Trentin victorious in Paris-Tours

Matteo Trentin (Quick-Step Floors) claimed his second Paris-Tours victory in three years, out-gunning Soren Kragh Andersen (Team Sunweb) in a dramatic finale. Niki Terpstra crossed the line in third to give the Belgian team two riders on the podium.

Quick-Step Floors had pre-race favourite and defending champion Fernando Gaviria in the pack, but they had to think quickly when the Colombian was felled on a slick corner. Gaviria made it back to the tail end of the peloton, but it was clear that he was not going to get back to the front for the sprint. Taking his opportunity, Trentin attacked on the Côte de Beau Soleil and blew the peloton apart.

The Italian initially took other sprinters such as BMC's Jempy Drucker with him, as others scrambled to catch up. An increase in pace soon left Trentin with just Kragh Andersen for company, before Terpstra managed to clear the gap. Terpstra had been one of the last riders to make the initial split, after toiling across the gap, but this time his teammate eased the pace to allow him to get across.

Quick-Step made good use of their numeric advantage, putting Terpstra at the front to take the brunt of the work. After a few tactical discussions, the chasers were visible back down the road, but the Belgian squad had time to execute their move perfectly. Trentin was first to strike out and Kragh Andersen was quick onto his wheel, but the Sunweb rider could do nothing to get past the charging Italian. It was the perfect way to close Trentin's career with Quick-Step Floors as he sets sail for Orica-Scott over the winter.

"I did what I did two years ago when I won. Of course, it was a bit different. We were in a big bunch and there weren't echelons here today. You know, with the light rain, the wet, and the course that was designed a bit different, it was a bit more technical in the approach to the climb," said Trentin. "I saw that the bunch was straight and people were making big efforts to stay in the front so I decided to give it a go.

"The first group formed and then with the second one I saw we were two and then I saw Niki so I decided to wait and then we worked perfectly together. He really made a perfect lead-out together. That's my way to finish the season and to thanks the team for these last seven year. I said it this morning in Instagram that the best way to end this chapter was winning and I did it and it's a nice feeling."

The day was marked by a five-man breakaway that moved clear in the opening kilometres. Romain Combaud (Delko Marseille Provence KTM), Michael Goolaerts (Verandas Willems Crelan), Lawrence Naesen (WB Veranclassic Aqua Protect), Stephan Poulhies (Armee de Terre) and Brian van Goethem (Roompot - Nederlandse Loterij) were the riders to go up the road. They built up a lead of over four minutes before the peloton cut them down to closer to three minutes.

With Gaviria in their line-up, the other teams were more than happy to allow Quick-Step Floors set the pace on the front of the bunch with Iljo Keisse spending most of the race on the front. It was only as the race reached the final 70 kilometres that teams really began to pitch in and help them.

At just over 30 kilometres remaining, the pace began to show in the leading group as riders were dropped one by one. Poulhies was the first to go and Goolaerts wasn't too far behind after he went too deep on a corner as the rain began to fall. Naesen looked the strongest as he dug in and dropped Comboud soon after. He and Van Goethem held on a few more kilometres but it was clear that they were not going to stay out there and with 20 kilometres remaining the gap was only 20 seconds.

The race appeared to be heading inexorably towards a sprint finish until Gaviria slid out going around a right-hand bend. He was quick to get up, but it took time to sort his bike out and it left him with plenty of ground to make up just as the race was really ramping up. AG2R La Mondiale was not about to wait for the defending champion and they put the hammer down, leaving Gaviria stuck at the back of the bunch without the power or energy to get back to the front.

The final nail for Gaviria was the Côte de Beau Soleil when Trentin decided to make his move. He could be seen slipping back with only Zdenek Stybar for company as several members of his team shot up the road after Trentin. The gaps were never too large, but it was enough for Quick-Step to make it their third straight victory at the sprinters' Classic, with Trentin taking his second. Max Richeze and Yves Lampaert made it four riders in the top 10 for the Belgian team, while Andre Greipel (Lotto-Soudal) took fourth place by winning the sprint from the chase group.

