Gaviria wins Paris-Tours with late attack

Fernando Gaviria (Etixx-QuickStep) won Paris-Tours with a surprise late attack in the final 500 metres that allowed him to hold off the big-name sprinters and take arguably the most prestigious victory of his young career without waiting for the sprint finish. His victory completed a perfect day for the Etixx-QuickStep team after their victory in the men's team time trial at the UCI Road World Championships.

"This is the most beautiful win of my career," he said. "I knew how important and big this race was; I know its history, and this motivated me to get the victory today. It was tough and fast today, but I was fresh in the finale, when I decided to take advantage of a corner which slowed down the peloton before the last straight."  

As the riders jostled for position inside the final kilometre on the famous Avenue de Grammont, Gaviria jumped to his right away from the bunch and surged down the barriers. He quickly got a gap and kept going with his arms on the hoods, as if he was trying to take a lap on the track in an Omnium event.

He nervously looked back but had a sufficient lead that allowed him to ease up before the line, kiss his bracelet in a kind of dedication and celebrate victory with his arms open.

"As soon as I attacked, I went full gas to the line and managed to hold the pack at bay," he said. "I am very happy and I want to thank the team for the support I got. It was my final race of the year in this kit and this makes the success very special. Also, to get news that the team won the team time trial world title gives me even more satisfaction."

The Lotto Soudal and Katusha teams failed to close the gap and the other sprinters came too late to catch the Colombian. Arnaud Demare (FDJ) finished second with Jonas Van Genechten (IAM Cycling) third. They were caught in the photographs of Gaviria celebrating but were stunned by the 22-year-old Colombian's late move.

Mark Cavendish (Dimension Data) was in the mix after using his sprint to move up in the final 300 metres but he then eased up before the line finishing sixth, one place ahead of Nacer Bouhanni (Cofidis).

252km covered at 47km/h

Race organiser ASO had managed to attract a star-studded field in the last race for the sprinters and world championship contenders. They increased the distance of the 2016 race to 252km and removed many of the hills in the final 20 kilometres to make it the perfect test of form before riders travelled to Doha for next Sunday's World Championships road race.

Gaviria, Cavendish, Tom Boonen, Caleb Ewan, Sam Bennett, Elia Viviani and Arnaud Démare were all on the start and keen to test their form only a week out from the big final goal of the season.

The weather was warm with a slight tailwind from the start in the Loire valley, making for a fast race and a 47km/h average race speed.

Seven riders bravely formed the early break, with Warren Barguil (Giant-Alpecin), Arnaud Gérard (Fortuneo Vital Concept), Floris Gerts (BMC), Pirmin Lang (IAM Cycling), Kevin Lebreton (Armée de Terre), Brian Van Goethem (Roompot-Orange) and Maarten Wynants (LottoNL-Jumbo) going deep one last time this season.

They opened a gap but the sprinter's team kept them pegged at three minutes indicating their intentions. They were eventually reeled in with 15km to race.

Greg Van Avermaet (BMC) was part of several late attacks as he tested his form after a long day in the saddle. But with a flatter finale, the sprinters were always going to dominate affairs and they did. Another attack by Sergey Lagutin (Katusha) and Bert De Backer (Giant-Alpecin) was caught with seven kilometres to go, as the Cofidis team for Bouhanni, FDJ for Démare and Team Sky for Viviani kept the pace high and marshalled the peloton.

After some late corners and the red kite, Team Sky hit out early, with debutant Owain Doull leading Viviani. However it was far too early for the Italian to open his sprint and so he sat up and the pack reshuffled. Just after, as the pace dipped, Gaviria took his chance, seemingly based on instinct rather than tactics.

Lesser riders would have quickly been swept up, but Gaviria has a track rider's acceleration and a sprinter's speed, allowing him to hold off the chasers.

He will lead the Colombian team next Sunday and has suddenly become a dangerous rival for the bigger nations and their team leaders.

"In Doha it's going to be a completely different story, and the race will be made even more difficult by the heat, but I'm going there confident, relaxed and in good condition," Gaviria said. "So we'll see what will happen."

