Paris-Tours, World Cup Event 9

France, October 5, 1997


1996 Results

Route Map - Profile of Route

Past Winners

Teams and Main Riders

1997 Results and Reports

Some Facts about Paris-Tours

Paris-Tours is 100 years old having been introduced by the Paris-Velo newspaper in May 1897. The race finished in the newly built Tour Velodrom and was won by the Frenchmand Prevost who beat a field of 41 in the 250 kms race. His average speed was 31 km/h. The next race was in 1901 then 1906. It became an annual event from then and was not held during the War years (1915, 1916, 1940).

Following World War I, the distance covered was increased to more than 300 kilometers. Paris-Tours went back to a more normal distance in 1927: 253 km. The year 1935 saw lighter bikes and accessories appear, which made Paris-Tours an even faster race and justified the creation of the yellow ribbon, given to the fastest Paris-Tours winner, by the "l'Auto" newspaper. This race was not made for specialists, but for complete riders.

The race has changed many times in its history. In 1950, the race ended at the Champ de Mars instead of at the Victor Lefevre Velodrome. In 1952, the finish line was on top of l'Alouette hill. In 1965, in luddite style, they only allowed fixed gears but the strategy failed because of a huge tail wind and the winner (Karstens, see below) averaged over 45 km/h. In 1974, Paris-Tours changed its name and became Tours-Versailles. A series of name changes occured - under the general heading of "Grand Prix d'Automne" - Blois-Montlhery, Blois-Chaville and Creteil-Chaville.

In 1988, Paris-Tours was back to itself.

A Brief History

1920 Eugene Christophe, nicknamed the "Old Gaul," escapes in freezing rain, with 150 kilometers left into the stage, and beats Honore Barthelemy by 15 mins.

1921 Snow reduces the 64 starters to 7 finishers. Francis Pelissier, escaped on Chinon hill, to beat Christophe and Mottiat.

1922 Next year, Henri Pelissier brother of Francis narrowly beats Suter. This was the closest victory.

1935 Rene Le Greves wins the race in the fastest race to date. He is among four sprinters who dominated the times - Le Greves, Roger Lapebie and Di Paco.

1936 The speeds are rising and with an average of 41 km/h, Danneels sprints to victory.

1948 It is now up to an average of 43 km/h, as Louis Caput beats Mignat and Idee in the sprint. The three had staged a long breakaway.

1950 Andre Mahe solos to victory after breaking away in the last 10 kms. The pack just about chases him down. The big development was the new front ring and back ring he rode with - 52 x 14.

1956 At the 44 kms to the finish mark, Albert Bouvet attacks at Poce-sur-Cisse and keeps a narrow margin (never more than 50 seconds), and triumphs on top of l'Alouette hill. Notable feature - no Frenchman has won the race since.

1961 Belgium's Joseph Wouters sprints to win from a group who had staged a succesful breakway. Notable feature - he was under 20 years of age.

1962 Joop De Roo wins with a record average of 44.9 km/h

1965 Fixed gear bikes only. The organisers said it was to make the race tougher. A strong tail wind thwarts them and the Dutchman Karstens (23) takes the new record with an avs of 45 km/h.

