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The race:
Paris–Tours is an ancient single-day bicycle race. Since 1978 it has been held in October. Because the race route is fairly flat, it usually ends in a bunch sprint.
Since 1988 it has been owned and organized by the Société du Tour de France, the same company that runs the Tour de France, Paris-Roubaix and several other very important races.
The 1917 and 1918 editions went from Tours to Paris.
1926 first and second place. Left Heiri Suter and right Kaster Notter
In 1965 and 1966 Paris–Tours was contested without derailleurs. Honest. In attempt to slow down the race and break up the usual bunch finishes the riders were allowed a single front chain ring and 3 rear sprockets. They could change gears the way it was done in the old days, by loosening the rear wheel and moving the chain onto the chosen cog. Race boss Félix Levitan was confounded because the 1965 race was blisteringly fast at 45.029 km/hr. That speed wouldn't be exceeded until 1992.
Paris–Tours has had a number of name and route changes:
In 1974 and 1975 it became Tours–Versailles
From 1976 through 1987 it was called the "Grand Prix d'Automne" with several modifications
1978: Blois–Monthlery
1979 - 1984: Blois–Chaville
1985 - 1987: Cretieil–Chaville
Four riders have won the race three times: Gustav Danneels, Paul Mayé, Guido Reybroeck and Erik Zabel.
Complete podium history:
Year |
1st place |
2nd Place |
3rd Place |
Distance |
Average Speed |
1896 | Eugène Prevost 8hr 8min |
Emile Ouzou @ 11min |
Lucien Bouvret @ 26min |
250 km | 31.20 |
1897-1900 | Race not held | ||||
1901 | Jean Fischer 9hr 22min 35sec |
Georges Lorgeou @ 15 meters |
Edouard Wattelier @ 42min 59sec |
253 km | 26.982 |
1902-1905 | Race not held | ||||
1906 | Lucien Petit-Breton 7hr 55min |
Louis Trousselier @ s.t. |
Henri Cornet @ 10min 30sec |
234 km | 29.557 |
1907 | Georges Passerieu 7hr 37min |
André Pottier @ 1.5 lengths |
Emile Georget @ 2 lengths |
245 km | 32.186 |
1908 | Omer Beaugendre 8hr 40min 30sec |
Frederic Saillot @ s.t. |
François Faber @ 6min 30sec |
248 km | 30.690 |
1909 | François Faber 8hr 5min. 14 riders including 1st place Octave Lapize disqualified for going off the official course. |
Jean Alavoine @ 3 lengths |
Ernest Paul @ 11min |
248 km | 30.680 |
1910 | François Faber 7hr 43min 28sec |
Louis Trousselier @ s.t. |
Emile Engel @ s.t. |
248 km | 32.105 |
1911 | Octave Lapize 9hr 10min |
Cyriel Van Hauwaert @ s.t. |
Emile Georget @ s.t. |
248 km | 27.054 |
1912 | Louis Heusghem 9hr 17min |
Charles De Ruyter @ 2min |
Lucien Petit-Breton @ s.t. |
246 km | 26.348 |
1913 | Charles Crupelandt 7hr 15min |
Georges Passerieu @ s.t. |
Louis Luguet @ s.t. |
246 km | 33.931 |
1914 | Oscar Egg 9hr 49min 47sec |
Emile Engel @ s.t. |
Philippe Thys @ s.t. |
316 km | 32.147 |
1915-1916 | Race not held | ||||