Full Results

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#Rider Name (Country) TeamResult
1Fernando Gaviria Rendon (Col) Etixx - Quick-Step5:22:03
2Arnaud Demare (Fra) FDJRow 1 - Cell 2
3Jonas Vangenechten (Bel) IAM CyclingRow 2 - Cell 2
4Matteo Trentin (Ita) Etixx - Quick-StepRow 3 - Cell 2
5Bryan Coquard (Fra) Direct EnergieRow 4 - Cell 2
6Mark Cavendish (GBr) Dimension DataRow 5 - Cell 2
7Nacer Bouhanni (Fra) Cofidis, Solutions CreditsRow 6 - Cell 2
8Jens Debusschere (Bel) Lotto SoudalRow 7 - Cell 2
9Luka Mezgec (Slo) Orica-BikeExchangeRow 8 - Cell 2
10Jean-Pierre Drucker (Lux) BMC Racing TeamRow 9 - Cell 2
11Zico Waeytens (Bel) Team Giant-AlpecinRow 10 - Cell 2
12Roy Jans (Bel) Wanty - Groupe GobertRow 11 - Cell 2
13Rudy Barbier (Fra) Roubaix Metropole Europeenne De LilleRow 12 - Cell 2
14Romain Feillu (Fra) HP-BTP Auber 93Row 13 - Cell 2
15Sam Bennett (Irl) Bora-Argon 18Row 14 - Cell 2
16Kristian Sbaragli (Ita) Dimension DataRow 15 - Cell 2
17Jesper Asselman (Ned) Roompot - Oranje PelotonRow 16 - Cell 2
18Fabian Lienhard (Swi) BMC Racing TeamRow 17 - Cell 2
19Alexander Porsev (Rus) Team KatushaRow 18 - Cell 2
20Jacopo Guarnieri (Ita) Team KatushaRow 19 - Cell 2
21Tom Boonen (Bel) Etixx - Quick-StepRow 20 - Cell 2
22Leonardo Fabio Duque (Fra) Delko Marseille Provence KTMRow 21 - Cell 2
23Elia Viviani (Ita) Team SkyRow 22 - Cell 2
24Mike Teunissen (Ned) Team LottoNl-JumboRow 23 - Cell 2
25Oliver Naesen (Bel) IAM CyclingRow 24 - Cell 2
26Amaury Capiot (Bel) Topsport Vlaanderen - BaloiseRow 25 - Cell 2
27Raymond Kreder (Ned) Roompot - Oranje PelotonRow 26 - Cell 2
28Danilo Napolitano (Ita) Wanty - Groupe GobertRow 27 - Cell 2
29Moreno Hofland (Ned) Team LottoNl-JumboRow 28 - Cell 2
30Roy Curvers (Ned) Team Giant-AlpecinRow 29 - Cell 2
31Daniel Mclay (GBr) Fortuneo - Vital ConceptRow 30 - Cell 2
32Ruslan Tleubayev (Kaz) Astana Pro TeamRow 31 - Cell 2
33Magnus Cort Nielsen (Den) Orica-BikeExchangeRow 32 - Cell 2
34Tom Van Asbroeck (Bel) Team LottoNl-JumboRow 33 - Cell 2
35Twan Castelijns (Ned) Team LottoNl-JumboRow 34 - Cell 2
36Etienne Van Empel (Ned) Roompot - Oranje PelotonRow 35 - Cell 2
37Marco Haller (Aut) Team KatushaRow 36 - Cell 2
38Maximiliano Ariel Richeze (Arg) Etixx - Quick-StepRow 37 - Cell 2
39Floris Gerfs (Ned) BMC Racing TeamRow 38 - Cell 2
40Alo Jakin (Est) HP-BTP Auber 93Row 39 - Cell 2
41Andrea Guardini (Ita) Astana Pro TeamRow 40 - Cell 2
42Evaldas Siskevicius (Ltu) Delko Marseille Provence KTMRow 41 - Cell 2
43Bernhard Eisel (Aut) Dimension DataRow 42 - Cell 2
44Andrew Fenn (GBr) Team SkyRow 43 - Cell 2
45Jens Keukeleire (Bel) Orica-BikeExchangeRow 44 - Cell 2
46Silvio Herklotz (Ger) Bora-Argon 18Row 45 - Cell 2
47Jimmy Turgis (Fra) Roubaix Metropole Europeenne De LilleRow 46 - Cell 2
48Yoann Offredo (Fra) FDJRow 47 - Cell 2
