Wallays wins two-man sprint to claim Paris-Tours

Jelle Wallays (Topsport Vlaanderen – Baloise) took the biggest win of his career with victory over Thomas Voeckler (Europcar) in Paris-Tours on Sunday. The pair had been part of a break that formed in the early stages of the 237-kilometre race and held on all the way until the finish, managing to hold off the main favourites in the peloton with Jens Debusschere (Lotto Belisol) taking third.

Wallays, who won the same event at the under-23 level in 2010, delivered a tactically astute race, following Voeckler’s attack on the final climb when the remnants of the early break began to falter, and then forcing the more experienced Frenchman to lead the sprint out as the bunch desperately tried to get back on terms.

The leading pair had been part of a seven-man move that formed within the opening kilometres. Voeckler, looking to put a year disrupted by injury behind him was one of the first to instigate the attack with Wallays, Kevin Van Melsen (Wanty - Groupe Gobert), Cesare Benedetti (Team Netapp – Endura), Yoann Paillot (La Pomme Marseille), Pierre Gouault (BigMat - Auber 93) and Julien Duval (Roubaix Lille Metropole) joining the fray.

The race has a habit of bringing forward surprise winners but the dice were loaded in the sprinters’ teams favour, even when the break established a lead of over seven minutes.

Giant-Shimano's John Degenkolb and Arnaud Demare (FDJ.fr) had lined up in a wet and chilly depart as the main favourites and when they began to set their teams to work in the first half of the race it looked as though the WorldTour pedigree in the bunch would win out.

When the gap was reduced to two minutes with 30 kilometres remaining it looked as though the writing was on the wall but as the roads narrowed in the finale so did the sprinters’ chances.

Voeckler harried his companions to fight on as they tackled the third last climb of the Côte de Crochu as Giant-Shimano and FDJ slalomed through the corners. At the back of the field there were several crashes, one involving a race motorbike, as the wet roads, tired legs and last ditch efforts combined to take the sting out of the peloton.

Voeckler, Wallays, and Van Melsen powered clear, distancing the rest of the break before the Côte de Beau Soleil.

The gap to the trio was still ticking down but as the peloton hit the climb Sep Vanmarcke – just as he had done 12 months previously – attacked. The Belkin rider split the field, dragging with him a group containing Degenkolb, his Giant-Shimano teammate Ramon Sinkeldam and several others with him.

Sinkeldam was the power the break needed as they looked to cut across to the three leaders. Degenkolb’s presence, however, seemed to unsettle his rivals in the move as Vockler attacked up ahead and dragged Wallays with him.

Demare and FDJ were floundering, briefly unable to match Giant’s aggression but even when the leading duo hit the final climb of the Côte de l'Épan they still held a 30-second advantage.

If the bunch were going to react it had to be now. Degenkolb’s group had lost its urgency with riders either sitting up or launching attacks and it was Garmin who eventually brought the field back together.

Voecker and Wallays had been given too much room. They only relented in pace sharing once the finish was in sight, with Voeckler constantly looking over his shoulder as Wallays sat back and let the more experienced ride into the wind.

The Frenchman duly opened up his sprint inside the final 150 meters but there was already an air of resignation around him as he watched Wallays come around his left-hand side and take a comfortable win.