1917 | Philippe Thys 7hr 14min |
Marcel Godivier @ 2min |
Eugène Christophe @ 8min |
246 km | 30.318 |
1918 | Charles Mantelet 8hr 13min |
Lucien Cazalis @ s.t. |
Alexis Michiels @ 3min 9sec |
246 km | 30.318 |
1919 | Hector Tiberghien 12hr 35min |
Rene Vandenhove @ 4min |
Jean Rossius @ 5min |
342 km | 27.178 |
1920 | Eugène Christophe 13hr 22min 30sec |
Honoré Barthelemy @ 15min 4sec |
Albert Dejonghe @ 18min 2sec |
342 km | 25.570 |
1921 | Francis Pélissier 14hr 56min 20sec |
Louis Mottiat @ 1min 32sec |
Eugène Christophe @ 1min 40sec |
342 km | 22.893 |
1922 | Henri Pélissier 11hr 32min |
Heiri Suter @ s.t. |
Robert Jacquinot @ s.t. |
342 km | 29.653 |
1923 | Paul Deman 13hr 40min 20sec |
Felix Sellier @ s.t. |
Hector Tiberghien @ s.t. |
342 km | 25.014 |
1924 | Louis Mottiat 12hr 1min 57sec |
Nicolas Frantz @ 1min 38sec |
Jules Huyvaert @ s.t. |
342 km | 28.423 |
1925 | Denis Verschueren 12hr 27min |
August Mortelmans @ s.t. |
Jean Hillarion @ s.t. |
342 km | 27.469 |
1926 | Heiri Sutter 11hr 28min 37 |
Kastor Notter @ s.t. |
Nicolas Frantz @ 3min 55sec |
324 km | 27.469 |
1927 | Heiri Sutter 7hr 9min 44sec |
Gustave Van Slembrouck @ s.t. |
Georges Ronsse @ s.t. |
253 km | 28.230 |
1928 | Denis Verschueren 7hr 16min 53sec |
Charles Pélissier @ s.t. |
Marius Gallotini @ s.t. |
253 km | 34.746 |
1929 | Nicolas Frantz 9hr 14min 55sec |
Aime Deolet @ s.t. |
Georges Ronsse @ s.t. |
253 km | 27.355 |
1930 | Jean Marechal 7hr 25sec |
Marcel Bidot @ s.t. |
Frans Bonduel @ 48sec |
253 km | 34.112 |
1931 | André Leducq 7hr 40min |
Roger Parlioleau @ s.t. |
Alfred Hamerlick @ s.t. |
240 km | 31.276 |
1932 | Julien Moineau 6hr 47min 30sec |
Herbert Sieronski @ s.t. |
Amulio Viarengo @ 5min 25sec |
253 km | 37.251 |
1933 | Jules Merviel 6hr 28min 30sec |
Antonin Magne @ s.t. |
Ludwig Geyer @ s.t. |
243 km | 37.528 |
1934 | Gustave Danneels 6hr 20min 10sec |
Romain Gijssels @ 17sec |
Felicien Vervaecke @ s.t. |
243 km | 38.358 |
1935 | René Le Greves 6hr 37min 30sec |
Roger Lapébie @ s.t. |
Raffaele Di Paco @ s.t. |
251 km | 37.900 |
1936 | Gustave Danneels 6hr 3min 17sec |
Fernand Mithouard @ s.t. |
Jules Coelaert @ s.t. |
251 km | 41.455 |
1937 | Gustave Danneels 6hr 6min 27sec |
Frans Bonduel @ s.t. |
Edgard De Caluwe @ s.t. |
251 km | 41.092 |
1938 | Jules Rossi 5hr 57min 47sec |
Albertin Disseaux @ 30sec |
Paul Maye @ 1min 42sec |
251 km | 42.097 |
1939 | Frans Bonduel 6hr 19min 46sec |
Lucien Storm @ s.t. |
Theo Pirmez @ s.t. |
251 km | 39.655 |
1940 | Race not held | ||||
1941 | Paul Maye 6hr 22min 7sec |
Albert Goutal @ s.t. |
Pierre Cloarex @ s.t. |
249 km | 36.096 |
1942 | Paul Maye 6hr 41min 24sec |
Gerard Virol @ s.t. |
Jules Rossi @ s.t. |
248 km | 36.024 |
1943 | Gabriel Gaudin 6hr 27min 24sec |
Achiel Buysse @ s.t. |
Albert Hendrickx @ s.t. |
241 km | 37.422 |
1944 | Lucien Teisseire 6hr 6min 12sec |