49Laurens De Vreese (Bel) Astana Pro TeamRow 48 - Cell 2
50Max Walscheid (Ger) Team Giant-AlpecinRow 49 - Cell 2
51Ryan Gibbons (RSA) Dimension DataRow 50 - Cell 2
52Jurgen Roelandts (Bel) Lotto SoudalRow 51 - Cell 2
53Marc Sarreau (Fra) FDJRow 52 - Cell 2
54Alexis Bodiot (Fra) Armee de TerreRow 53 - Cell 2
55Stéphane Poulhies (Fra) Armee de TerreRow 54 - Cell 2
56Dennis Van Winden (Ned) Team LottoNl-JumboRow 55 - Cell 2
57Nikolas Maes (Bel) Etixx - Quick-StepRow 56 - Cell 2
58Anthony Maldonado (Fra) HP-BTP Auber 93Row 57 - Cell 2
59Roger Kluge (Ger) IAM CyclingRow 58 - Cell 2
60Frederik Backaert (Bel) Wanty - Groupe GobertRow 59 - Cell 2
61Pierre Gouault (Fra) HP-BTP Auber 93Row 60 - Cell 2
62Dries Van Gestel (Bel) Topsport Vlaanderen - BaloiseRow 61 - Cell 2
63Etienne Fabre (Fra) AG2R La MondialeRow 62 - Cell 2
64Jérôme Baugnies (Bel) Wanty - Groupe GobertRow 63 - Cell 2
65Rick Zabel (Ger) BMC Racing TeamRow 64 - Cell 2
66Fabio Sabatini (Ita) Etixx - Quick-StepRow 65 - Cell 2
67Jasper De Buyst (Bel) Lotto SoudalRow 66 - Cell 2
68Angelo Tulik (Fra) Direct EnergieRow 67 - Cell 2
69Yauheni Hutarovich (Blr) Fortuneo - Vital ConceptRow 68 - Cell 2
70Asbjørn Kragh Andersen (Den) Delko Marseille Provence KTMRow 69 - Cell 2
71Zdenek Stybar (Cze) Etixx - Quick-StepRow 70 - Cell 2
72Antoine Duchesne (Can) Direct EnergieRow 71 - Cell 2
73Matthieu Ladagnous (Fra) FDJRow 72 - Cell 2
74Sam Oomen (Ned) Team Giant-AlpecinRow 73 - Cell 2
75Florent Pereira (Fra) Roubaix Metropole Europeenne De LilleRow 74 - Cell 2
76Guillaume Levarlet (Fra) HP-BTP Auber 93Row 75 - Cell 2
77Greg Van Avermaet (Bel) BMC Racing TeamRow 76 - Cell 2
78Martin Elmiger (Swi) IAM CyclingRow 77 - Cell 2
79Simon Pellaud (Swi) IAM CyclingRow 78 - Cell 2
80Stefan Denifl (Aut) IAM CyclingRow 79 - Cell 2
81Silvan Dillier (Swi) BMC Racing TeamRow 80 - Cell 2
82Ignatas Konovalovas (Ltu) FDJRow 81 - Cell 2
83Alexandre Pichot (Fra) Direct EnergieRow 82 - Cell 2
84Berden De Vries (Ned) Roompot - Oranje PelotonRow 83 - Cell 2
85Frederik Veuchelen (Bel) Wanty - Groupe GobertRow 84 - Cell 2
86Sergey Lagutin (Rus) Team KatushaRow 85 - Cell 2
87Felix Pouilly (Fra) Roubaix Metropole Europeenne De LilleRow 86 - Cell 2
88Adrien Petit (Fra) Direct EnergieRow 87 - Cell 2
89Robert Power (Aus) Orica-BikeExchangeRow 88 - Cell 2
90Franck Bonnamour (Fra) Fortuneo - Vital ConceptRow 89 - Cell 2
91Kevin Van Melsen (Bel) Wanty - Groupe GobertRow 90 - Cell 2
92Jeremy Leveau (Fra) Roubaix Metropole Europeenne De Lille0:00:20
93Yann Guyot (Fra) Armee de TerreRow 92 - Cell 2
94Nick Van Der Lijke (Ned) Roompot - Oranje Peloton0:00:22
95Tosh Van Der Sande (Bel) Lotto SoudalRow 94 - Cell 2
96Benoit Cosnefroy (Fra) AG2R La MondialeRow 95 - Cell 2
97Alessandro Vanotti (Ita) Astana Pro TeamRow 96 - Cell 2
98Julien Berard (Fra) AG2R La MondialeRow 97 - Cell 2