Full Results

Swipe to scroll horizontally
#Rider Name (Country) TeamResult
1Jelle Wallays (Bel) Topsport Vlaanderen - Baloise5:26:18
2Thomas Voeckler (Fra) Team EuropcarRow 1 - Cell 2
3Jens Debusschere (Bel) Lotto Belisol0:00:12
4Roy Jans (Bel) Wanty - Groupe GobertRow 3 - Cell 2
5Heinrich Haussler (Aus) IAM CyclingRow 4 - Cell 2
6Jean-Pierre Drucker (Lux) Wanty - Groupe GobertRow 5 - Cell 2
7Kristan Sbaragli (Ita) MTN - QhubekaRow 6 - Cell 2
8Pierre-Luc Perichon (Fra) Bretagne - Seche EnvironnementRow 7 - Cell 2
9Guillaume Levarlet (Fra) Cofidis, Solutions CreditsRow 8 - Cell 2
10Jos Van Emden (Ned) Belkin Pro Cycling TeamRow 9 - Cell 2
11Baptiste Planckaert (Bel) Roubaix Lille MetropoleRow 10 - Cell 2
12Aleksejs Saramotins (Lat) IAM CyclingRow 11 - Cell 2
13Tom Van Asbroeck (Bel) Topsport Vlaanderen - BaloiseRow 12 - Cell 2
14Matti Breschel (Den) Tinkoff-SaxoRow 13 - Cell 2
15Raymond Kreder (Ned) Garmin SharpRow 14 - Cell 2
16Tiesj Benoot Lotto BelisolRow 15 - Cell 2
17Dennis Vanendert (Bel) Lotto BelisolRow 16 - Cell 2
18Jay Mccarthy (Aus) Tinkoff-SaxoRow 17 - Cell 2
19Florian Senechal (Fra) Cofidis, Solutions CreditsRow 18 - Cell 2
20Jonas Vangenechten (Bel) Lotto BelisolRow 19 - Cell 2
21Sébastien Hinault (Fra) IAM CyclingRow 20 - Cell 2
22Yauheni Hutarovich (Blr) AG2R La MondialeRow 21 - Cell 2
23Hugo Houle (Can) AG2R La MondialeRow 22 - Cell 2
24Laurens De Vreese (Bel) Wanty - Groupe GobertRow 23 - Cell 2
25Yoann Offredo (Fra) FDJ.frRow 24 - Cell 2
26José Goncalves (Por) La Pomme MarseilleRow 25 - Cell 2
27Loic Vliegen (Bel) BMC Racing TeamRow 26 - Cell 2
28Pim Ligthart (Ned) Lotto Belisol0:00:19
29Martin Velits (Svk) Omega Pharma - Quick-Step Cycling TeamRow 28 - Cell 2
30Dylan Teuns (Bel) BMC Racing TeamRow 29 - Cell 2
31Sylvain Chavanel (Fra) IAM CyclingRow 30 - Cell 2
32Oliver Naesen (Bel) Lotto BelisolRow 31 - Cell 2
33Xandro Meurisse (Bel) Lotto BelisolRow 32 - Cell 2
34Cyril Lemoine (Fra) Cofidis, Solutions CreditsRow 33 - Cell 2
35Morgan Lamoisson (Fra) Team EuropcarRow 34 - Cell 2
36Vincent Jerome (Fra) Team EuropcarRow 35 - Cell 2
37Jasper Stuyven (Bel) Trek Factory RacingRow 36 - Cell 2
38Vicente Reynes Mimo (Spa) IAM Cycling0:00:26
39Greg Van Avermaet (Bel) BMC Racing TeamRow 38 - Cell 2
40Sep Vanmarcke (Bel) Belkin Pro Cycling Team0:00:29
41Dylan Van Baarle (Ned) Garmin Sharp0:00:36
42Arnaud Demare (Fra) FDJ.fr0:00:39
43John Degenkolb (Ger) Team Giant-ShimanoRow 42 - Cell 2
44Tim De Troyer (Bel) Wanty - Groupe Gobert0:00:41
45Kevin Van Melsen (Bel) Wanty - Groupe Gobert0:01:08
46Grégory Rast (Swi) Trek Factory RacingRow 45 - Cell 2
47Ramon Sinkeldam (Ned) Team Giant-Shimano0:01:16
48Jonathan Hivert (Fra) Belkin Pro Cycling Team0:01:22
49Thomas Sprengers (Bel) Topsport Vlaanderen - Baloise0:01:50
50Edward Theuns (Bel) Topsport Vlaanderen - Baloise0:02:33
51Alexander Krieger (Ger) Team Netapp - Endura0:02:39
52Rémy Di Gregorio (Fra) La Pomme Marseille0:02:49
53Sebastian Lander (Den) BMC Racing Team0:02:51
54Anthony Delaplace (Fra) Bretagne - Seche EnvironnementRow 53 - Cell 2
55Ralf Matzka (Ger) Team Netapp - EnduraRow 54 - Cell 2
56Michael Morkov (Den) Tinkoff-SaxoRow 55 - Cell 2
57Jarl Salomein (Bel) Topsport Vlaanderen - Baloise0:03:12
58Ignatas Konovalovas (Ltu) MTN - QhubekaRow 57 - Cell 2