Full Results

Swipe to scroll horizontally
#Rider Name (Country) TeamResult
1Matteo Trentin (Ita) Quick-Step Floors5:22:51
2Søren Kragh Andersen (Den) Team SunwebRow 1 - Cell 2
3Niki Terpstra (Ned) Quick-Step Floors0:00:01
4André Greipel (Ger) Lotto Soudal0:00:07
5Maximiliano Richeze (Arg) Quick-Step FloorsRow 4 - Cell 2
6Oliver Naesen (Bel) AG2R La MondialeRow 5 - Cell 2
7Yves Lampaert (Bel) Quick-Step FloorsRow 6 - Cell 2
8Andrea Pasqualon (Ita) Wanty - Groupe GobertRow 7 - Cell 2
9Mike Teunissen (Ned) Team SunwebRow 8 - Cell 2
10Jean-Pierre Drucker (Lux) BMC Racing TeamRow 9 - Cell 2
11Tom Devriendt (Bel) Wanty - Groupe GobertRow 10 - Cell 2
12Lorenzo Manzin (Fra) FDJRow 11 - Cell 2
13Amund Grondahl Jansen (Nor) Team LottoNl-Jumbo0:00:10
14Olivier Le Gac (Fra) FDJ0:00:12
15Daniel Oss (Ita) BMC Racing Team0:00:14
16Silvan Dillier (Swi) BMC Racing Team0:00:22
17Jasper De Buyst (Bel) Lotto SoudalRow 16 - Cell 2
18Marc Sarreau (Fra) FDJ0:00:28
19Dylan Groenewegen (Ned) Team LottoNl-JumboRow 18 - Cell 2
20Nikolas Maes (Bel) Lotto SoudalRow 19 - Cell 2
21Bert De Backer (Bel) Team SunwebRow 20 - Cell 2
22Nacer Bouhanni (Fra) Cofidis, Solutions CreditsRow 21 - Cell 2
23Mark Mcnally (GBr) Wanty - Groupe GobertRow 22 - Cell 2
24Reto Hollenstein (Swi) Katusha-AlpecinRow 23 - Cell 2
25Jonas Rickaert (Bel) Sport Vlaanderen - BaloiseRow 24 - Cell 2
26Roy Curvers (Ned) Team Sunweb0:00:32
27Rudy Barbier (Fra) AG2R La Mondiale0:00:45
28Fernando Gaviria (Col) Quick-Step FloorsRow 27 - Cell 2
29Timothy Dupont (Bel) Veranda's Willems CrelanRow 28 - Cell 2
30Roy Jans (Bel) WB Veranclassic Aqua ProtectRow 29 - Cell 2
31Jesper Asselman (Ned) Roompot - Nederlandse LoterijRow 30 - Cell 2
32Elmar Reinders (Ned) Roompot - Nederlandse LoterijRow 31 - Cell 2
33Kevin Le Cunff (Fra) HP BTP - Auber 93Row 32 - Cell 2
34Floris Gerts (Ned) BMC Racing TeamRow 33 - Cell 2
35Damien Touze (Fra) HP BTP - Auber 93Row 34 - Cell 2
36Pierre Gouault (Fra) HP BTP - Auber 93Row 35 - Cell 2
37Dries Van Gestel (Bel) Sport Vlaanderen - BaloiseRow 36 - Cell 2
38Frederik Backaert (Bel) Wanty - Groupe GobertRow 37 - Cell 2
39Brecht Dhaene (Bel) Wanty - Groupe GobertRow 38 - Cell 2
40Maxime Vantomme (Bel) WB Veranclassic Aqua ProtectRow 39 - Cell 2
41Jenthe Biermans (Bel) Katusha-AlpecinRow 40 - Cell 2
42Emiel Vermeulen (Bel) Roubaix Lille MetropoleRow 41 - Cell 2
43Emils Liepins (Lat) Delko Marseille Provence KTMRow 42 - Cell 2
44Remy Di Gregorio (Fra) Delko Marseille Provence KTMRow 43 - Cell 2
45Gediminas Bagdonas (Ltu) AG2R La MondialeRow 44 - Cell 2
46Lionel Taminiaux (Bel) WB Veranclassic Aqua ProtectRow 45 - Cell 2
47Piotr Havik (Ned) Katusha-AlpecinRow 46 - Cell 2
48Kevin Van Melsen (Bel) Wanty - Groupe GobertRow 47 - Cell 2
