 115th edition of Paris-Tours in the sprint of a group of four ahead of his compatriot Franck Bonnamour and the Belgian Jasper Stuyven.
Sprint star Démare and Stuyven only caught Bonnamour and his Belgian breakaway partner Stan Dewulf shortly before the finish. It was Démare's ninth victory of the season.
The 213-kilometre race into the Loire Valley, which makes life difficult for the riders with tough climbs and gravel roads in the finale, should actually have been Pascal Ackermann's last appearance in the Bora-hansgrohe jersey. However, a positive corona test prevented the sprinter from starting. The former German champion will ride for the UAE team of Slovenian Tour winner Tadej Pogacar from next season onwards.
© dpa-infocom, dpa:211010-99-549109/2