59Alex Kirsch (Lux) Trek Factory RacingRow 58 - Cell 2
60Mickael Delage (Fra) FDJ.frRow 59 - Cell 2
61Benjamin Giraud (Fra) La Pomme MarseilleRow 60 - Cell 2
62Martin Wesemann (RSA) MTN - Qhubeka0:04:17
63Andreas Stauff (Ger) MTN - QhubekaRow 62 - Cell 2
64Roger Kluge (Ger) IAM CyclingRow 63 - Cell 2
65Tom Veelers (Ned) Team Giant-ShimanoRow 64 - Cell 2
66Domingos Goncalves (Por) La Pomme MarseilleRow 65 - Cell 2
67Taruia Krainer (Fra) Team EuropcarRow 66 - Cell 2
68Pierre Gouault (Fra) BigMat - Auber 100Row 67 - Cell 2
69Marcel Aregger (Swi) IAM CyclingRow 68 - Cell 2
70Justin Jules (Fra) La Pomme MarseilleRow 69 - Cell 2
71Jimmy Turgis (Fra) Roubaix Lille MetropoleRow 70 - Cell 2
72Frederik Veuchelen (Bel) Wanty - Groupe GobertRow 71 - Cell 2
73Steven Tronet (Fra) BigMat - Auber 98Row 72 - Cell 2
74Yoann Paillot (Fra) La Pomme MarseilleRow 73 - Cell 2
75Théo Vimpere (Fra) BigMat - Auber 99Row 74 - Cell 2
76Sébastien Turgot (Fra) AG2R La MondialeRow 75 - Cell 2
77Nikolay Trusov (Rus) Tinkoff-SaxoRow 76 - Cell 2
78Evgeny Petrov (Rus) Tinkoff-SaxoRow 77 - Cell 2
79Timothy Dupont (Bel) Roubaix Lille MetropoleRow 78 - Cell 2
80Eugenio Alafaci (Ita) Trek Factory RacingRow 79 - Cell 2
81Roman Kreuziger (Cze) Tinkoff-SaxoRow 80 - Cell 2
82Gianluca Brambilla (Ita) Omega Pharma - Quick-Step Cycling TeamRow 81 - Cell 2
83Guillaume Van Keirsbulck (Bel) Omega Pharma - Quick-Step Cycling TeamRow 82 - Cell 2
84Jan Ghyselinck (Bel) Wanty - Groupe GobertRow 83 - Cell 2
85Roy Curvers (Ned) Team Giant-ShimanoRow 84 - Cell 2
86Woutpoels (Ned) Omega Pharma - Quick-Step Cycling TeamRow 85 - Cell 2
87Dylan Girdlestone (RSA) Garmin SharpRow 86 - Cell 2
88Bert De Backer (Bel) Team Giant-ShimanoRow 87 - Cell 2
89Anthony Geslin (Fra) FDJ.frRow 88 - Cell 2
90Florian Vachon (Fra) Bretagne - Seche EnvironnementRow 89 - Cell 2
91Christophe Laborie (Fra) Bretagne - Seche EnvironnementRow 90 - Cell 2
92Julien Fouchard (Fra) Cofidis, Solutions CreditsRow 91 - Cell 2
93William Bonnet (Fra) FDJ.frRow 92 - Cell 2
94Steve Morabito (Swi) BMC Racing TeamRow 93 - Cell 2
95Damien Gaudin (Fra) AG2R La MondialeRow 94 - Cell 2
96Kenny De Haes (Bel) Lotto BelisolRow 95 - Cell 2
97Maarten Tjallingii (Ned) Belkin Pro Cycling TeamRow 96 - Cell 2
98Jimmy Engoulvent (Fra) Team Europcar0:05:11
99Julien Duval (Fra) Roubaix Lille Metropole0:06:06
100Michael Van Staeyen (Bel) Topsport Vlaanderen - Baloise0:08:05
101Björn Leukemans (Bel) Wanty - Groupe Gobert0:08:51
102Romain Feillu (Fra) Bretagne - Seche EnvironnementRow 101 - Cell 2
103Stijn Devolder (Bel) Trek Factory RacingRow 102 - Cell 2
104Fumiyuki Beppu (Jpn) Trek Factory RacingRow 103 - Cell 2
105Robert Wagner (Ger) Belkin Pro Cycling TeamRow 104 - Cell 2
106Adrien Petit (Fra) Cofidis, Solutions CreditsRow 105 - Cell 2
107Arnaud Gerard (Fra) Bretagne - Seche Environnement0:10:24
108Romain Hardy (Fra) Cofidis, Solutions CreditsRow 107 - Cell 2
109Laurent Pichon (Fra) FDJ.frRow 108 - Cell 2
110Clément Koretzky (Fra) Bretagne - Seche EnvironnementRow 109 - Cell 2
111Alexandre Pichot (Fra) Team Europcar0:10:27
112Angelo Tulik (Fra) Team EuropcarRow 111 - Cell 2
113Rick Flens (Ned) Belkin Pro Cycling TeamRow 112 - Cell 2
114Serge Pauwels (Bel) Omega Pharma - Quick-Step Cycling TeamRow 113 - Cell 2
115Sondre Holst Enger (Nor) IAM CyclingRow 114 - Cell 2