Louis Gauthier @ s.t. |
Louis Thietard @ s.t. |
253 km | 41.452 |
1945 | Paul Maye 6hr 48min 37sec |
Joseph Goutorbe @ s.t. |
Emile Idee @ s.t. |
253 km | 37.161 |
1946 | Brik Schotte 6hr 39min 19sec |
Roger Prevotal @ 1min 14sec |
Maurice De Muer @ 1min 16sec |
251 km | 37.714 |
1947 | Brik Schotte 6hr 39min 19sec |
Emile Idee @ s.t. |
Albert Sercu @ s.t. |
251 km | 35.678 |
1948 | Louis Caput 5hr 49min 27sec |
Robert Mignat @ s.t. |
Emile Idee @ s.t. |
251 km | 43.096 |
1949 | Albert Ramon 6hr 3min 58sec |
Paul Neri @ s.t. |
Jacques Geus @ s.t. |
251 km | 41.377 |
1950 | André Mahe 6hr 20min 55sec |
Urbain Caffi @ 8sec |
Guy Lapebie @ s.t. |
251 km | 39.536 |
1951 | Jacques Dupont 5hr 58min 54sec |
Alfredo Martini @ s.t. |
Attilio Redolfi @ s.t. |
251 km | 41.691 |
1952 | Raymond Guegan 6hr 11min 30sec |
Brik Scotte @ s.t. |
Louis Caput @ s.t. |
253 km | 40.861 |
1953 | Joseph Schils 6hr 7min 37sec |
Ferdi Kübler @ 12sec |
Georges Gilles @ s.t. |
253 km | 43.529 |
1954 | Gilbert Scodeller 6hr 11min 19sec |
Louison Bobet @ 2sec |
Pierre Michel @ s.t. |
253 km | 40.881 |
1955 | Jacques Dupont 5hr 47min 38sec |
Fred De Bruyne @ s.t. |
Jean-Marie Cieleska @ s.t. |
253 km | 43.766 |
1956 | Albert Bouvet 6hr 8min 43sec |
Julien Schepens @ s.t. |
Louison Bobet @ s.t. |
251 km | 40.844 |
1957 | Fred De Bruyne 5hr 51min 31sec |
Louison Bobet @ s.t. |
Angelo Conterno @ s.t. |
251 km | 42.842 |
1958 | Gilbert Desmet 6hr 45min 24sec |
Fred De Bruyne @ s.t. |
François Mahe @ s.t. |
251 km | 37.148 |
1959 | Rik Van Looy 7hr 4min 42sec |
Coen Niesten @ s.t. |
Andre Noyelle @ 4sec |
267 km | 37.791 |
1960 | Jo De Haan 6hr 41min 14sec |
Mies Stolker @ 2sec |
Luis Otano @ 27sec |
267 km | 40.001 |
1961 | Jos Wouters 6hr 57min 53sec |
Gilbert Desmet @ s.t. |
Anatole Novak @ 2sec |
267 km | 38.407 |
1962 | Jo De Roo 5hr 57min 26sec |
Frans Melckenbeeck @ 2sec |
Benoni Beheyt @ s.t. |
267 km | 44.903 |
1963 | Jo De Roo 6hr 30min 41sec |
Tom Simpson @ s.t. |
Raymond Poulidor @ s.t. |
255 km | 39.162 |
1964 | Guido Reybrouck 6hr 48min 3sec |
Rik Van Looy @ s.t. |
Gustaaf Desmet @ s.t. |
248 km | 36.466 |
1965 | Gerben Karstens 5hr 28min 51sec |
Gustaaf Desmet @ 8sec |
Fernand Deferm @ s.t. |
247 km | 45.029 |
1966 | Guido Reybrouck 5hr 44min 38sec |
Rik Van Looy 5hr 44min 38sec |
Paul Lemeteyer @ s.t. |
249 km | 43.355 |
1967 | Rik Van Looy 5hr 57min 30sec |
Barry Hoban @ s.t. |
Jose Samyn @ s.t. |
249 km | 41.720 |
1968 | Guido Reybrouck 5hr 35min 40sec |
Walter Godefroot @ s.t. |
Eric Lemen @ s.t. |
249 km | 44.584 |
1969 | Herman Van Springel 6hr 38min 43sec |
Frans Verbeeck @ 28sec |
Roger Jochmans @ s.t. |
286 km | 43.038 |
1970 | Jurgen Tschan 6hr 58min 25sec |
Rene Pijnen @ 56sec |
Guido Reybrouck @ 3min 21sec |
286 km | 41.011 |
1971 | Rik Van Linden 6hr 59min 28sec |
Marino Basso @ s.t. |