1992 Another strong tail wind, Belgium's Henrik Redant rides in with 46.7 km/h ave, and a new record.

Previous Winners and Placegetters

YEAR	WINNER			SECOND			THIRD		KMS  AVS

1896 E. PREVOST (Fra)         	Ouzou (Fra)       	Bouvet (Fra) 	250  31.200
1901 Jean FISCHER (Fra)       	Lorgeou (Fra)       	Wattelier (Fra) 253  26.982
1906 Lucien PETIT-BRETON (Fra)	Trousselier (Fra)       H. Cornet (Fra) 234  29.557
1907 Georges PASSERIEU (Fra)   	A. Pottier (Fra)       	E. Georget (Fr) 245  32.186
1908 Omer BEAUGENDRE (Fra)     	Saillot (Fra)       	Faber (Lux)  	248  30.690
1909 Francois FABER (Lux)      	J. Alavoine (Fra)       E. Paul (Fra) 	248  30.680
1910 Francois FABER (Lux)     	Trousselier (Fra)       Engel (Fra) 	248  32.105
1911 Octave LAPIZE (Fra)     	Van Hauwaert (Bel) 	E. Georget (Fr)	248  27.054
1912 Louis HEUSGHEM (Bel)     	Deruyter (Bel)       	Petit-Breton	246  26.348
1913 Charles CRUPELANDT (Fra)  	Passerieu (Fra)       	Luguet (Fra) 	246  33.931
1914 Oscar EGG (Swi)          	Engel (Fra)       	Thys (Bel) 	316  32.147
1917 Philippe THYS (Bel)     	Godivier (Fra)       	Christophe (Fr)	246  34.009
1918 Charles MANTELET (Fra)   	Cazalis (Swi)       	Michiels (Bel) 	248  30.182
1919 Hector THIBERGHIEN (Bel) 	Vandenhove (Bel)       	Rossius (Bel) 	342  27.178
1920 Eugene CHRISTOPHE (Fra)   	H. Barthelemy (Fra)  	De Jonghe (Bel) 342  25.570
1921 Francis PELISSIER (Fra)	Mottiat (Bel)       	Christophe (F)	342  22.893
1922 Henri PELISSIER (Fra)   	Suter (Swi)       	Jacquinot (Fra) 342  29.653
1923 Paul DEMAN (Bel)        	Sellier (Bel)       	Thiberghien (B)	342  25.014
1924 Louis MOTTIAT (Bel)     	Frantz (Lux)       	Huyvaert (Bel) 	342  28.423
1925 Den. VERSCHUEREN (Bel)  	Mortelmans (Bel)       	Hilarion (Fra) 	342  27.469
1926 Henri SUTER (Swi)     	Notter (Swi)       	Frantz (Lux) 	324  28.230
1927 Henri SUTER (Swi)      	Van Slembroek (Bel)  	Ronsse (Bel) 	253  35.324
1928 Den. VERSCHUEREN (Bel) 	Ch. Pelissier (Fra)  	Gallotini (Fra) 253  34.746
1929 Nicolas FRANTZ (Bel)  	Deolet (Bel)       	Ronsse (Bel) 	253  27.355
1930 Jean MARECHAL (Fra) 	M. Bidot (Fra)       	Bonduel (Bel) 	253  34.112
1931 Andre LEDUCQ (Fra)   	Parioleau (Fra)       	Pelissier (Fra) 240  31.276
1932 Julien MOINEAU (Fra) 	Sieronski (Ger)       	Viarengo (Fra) 	253  37.251
1933 Jules MERVIEL (Fra)    	A. Magne (Fra)       	Geyer (Ger) 	243  37.528
1934 Gustave DANNEELS (Bel)	Gijssels (Bel)       	Vervaecke (Bel) 243  38.358
1935 Rene LE GREVES (Fra)   	R. Lapebie (Fra)       	Di Paco (Ita) 	251  37.900
1936 Gustave DANNEELS (Bel) 	Mithouard (Fra)       	Coelaert (Bel) 	251  41.455
1937 Gustave DANNEELS (Bel) 	Bonduel (Bel)       	De Caluwe (Bel) 251  41.092