116Jetse Bol (Ned) Belkin Pro Cycling TeamRow 115 - Cell 2
117Johann Van Zyl (RSA) MTN - QhubekaRow 116 - Cell 2
118Jaco Venter (RSA) MTN - QhubekaRow 117 - Cell 2
119Giacomo Nizzolo (Ita) Trek Factory RacingRow 118 - Cell 2
120Stéphane Rossetto (Fra) BigMat - Auber 930:10:33
121Jack Bauer (NZl) Garmin SharpRow 120 - Cell 2
122David Boucher (Fra) FDJ.frRow 121 - Cell 2
123Christophe Kern (Fra) Team EuropcarRow 122 - Cell 2
124Frederic Brun (Fra) BigMat - Auber 94Row 123 - Cell 2
125Cesare Benedetti (Ita) Team Netapp - EnduraRow 124 - Cell 2
126Andreas Schillinger (Ger) Team Netapp - EnduraRow 125 - Cell 2
127Arnaud Courteille (Fra) FDJ.frRow 126 - Cell 2
128Maxime Renault (Fra) BigMat - Auber 97Row 127 - Cell 2
129Flavien Dassonville (Fra) BigMat - Auber 95Row 128 - Cell 2
130Nikias Arndt (Ger) Team Giant-Shimano0:12:27
131Kenneth Van Bilsen (Bel) Topsport Vlaanderen - Baloise0:12:31
132Patrick Konrad (Aut) Team Netapp - Endura0:13:42
DNFJulien Antomarchi (Fra) La Pomme MarseilleRow 132 - Cell 2
DNFGregor Muhlberger (Aut) Team Netapp - EnduraRow 133 - Cell 2
DNFMichael Schwarzmann (Ger) Team Netapp - EnduraRow 134 - Cell 2
DNFScott Thwaites (GBr) Team Netapp - EnduraRow 135 - Cell 2
DNFGijs Van Hoecke (Bel) Topsport Vlaanderen - BaloiseRow 136 - Cell 2
DNFClément Saint-Martin (Fra) La Pomme MarseilleRow 137 - Cell 2
DNFAlo Jakin (Est) BigMat - Auber 96Row 138 - Cell 2
DNFJean Lou Paiani (Fra) Roubaix Lille MetropoleRow 139 - Cell 2
DNFVegard Stake Laengen (Nor) Bretagne - Seche EnvironnementRow 140 - Cell 2
DNFRudy Kowalski (Fra) Roubaix Lille MetropoleRow 141 - Cell 2
DNFIljo Keisse (Bel) Omega Pharma - Quick-Step Cycling TeamRow 142 - Cell 2
DNFNicolas Dougall (RSA) MTN - QhubekaRow 143 - Cell 2
DNFRomain Pillon (Fra) Roubaix Lille MetropoleRow 144 - Cell 2
DNFRomain Zingle (Bel) Cofidis, Solutions CreditsRow 145 - Cell 2
DNFChristophe Laporte (Fra) Cofidis, Solutions CreditsRow 146 - Cell 2
DNFRamunas Navardauskas (Ltu) Garmin SharpRow 147 - Cell 2
DNFLasse Norman Hansen (Den) Garmin SharpRow 148 - Cell 2
DNFJimmy Raibaud (Fra) AG2R La MondialeRow 149 - Cell 2
DNFGediminas Bagdonas (Ltu) AG2R La MondialeRow 150 - Cell 2
DNFThomas De Gendt (Bel) Omega Pharma - Quick-Step Cycling TeamRow 151 - Cell 2
DNFLuke Davison (Aus) BMC Racing TeamRow 152 - Cell 2
DNFMichal Kolár (Svk) Tinkoff-SaxoRow 153 - Cell 2
DNFRasmus Guldhammer (Den) Tinkoff-SaxoRow 154 - Cell 2
DNFTom Stamsnijder (Ned) Team Giant-ShimanoRow 155 - Cell 2
DNFThierry Hupond (Fra) Team Giant-ShimanoRow 156 - Cell 2
DNFSongezo Jim (RSA) MTN - QhubekaRow 157 - Cell 2
DNFPatrick Gretsch (Ger) AG2R La MondialeRow 158 - 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

Daniel Benson

Daniel Benson was the Editor in Chief at Cyclingnews.com between 2008 and 2022. Based in the UK, he joined the Cyclingnews team in 2008 as the site's first UK-based Managing Editor. In that time, he reported on over a dozen editions of the Tour de France, several World Championships, the Tour Down Under, Spring Classics, and the London 2012 Olympic Games. With the help of the excellent editorial team, he ran the coverage on Cyclingnews and has interviewed leading figures in the sport including UCI Presidents and Tour de France winners.

Latest on Cyclingnews