Gerben Karstens @ s.t. |
285 km | 40.766 |
1972 | Noël Vantyghem 7hr 10min 41sec |
Joseph Huysmans @ s.t. |
Willy De Geest @ s.t. |
292 km | 40.679 |
1973 | Rik Van Linden 6hr 17min 10sec |
Roger De Vlaeminck @ s.t. |
Frans Verbeeck @ s.t. |
264 km | 42.076 |
1974 | Francesco Moser Gerben Karstens was 1st but DQ for dope control fraud 5hr 52min 55sec |
Jean-Pierre Ganguillaume @ 14sec |
No 3rd place awarded | 254.5 km | 43.268 |
1975 | Freddy Maertens 5hr 59min 21sec |
Frans Van Looy @ s.t. |
Roger De Vlaeminck @ s.t. |
247 km | 41.241 |
1976 | Ronald De Witte 5hr 49min 30sec |
Raymond Poulidor @ 1sec |
Robert Bouloux @ 2sec |
253 km | 43.519 |
1977 | Joop Zoetemelk 5hr 48min 58sec |
Johan De Muynck @ s.t. |
Hennie Kuiper @ s.t. |
259 km | 44.531 |
1978 | Jan Raas 6hr 58min 2sec |
Joseph Jacobs @ 3min 36sec |
Guido Van Calster @ s.t. |
271 km | 38.896 |
1979 | Joop Zoetemelk 5hr 38min 27sec |
Giuseppe Saronni @ 40sec |
Jan Raas @ s.t. |
228 km | 41.838 |
1980 | Daniel Willems 5hr 47min 6sec |
Alain Vigneron @ 17sec |
Eddy Vanhaerens @ s.t. |
228 km | 40.449 |
1981 | Jan Raas 5hr 41min 47sec |
Ferdi Van Den Haute @ s.t. |
Luc Colijn @ s.t. |
228 km | 40.113 |
1982 | Jean-Luc Vandenbroucke 5hr 26min 13sec |
Pierino Gavazzi @ 56sec |
Fons De Wolf @ s.t. |
228 km | 40.777 |
1983 | Ludo Peeters 5hr 27min 25sec |
Adri Van Der Poel @ s.t. |
Jan Raas @ 28sec |
249 km | 43.431 |
1984 | Sean Kelly 6hr 46sec |
Steven Rooks @ s.t. |
Bruno Wojtinek @ s.t. |
249 km | 41.411 |
1985 | Ludo Peeters 6hr 27min 36sec |
Moreno Arentin @ 21sec |
Sean Kelly @ s.t. |
249 km | 38.607 |
1986 | Phil Anderson 6hr 13min 7sec |
Jean-Louis Peillon @ s.t. |
Charly Mottet @ s.t. |
253 km | 40.765 |
1987 | Adri Van Poel 6hr 35min 46sec |
Teun Van Vliet @ s.t. |
Maurizio Fondriest @ s.t. |
255 km | 38.734 |
1988 | Peter Pieters 8hr 28min 44sec |
Jan Goessens @ s.t. |
Sean Kelly @ s.t. |
290 km | 34.202 |
1989 | Jelle Nijdam 7hr 11min 42sec |
Eric Vanderaerden @ s.t. |
Johan Museeuw @ s.t. |
283 km | 39.401 |
1990 | Rolf Sorensen 7hr 9min 32sec |
Phil Anderson @ s.t. |
Maurizio Fondriest @ s.t. |
283 km | 39.601 |
1991 | Johan Capiot 7hr 26min 48sec |
Olaf Ludwig @ s.t. |
Nico Verhoeven @ s.t. |
286 km | 38.406 |
1992 | Hendrik Redant 6hr 7min 44sec |
Christian Henn @ 1sec |
Olaf Ludwig @ 10sec |
286 km | 46.745 |
1993 | Johan Museeuw 6hr 34min 50sec |
Maurizio Fondriest @ s.t. |
Alexandre Gontchenkov @ 5sec |
251 km | 38.142 |
1994 | Erik Zabel 6hr 15min 37sec |
Gianluca Bortolami @ s.t. |
Zbigniew Spruch @ s.t. |
250 km | 39.934 |
1995 | Nicola Minali 5hr 45min 55sec |
Andrei Tchmil @ s.t. |
Sven Teutenberg @ s.t. |
250 km | 43.363 |
1996 | Nicola Minali 5hr 38min 55sec |
Tom Steels @ s.t. |
Giovanni Lombardi @ s.t. |
253 km | 44.790 |
1997 | Andrei Tchmil 5hr 23min 44sec |
Maximilian Sciandri @ 1sec |
Henk Vogels @ 3sec |
256 km | 48.929 |