99Martin Laas (Est) Delko Marseille Provence KTMRow 98 - Cell 2
100Brian Van Goethem (Ned) Roompot - Oranje PelotonRow 99 - Cell 2
101Bert De Backer (Bel) Team Giant-AlpecinRow 100 - Cell 2
102Julien Duval (Fra) Armee de TerreRow 101 - Cell 2
103Michael Schär (Swi) BMC Racing TeamRow 102 - Cell 2
104Loic Vliegen (Bel) BMC Racing TeamRow 103 - Cell 2
105Stéphane Rossetto (Fra) Cofidis, Solutions CreditsRow 104 - Cell 2
106Sep Vanmarcke (Bel) Team LottoNl-JumboRow 105 - Cell 2
107William Bonnet (Fra) FDJRow 106 - Cell 2
108Matt Brammeier (Irl) Dimension DataRow 107 - Cell 2
109Flavien Dassonville (Fra) HP-BTP Auber 93Row 108 - Cell 2
110Jimmy Raibaud (Fra) Armee de TerreRow 109 - Cell 2
111François Bidard (Fra) AG2R La MondialeRow 110 - Cell 2
112Christophe Laporte (Fra) Cofidis, Solutions Credits0:00:27
113Bert Van Lerberghe (Bel) Topsport Vlaanderen - BaloiseRow 112 - Cell 2
114Owain Doull (GBr) Team Sky0:00:33
115Boris Vallee (Bel) Fortuneo - Vital ConceptRow 114 - Cell 2
116Aimé Degendt (Bel) Topsport Vlaanderen - Baloise0:00:38
117Michal Golas (Pol) Team Sky0:00:44
118Quentin Pacher (Fra) Delko Marseille Provence KTM0:00:50
119Quentin Jauregui (Fra) AG2R La MondialeRow 118 - Cell 2
120Maxime Renault (Fra) HP-BTP Auber 930:00:54
121Elie Gesbert (Fra) Fortuneo - Vital Concept0:00:56
122Julien Antomarchi (Fra) Roubaix Metropole Europeenne De LilleRow 121 - Cell 2
123Thomas Vaubourzeix (Fra) Delko Marseille Provence KTMRow 122 - Cell 2
124Romain Combaud (Fra) Delko Marseille Provence KTMRow 123 - Cell 2
125Thierry Hupond (Fra) Delko Marseille Provence KTMRow 124 - Cell 2
126Daniil Fominykh (Kaz) Astana Pro TeamRow 125 - Cell 2
127Nico Denz (Ger) AG2R La MondialeRow 126 - Cell 2
128Carlos Verona Quintanilla (Spa) Orica-BikeExchangeRow 127 - Cell 2
129Maarten Wynants (Bel) Team LottoNl-JumboRow 128 - Cell 2
130Jay Robert Thomson (RSA) Dimension DataRow 129 - Cell 2
131Mathew Hayman (Aus) Orica-BikeExchangeRow 130 - Cell 2
132Youcef Reguigui (Alg) Dimension DataRow 131 - Cell 2
133Pieter Vanspeybrouck (Bel) Topsport Vlaanderen - BaloiseRow 132 - Cell 2
134Benoît Vaugrenard (Fra) FDJRow 133 - Cell 2
135Rudy Molard (Fra) Cofidis, Solutions CreditsRow 134 - Cell 2
136Sjoerd Van Ginneken (Ned) Roompot - Oranje PelotonRow 135 - Cell 2
137Preben Van Hecke (Bel) Topsport Vlaanderen - BaloiseRow 136 - Cell 2
138Albert Timmer (Ned) Team Giant-AlpecinRow 137 - Cell 2
139Mark Mcnally (GBr) Wanty - Groupe GobertRow 138 - Cell 2
140Ian Stannard (GBr) Team SkyRow 139 - Cell 2
141Tom Stamsnijder (Ned) Team Giant-AlpecinRow 140 - Cell 2
142Romain Guillemois (Fra) Direct EnergieRow 141 - Cell 2
143Julien Morice (Fra) Direct EnergieRow 142 - Cell 2
144Daniel Hoelgaard (Nor) FDJRow 143 - Cell 2
145Sébastien Minard (Fra) AG2R La MondialeRow 144 - Cell 2