49Delio Fernandez (Spa) Delko Marseille Provence KTMRow 48 - Cell 2
50Xandro Meurisse (Bel) Wanty - Groupe GobertRow 49 - Cell 2
51David Menut (Fra) HP BTP - Auber 93Row 50 - Cell 2
52Bert Van Lerberghe (Bel) Sport Vlaanderen - BaloiseRow 51 - Cell 2
53Joey Rosskopf (USA) BMC Racing TeamRow 52 - Cell 2
54Geoffrey Soupe (Fra) Cofidis, Solutions CreditsRow 53 - Cell 2
55Stefan Küng (Swi) BMC Racing TeamRow 54 - Cell 2
56Mark Cavendish (GBr) Dimension DataRow 55 - Cell 2
57Amanuel Ghebreigzabhier Werkilul (Eri) Dimension DataRow 56 - Cell 2
58Jos Van Emden (Ned) Team LottoNl-JumboRow 57 - Cell 2
59Rémi Cavagna (Fra) Quick-Step FloorsRow 58 - Cell 2
60Timo Roosen (Ned) Team LottoNl-JumboRow 59 - Cell 2
61Asbjørn Kragh Andersen (Den) Delko Marseille Provence KTMRow 60 - Cell 2
62Ramon Sinkeldam (Ned) Team SunwebRow 61 - Cell 2
63Angelo Tulik (Fra) Direct EnergieRow 62 - Cell 2
64Kevin Reza (Fra) FDJRow 63 - Cell 2
65Benoit Vaugrenard (Fra) FDJRow 64 - Cell 2
66Aime De Gendt (Bel) Sport Vlaanderen - BaloiseRow 65 - Cell 2
67Gijs Van Hoecke (Bel) Team LottoNl-JumboRow 66 - Cell 2
68Jérémy Lecroq (Fra) Roubaix Lille MetropoleRow 67 - Cell 2
69Michael Morkov (Den) Katusha-Alpecin0:00:59
70Juan Jose Lobato (Spa) Team LottoNl-JumboRow 69 - Cell 2
71Zdenek Stybar (Cze) Quick-Step Floors0:01:07
72Huub Duijn (Ned) Veranda's Willems Crelan0:01:32
73Jarl Salomein (Bel) Sport Vlaanderen - Baloise0:01:36
74Nans Peters (Fra) AG2R La MondialeRow 73 - Cell 2
75Sébastien Delfosse (Bel) WB Veranclassic Aqua ProtectRow 74 - Cell 2
76Jordan Levasseur (Fra) Armee de Terre0:01:38
77Benjamin Thomas (Fra) Armee de Terre0:02:06
78Jérémy Leveau (Fra) Roubaix Lille MetropoleRow 77 - Cell 2
79Romain Le Roux (Fra) Armee de TerreRow 78 - Cell 2
80Alan Riou (Fra) Team Fortuneo - OscaroRow 79 - Cell 2
81Angel Madrazo (Spa) Delko Marseille Provence KTMRow 80 - Cell 2
82Cyril Lemoine (Fra) Cofidis, Solutions Credits0:02:09
83Lasse Norman Hansen (Den) Aqua Blue Sport0:02:20
84Lars Petter Nordhaug (Nor) Aqua Blue SportRow 83 - Cell 2
85Gatis Smukulis (Lat) Delko Marseille Provence KTM0:02:22
86Arjen Livyns (Bel) Veranda's Willems CrelanRow 85 - Cell 2
87Andre Looij (Ned) Roompot - Nederlandse LoterijRow 86 - Cell 2
88Christophe Noppe (Bel) Sport Vlaanderen - BaloiseRow 87 - Cell 2
89Stijn Devolder (Bel) Veranda's Willems CrelanRow 88 - Cell 2
90Piet Allegaert (Bel) Sport Vlaanderen - BaloiseRow 89 - Cell 2
91Nicholas Dlamini (RSA) Dimension DataRow 90 - Cell 2
92Guillaume Van Keirsbulck (Bel) Wanty - Groupe GobertRow 91 - Cell 2
93Tosh Van Der Sande (Bel) Lotto SoudalRow 92 - Cell 2
94Bram Welten (Ned) BMC Racing TeamRow 93 - Cell 2
95Brian Van Goethem (Ned) Roompot - Nederlandse LoterijRow 94 - Cell 2