1998 | Jacky Durand 5hr 45min 14sec |
Mirko Gualdi @ 2sec |
Jaan Kirsipuu @ 31sec |
254 km | 44.231 |
1999 | Marc Wauters 6hr 9min 54sec |
Gianni Faresin @ 10sec |
Jaan Kirsipuu @ 14sec |
254 km | 41.281 |
2000 | Andrea Tafi 6hr 38min 14sec |
Andrei Tchmil @ 39sec |
Daniele Nardello @ s.t. |
254 km | 38.344 |
2001 | Richard Virenque 6hr 58min 32sec |
Oscar Freire @ 2sec |
Erik Zabel @ s.t. |
254.5 km | 38.660 |
2002 | Jakob Piil 5hr 39min 11sec |
Jacky Durand @ s.t. |
Erik Zabel @ 20sec |
257 km | 45.462 |
2003 | Erik Zabel 5hr 24min 55sec |
Alessandro Petacchi @ s.t. |
Stuart O'Grady @ s.t. |
257 km | 47.550 |
2004 | Erik Dekker 5hr 33min 3sec |
Danilo Hondo @ s.t. |
Oscar Freire @ s.t. |
252.5 km | 45.488 |
2005 | Erik Zabel 5hr 37min 23sec |
Daniele Bennati @ s.t. |
Allan Davis @ s.t. |
253.5 km | 45.082 |
2006 | Frédéric Guesdon 5hr 31min 9sec |
Kurt-Asle Arvesen @ s.t. |
Stuart O'Grady @ 8sec |
254.5 km | 46.112 |
2007 | Alessandro Petacchi 5hr 32min 37sec |
Francesco Chicchi @ s.t. |
Oscar Freire @ s.t. |
256 km | 46.179 |
2008 | Philippe Gilbert 5hr 47min 43sec |
Jan Kuyckx @ s.t. |
Sebastien Turgot @ s.t. |
252 km | 43.483 |
2009 | Philippe Gilbert 5hr 12min 23sec |
Tom Boonen @ s.t. |
Borut Bozic @ 2sec |
230 km | 44.1764 |
2010 | Oscar Freire 4hr 52min 54sec |
Angelo Furlan @ s.t. |
Gert Steegmans @ s.t. |
233 km | 47.730 |
2011 | Greg Van Avermaet 5hr 21min 43sec |
Marco Marcato @ 2sec |
Kasper Klostergaard-Larsen @ 15sec |
230.5 km | 42.988 |
2012 | Marco Marcato 4hr 50min 34sec |
Laurens de Vreese @ s.t. |
Niki Terpstra @ s.t. |
235.5 km | 48.629 |
2013 | John Degenkolb 5hr 29min 19sec |
Michael Morkov @ s.t. |
Arnaud Demare @ s.t. |
235 km | 41.816 |
2014 | Jelle Wallays 5hr 26min 18sec |
Thomas Voeckler @ s.t. |
Jens Debusschere @ 12sec |
237.5 km | 43.671 |
2015 | Matteo Trentin 4hr 39min 12sec |
Tosh Van der Sande @ s.t. |
Greg van Avermaet @ 4sec |
231 km | 49.642 |
2016 | Fernando Gaviria 5hr 22min 3sec |
Arnaud Demare @ s.t. |
Jonas van Genechten @ s.t. |
252.5 km | 47.042 km/hr |
2017 | Matteo Trentin 5hr 22min 51sec |
Soren Andersen @ s.t. |
Niki Terpstra @ 1sec |
234.5 km | 43.581 km/hr |
2018 | Soren Kragh Andersen 4hr 37min 55sec |
Niki Terpstra @ 25sec |
Benoit Cosnefroy @ s.t. |
214.5 km | 46.309 km/hr |
2019 | Jelle Wallays 5hr 34min 20sec |
Niki Terpstra @ 29sec |
Oliver Naesen @ 30sec |
217 km | 38.843 km/hr |
2020 | Casper Pedersen 4hr 51min 44sec |
Benoit Cosnefroy @ s.t. |
Joris Nieuwenhuis @ 30sec |
213 km | 43.807 km/hr |
2021 | Arnaud Démare 4hr 33min 7sec |
Franck Bonnamour @ s.t. |
Jasper Stuyven s.t. |
212.3 km | 46.640 km/hr |
2022 | Arnaud Démare 4hr 53min 1sec |
Edward Theuns @ s.t. |
Sam Bennett @ s.t. |
213.5 km | 43.718 km/hr |
2023 | Riley Sheehan 4hr 39min 5sec |
Lewis Askey @ s.t. |
Tobias Halland Johannessen @ s.t. |
213.9 km | 45.986 km/hr |