146Lukas Pöstlberger (Aut) Bora-Argon 18Row 145 - Cell 2
147Thomas Boudat (Fra) Direct Energie0:01:03
148Geoffrey Soupe (Fra) Cofidis, Solutions CreditsRow 147 - Cell 2
149Scott Thwaites (GBr) Bora-Argon 180:01:38
150Lars Ytting Bak (Den) Lotto Soudal0:01:43
151Jelle Wallays (Bel) Lotto SoudalRow 150 - Cell 2
152Luke Rowe (GBr) Team SkyRow 151 - Cell 2
153Frederik Frison (Bel) Lotto SoudalRow 152 - Cell 2
154Christoph Pfingsten (Ger) Bora-Argon 18Row 153 - Cell 2
155Kris Boeckmans (Bel) Lotto SoudalRow 154 - Cell 2
156Anthony Turgis (Fra) Cofidis, Solutions CreditsRow 155 - Cell 2
157Vegard Breen (Nor) Fortuneo - Vital Concept0:01:47
158Florian Senechal (Fra) Cofidis, Solutions Credits0:01:50
159Cyril Lemoine (Fra) Cofidis, Solutions CreditsRow 158 - Cell 2
160Marco Marcato (Ita) Wanty - Groupe Gobert0:01:54
161Koen Bouwman (Ned) Team LottoNl-Jumbo0:02:27
162Johann Van Zyl (RSA) Dimension DataRow 161 - Cell 2
163Thomas Sprengers (Bel) Topsport Vlaanderen - BaloiseRow 162 - Cell 2
164Mitchell Docker (Aus) Orica-BikeExchange0:02:38
165Pierre-Luc Perichon (Fra) Fortuneo - Vital Concept0:02:45
166Lars Petter Nordhaug (Nor) Team Sky0:02:49
167Zakkari Dempster (Aus) Bora-Argon 180:03:00
168Pirmin Lang (Swi) IAM CyclingRow 167 - Cell 2
169Jens Wallays (Bel) Topsport Vlaanderen - Baloise0:04:37
170Arnaud Gerard (Fra) Fortuneo - Vital Concept0:05:30
171Warren Barguil (Fra) Team Giant-Alpecin0:05:44
172Aleksejs Saramotins (Lat) IAM Cycling0:07:17
173Thomas Rostollan (Fra) Armee de Terre0:09:24
174Kevin Lebreton (Fra) Armee de TerreRow 173 - Cell 2
175Nicolas Moncomble (Fra) Roubaix Metropole Europeenne De LilleRow 174 - Cell 2
176Alexander Maes (Bel) Team KatushaRow 175 - Cell 2
177Michael Schwarzmann (Ger) Bora-Argon 180:09:27
178Caleb Ewan (Aus) Orica-BikeExchange0:10:03
DNFGianni Meersman (Bel) Etixx - Quick-StepRow 178 - Cell 2
DNFValerio Agnoli (Ita) Astana Pro TeamRow 179 - Cell 2
DNFLieuwe Westra (Ned) Astana Pro TeamRow 180 - Cell 2
DNFSébastien Turgot (Fra) AG2R La MondialeRow 181 - Cell 2
DNFMaxim Belkov (Rus) Team KatushaRow 182 - Cell 2
DNFVladimir Isaychev (Rus) Team KatushaRow 183 - Cell 2
DNFDmitrii Kozonchuk (Rus) Team KatushaRow 184 - Cell 2
DNFShane Archbold (NZl) Bora-Argon 18Row 185 - Cell 2
DNFMaurits Lammertink (Ned) Roompot - Oranje PelotonRow 186 - Cell 2
DNFThibault Ferasse (Fra) Armee de TerreRow 187 - Cell 2

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Stephen Farrand
Head of News

Stephen is the most experienced member of the Cyclingnews team, having reported on professional cycling since 1994. He has been Head of News at Cyclingnews since 2022, before which he held the position of European editor since 2012 and previously worked for Reuters, Shift Active Media, and CyclingWeekly, among other publications.

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