96Anthony Delaplace (Fra) Team Fortuneo - OscaroRow 95 - Cell 2
97Maarten Wynants (Bel) Team LottoNl-JumboRow 96 - Cell 2
98Romain Guillemois (Fra) Direct Energie0:02:41
99Romain Cardis (Fra) Direct EnergieRow 98 - Cell 2
100Thomas Boudat (Fra) Direct EnergieRow 99 - Cell 2
101Taco Van Der Hoorn (Ned) Roompot - Nederlandse LoterijRow 100 - Cell 2
102Brice Feillu (Fra) Team Fortuneo - OscaroRow 101 - Cell 2
103Viacheslav Kuznetsov (Rus) Katusha-Alpecin0:04:13
104Oscar Riesebeek (Ned) Roompot - Nederlandse Loterij0:04:25
105Jeroen Meijers (Ned) Roompot - Nederlandse LoterijRow 104 - Cell 2
106Bernhard Eisel (Aut) Dimension DataRow 105 - Cell 2
107Lars Ytting Bak (Den) Lotto SoudalRow 106 - Cell 2
108Léo Vincent (Fra) FDJRow 107 - Cell 2
109Max Walscheid (Ger) Team SunwebRow 108 - Cell 2
110Julien Duval (Fra) AG2R La MondialeRow 109 - Cell 2
111Romain Combaud (Fra) Delko Marseille Provence KTMRow 110 - Cell 2
112Lander Seynaeve (Bel) Roubaix Lille MetropoleRow 111 - Cell 2
113Dimitri Peyskens (Bel) WB Veranclassic Aqua ProtectRow 112 - Cell 2
114Joeri Calleeuw (Bel) Roubaix Lille MetropoleRow 113 - Cell 2
115Calvin Watson (Aus) Aqua Blue SportRow 114 - Cell 2
116Ignatas Konovalovas (Ltu) FDJRow 115 - Cell 2
117Daniel Hoelgaard (Nor) FDJRow 116 - Cell 2
118Dylan Kowalski (Fra) Roubaix Lille MetropoleRow 117 - Cell 2
119Julien Antomarchi (Fra) Roubaix Lille MetropoleRow 118 - Cell 2
120Anthony Turgis (Fra) Cofidis, Solutions CreditsRow 119 - Cell 2
121Jimmy Turgis (Fra) Cofidis, Solutions CreditsRow 120 - Cell 2
122Stijn Vandenbergh (Bel) AG2R La MondialeRow 121 - Cell 2
123Kevyn Ista (Bel) WB Veranclassic Aqua ProtectRow 122 - Cell 2
124Marco Mathis (Ger) Katusha-AlpecinRow 123 - Cell 2
125Rick Zabel (Ger) Katusha-AlpecinRow 124 - Cell 2
126Franck Bonnamour (Fra) Team Fortuneo - OscaroRow 125 - Cell 2
127Edward Planckaert (Bel) Sport Vlaanderen - BaloiseRow 126 - Cell 2
128Jay Robert Thomson (RSA) Dimension DataRow 127 - Cell 2
129Adam Blythe (GBr) Aqua Blue SportRow 128 - Cell 2
130Jens Debusschere (Bel) Lotto SoudalRow 129 - Cell 2
131Florian Vachon (Fra) Team Fortuneo - OscaroRow 130 - Cell 2
132Matthew Brammeier (Irl) Aqua Blue SportRow 131 - Cell 2
133Nicolas Dougall (RSA) Dimension DataRow 132 - Cell 2
134Moreno Hofland (Ned) Lotto SoudalRow 133 - Cell 2
135Lawrence Naesen (Bel) WB Veranclassic Aqua ProtectRow 134 - Cell 2
136Robert Wagner (Ger) Team LottoNl-JumboRow 135 - Cell 2
137Dimitri Claeys (Bel) Cofidis, Solutions CreditsRow 136 - Cell 2
138Phil Bauhaus (Ger) Team SunwebRow 137 - Cell 2
139Sander Cordeel (Bel) Veranda's Willems CrelanRow 138 - Cell 2
140Aidis Kruopis (Ltu) Veranda's Willems CrelanRow 139 - Cell 2
141Dries De Bondt (Bel) Veranda's Willems CrelanRow 140 - Cell 2