1938 Jules ROSSI (Ita)      	Disseaux (Bel)       	Maye (Fra) 	251  42.097
1939 Frans BONDUEL (Bel)  	Storme (Bel)       	Pirmez (Bel) 	251  39.655
1941 Paul MAYE (Fra)     	Goutal (Fra)       	Cloarec (Fra) 	249  36.096
1942 Paul MAYE (Fra)    	Virol (Fra)       	Rossi (Ita) 	248  36.024
1943 Gaby GAUDIN (Fra)  	A. Buysse (Bel)       	Hendrickx (Bel)	241  37.422
1944 Lucien TEISSEIRE (Fra) 	L. Gauthier (Fra)       Thietard (Fra) 	253  41.452
1945 Paul MAYE (Fra)         	Goutorbe (Fra)       	Idee (Fra) 	253  37.161
1946 Brik SCHOTTE (Bel)       	R. Prevotal (Fra)       De Muer (Fra) 	251  37.714
1947 Brik SCHOTTE (Bel)     	Idee (Fra)       	A. Sercu (Bel) 	251  35.678
1948 Louis CAPUT (Fra)     	Mignat (Fra)        	Idee (Fra) 	251  43.096
1949 Albert RAMON (Bel)   	P. Neri (Ita)       	Geus (Bel) 	251  41.377
1950 Andre MAHE (Fra)      	Caffi (Fra)       	G. Lapebie (Fr)	251  39.536
1951 Jacques DUPONT (Fra)    	Martini (Ita)       	Redolfi (Fra) 	251  41.691
1952 Raymond GUEGAN (Fra)    	Schotte (Bel)       	Caput (Fra) 	253  40.861
1953 Jozef SCHILS (Bel)       	Kubler (Swi)       	Gilles (Fra) 	253  43.529
1954 Gilbert SCODELLER (Fra) 	L. Bobet (Fra)       	Michel (Fra) 	253  40.881
1955 Jacques DUPONT (Fra)   	De Bruyne (Bel)       	Cieleska (Fra) 	253  43.766
1956 Albert BOUVET (Fra)      	Schepens (Bel)       	L. Bobet (Fra) 	251  40.844
1957 Alfred DE BRUYNE (Bel)  	L. Bobet (Fra)       	Conterno (Ita) 	251  42.842
1958 Gilbert DE SMET 1 (Bel) 	De Bruyne (Bel)       	F. Mahe (Fra) 	251  37.148
1959 Rik VAN LOOY (Bel)      	Niesten (Ned)      	Noyelle (Bel) 	267  37.791
1960 Jo DE HAAN (Ned)      	Stolker (Ned)       	Otano (Esp) 	267  40.001
1961 Jos WOUTERS (Bel)    	G. De SMET 1 (Bel)  	Novak (Fra) 	267  38.407
1962 Jo DE ROO (Ned)      	Melckenbeeck (Bel)  	Beheyt (Bel) 	267  44.903
1963 Jo DE ROO (Ned)        	Simpson (Ang)       	Poulidor (Fra) 	255  39.162
1964 Guido REYBROECK (Bel)    	Van Looy (Bel)       	G. Desmet (Bel) 248  36.466
1965 Gerben KARSTENS (Ned) 	G. Desmet (Bel)       	Deferm (Bel) 	247  45.029
1966 Guido REYBROECK (Bel)   	Van Looy (Bel)       	Lemeteyer (Fra) 249  43.355
1967 Rik VAN LOOY (Bel)      	Hoban (Ang)       	Samyn (Fra) 	249  41.720
1968 Guido REYBROECK (Bel)   	Godefroot (Bel)       	Leman (Bel) 	249  44.584
1969 Herman VANSPRINGEL (Bel) 	Verbeeck (Bel)       	Jochmans (Bel) 	286  43.038
1970 Jurgen TSCHAN (Ger)     	Pijnen (Ned)       	Reybroeck (Bel)	286  41.011
1971 Rik VAN LINDEN (Bel)    	Basso (Ita)       	Karstens (Ned) 	285  40.766
1972 Noel VANTYGHEM (Bel)    	Huysmans (Bel)       	De Geest (Bel) 	292  40.679
1973 Rik VAN LINDEN (Bel)      	R. De Vlaeminck (Bel) 	Verbeeck (Bel) 	264  42.076 

TOURS-VERSAILLES

1974 Francesco MOSER (Ita)  	J.P. Danguillaume (Fra)	Leman (Bel) 	254  43.268
1975 Freddy MAERTENS (Bel)	F. Van Looy (Bel)       R. De Vlaeminck	247  41.241

Grand Prix d'Automne

1976 Ronald DE WITTE (Bel)  	Poulidor (Fra)   	Bouloux (Fra) 	253  43.519
1977 Joop ZOETEMELK (Ned)    	De Muynck (Bel)       	Kuiper (Ned) 	259  44.531
  
BLOIS-MONTLHERY (Grand Prix d'Automne)

1978 Jan RAAS (Ned)       	J. Jacobs (Bel)       	Van Calster (B)	271  38.896

BLOIS-CHAVILLE (Grand Prix d'Automne)				

1979 Joop ZOETEMELK (Ned) 	Saronni (Ita)       	Raas (Ned) 	228  41.838
1980 Daniel WILLEMS (Bel) 	Vigneron (Fra)       	Vanhaerens (Be)	228  40.449
1981 Jan RAAS (Ned) 		Van den Haute (Bel)  	Colyn (Bel) 	228  40.113
1982 L. VANDENBROUCKE (Bel) 	Gavazzi (Ita)       	F. De Wolf (Be)	228  40.777
1983 Ludo PEETERS (Bel) 	Van der Poel (Ned)    	Raas (Ned) 	237  43.431
1984 Sean KELLY (Irl) 		Rooks (Ned)       	Wojtinek (Fra) 	249  41.411 

CRETEIL-CHAVILLE (Grand Prix d'Automne)

1985 Ludo PEETERS (Bel)   	Argentin (Ita)       	Kelly (Irl) 	249  38.607
1986 Phil ANDERSON (Aus)   	Peillon (Fra)       	Mottet (Fra) 	253  40.765
1987 Adri VAN DER POEL (Ned)  	T. Van Vliet (Ned)  	Fondriest (Ita) 255  38.734

PARIS-TOURS

1988 Peter PIETERS (Ned) 	Goessens (Bel)       	Kelly (Irl) 	290  34.202
1989 Jelle NIJDAM (Ned)   	Vanderaerden (Bel)	Museeuw(Bel) 	283  39.402
1990 Rolf SORENSEN (Dan)  	Anderson (Aus)       	Fondriest (Ita) 283  39.601
1991 Johan CAPIOT (Bel) 	Ludwig (Ger)       	Verhoeven (Ned) 286  38.406
1992 Hendrik REDANT (Bel)  	Henn (Ger)       	Ludwig (Ger) 	286  46.745
1993 Johan MUSEEUW (Bel)   	Fondriest (Ita)       	Gontchenkov	251  38.142
1994 Erik ZABEL (Ger)    	Bortolami (Ita)       	Spruch (Pol) 	250  39.934
1995 Nicola MINALI (Ita)    	Tchmil (Rus)       	Teutenberg 	250  43.363

Teams and Principal Riders

Teams and Principal Riders for Paris--Tours (October 5)
BATIK: Minali, Berzin
ASICS: Chiappucci, Zaina
BIGMAT AUBER 93: N. Jalabert
COFIDIS: Fondriest
LA FRANCAISE DES JEUX: Gianetti, Guesdon, Nazon, Rebellin, Sciandri
BRESCIALAT: Piccoli
CASINO: Agnolutto, Aus, Barthe, Chanteur, Durand, Richard
FESTINA: Bortolami, Brochard, Herve, Virenque
GAN: Ledanois, Vasseur
LOTTO: Madouas, Planckaert, Tchmil
MAPEI-GB: Museeuw, Steels, Svorada, Tafi
ONCE: L. Jalabert
KELME: Dominguez
MG: Bartoli, Baldato
LA MUTUELLE DE SEINE-ET-MARNE: Fraser
POLTI: Merckx
RABOBANK: Boogerd, Van Bon
ROSLOTTO-ZG: Ferrigato, Gontchenkov
SCRIGNO: Conte, Casarotto
TVM: Roux
REFIN: Colage
SAECO: Martinello
TELEKOM: Riis
US POSTAL: Ekimov
VLAANDEREN 2002: Aerts