142Pim Ligthart (Ned) Roompot - Nederlandse LoterijRow 141 - Cell 2
143Albert Timmer (Ned) Team SunwebRow 142 - Cell 2
144Yohann Gene (Fra) Direct Energie0:05:50
145Alexandre Pichot (Fra) Direct EnergieRow 144 - Cell 2
146Romain Feillu (Fra) HP BTP - Auber 93Row 145 - Cell 2
147Johann Van Zyl (RSA) Dimension DataRow 146 - Cell 2
148Yannick Martinez (Fra) Delko Marseille Provence KTMRow 147 - Cell 2
149Thibault Ferasse (Fra) Armee de TerreRow 148 - Cell 2
150Bryan Alaphilippe (Fra) Armee de TerreRow 149 - Cell 2
151Damien Gaudin (Fra) Armee de TerreRow 150 - Cell 2
152Thomas Rostollan (Fra) Armee de TerreRow 151 - Cell 2
153Nicolas Vereecken (Bel) Roubaix Lille MetropoleRow 152 - Cell 2
154Dorian Godon (Fra) Cofidis, Solutions CreditsRow 153 - Cell 2
155Benoit Cosnefroy (Fra) AG2R La MondialeRow 154 - Cell 2
156Enzo Wouters (Bel) Lotto SoudalRow 155 - Cell 2
157Daniel Pearson (GBr) Aqua Blue SportRow 156 - Cell 2
158Andrew Fenn (GBr) Aqua Blue Sport0:07:00
159Alo Jakin (Est) HP BTP - Auber 93Row 158 - Cell 2
160Michael Goolaerts (Bel) Veranda's Willems CrelanRow 159 - Cell 2
161Nicolas Baldo (Fra) HP BTP - Auber 93Row 160 - Cell 2
162Laurent Pichon (Fra) Team Fortuneo - Oscaro0:12:54
163Armindo Fonseca (Fra) Team Fortuneo - OscaroRow 162 - Cell 2
164Arnaud Gerard (Fra) Team Fortuneo - OscaroRow 163 - Cell 2
165Iljo Keisse (Bel) Quick-Step FloorsRow 164 - Cell 2
166Nicolas Prodhomme (Fra) HP BTP - Auber 93Row 165 - Cell 2
167Stéphane Poulhies (Fra) Armee de Terre0:19:34
DNFNathan Van Hooydonck (Bel) BMC Racing TeamRow 167 - Cell 2
DNFChristophe Laporte (Fra) Cofidis, Solutions CreditsRow 168 - Cell 2
DNFAdrien Petit (Fra) Direct EnergieRow 169 - Cell 2
DNFClement Orceau (Fra) Direct EnergieRow 170 - Cell 2
DNFAlex Kirsch (Lux) WB Veranclassic Aqua ProtectRow 171 - Cell 2

Thank you for reading 5 articles in the past 30 days*

Join now for unlimited access

Enjoy your first month for just £1 / $1 / €1

*Read any 5 articles for free in each 30-day period, this automatically resets

After your trial you will be billed £4.99 $7.99 €5.99 per month, cancel anytime. Or sign up for one year for just £49 $79 €59

Join now for unlimited access

Try your first month for just £1 / $1 / €1

Born in Ireland to a cycling family and later moved to the Isle of Man, so there was no surprise when I got into the sport. Studied sports journalism at university before going on to do a Masters in sports broadcast. After university I spent three months interning at Eurosport, where I covered the Tour de France. In 2012 I started at Procycling Magazine, before becoming the deputy editor of Procycling Week. I then joined Cyclingnews, in December 2013.

Latest on Cyclingnews