2009 Paris–Tours

The cycling race Paris -Tours 2009 was the 103rd edition of the cycling classic Paris -Tours and was held on 11 October 2009. The Belgian Philippe Gilbert, who prevailed in a sprint three drivers leading group against Tom Boonen and Borut Božič, won the race for the second time after 2008.

Route

The distance was about 20 km shorter than the traditional route to the host in 2009. The race was started in Chartres and led over 230 miles through mostly flat terrain in the south to Tours. In the last 10 kilometers were with the Côte de l' Epan, the Côte du Pont Volant and the Côte du Petit Pas d' Ane to three smaller climbs. On the Avenue de Grammont, the race was decided.

Participants

For race were 25 teams, including 15 from the UCI ProTour, at. Among the participating teams were ag2r La Mondiale, Agritubel, Auber 93, Bbox Bouygues Telecom, Besson Chaussures - Sojasun, BMC Racing, Bretagne- Schuller, Caisse d' Epargne, Cervelo Test Team, Columbia - HTC, Cofidis, Euskaltel -Euskadi, Française des Jeux, Garmin - Slipstream, Katusha, Lampre- NGC, Landbouwkrediet - Colnago, Milram, Quick Step, Rabobank, Roubaix Lille Métropole, Saxo Bank, Silence-Lotto, Skil- Shimano and Vacansoleil.

Favorites

Since the route goes over very flat terrain, Paris -Tours is a traditional classic for sprinters. Among the top favorites have therefore included the two dominant sprinter in the previous races Tyler Farrar and Andre Greipel, who by this time was able to record 20 wins this season already.

Should there be a bunch sprint was also with Juan José Haedo, Alyaksandr Ussau, Greg Van Avermaet, Tom Boonen, Allan Davis, Angelo Furlan, Danilo Napolitano, Filippo Pozzato, Borut Božič, Roger Hammond, Óscar Freire, Jimmy Casper, Romain Feillu and Gerald Ciolek be expected.

The best chance of a runaway victory had last year's winner Philippe Gilbert, Thomas Voeckler, Frédéric Guesdon, Nick Nuyens, Alessandro Ballan, Juan Antonio Flecha, Sylvain Chavanel, Martin Reimer and Johnny Hoogerland.

Race course

About 25 kilometers after the start formed a ten -man lead group with drivers Martin Elmiger, Cédric Pineau, Matthieu Ladagnous, Damien Gaudin, Jean -Luc Delpech, Jonathan Thiré, Mathew Hayman, Aart Vierhouten, Tom Veelers and László Bodrogi. The group drove to 132 kilometers before the finish out a maximum lead of 7:15 minutes. Subsequently, the sprinters' teams began, especially Quickstep and Silence-Lotto, the pace to increase significantly and reduced the gap to 30 kilometers from the finish at 52 seconds. A little later, the outliers were made ​​. Only Tom Veelers to escape the field for a few kilometers succeeded. After several unsuccessful attacks multiple driver Greg Van Avermaet attacked the climb to the Côte de l' Epan eight kilometers from the finish and only his teammate Philippe Gilbert, Tom Boonen and Borut Božič could follow him. The group succeeded mainly by tempo work of Greg Van Avermaet to tear a bigger hole to the field, and they also brought shortly after the erstwhile leader Tom Veelers one. 5 km before the finish had Van Avermaet the tempo work for his master eventually be demolished. Meanwhile sat from Filippo Pozzato from the field, but failed in its aim to reach the top group.

About 300 meters before the finish Philippe Gilbert opened the final print. At Gilbert's rear wheel to Borut Božič and Tom Boonen suspended at the. As the exhausted Božič could not keep up with Gilbert and his sprint broke off, now was a small gap between Gilbert and Boonen, who reacted too late to it. He came still closer to Gilbert, but could not pass on him. Philippe Gibert as crossed the finish line first and was able to defend his title. A few seconds later, Filippo Pozzato saved from the approaching, but now greatly reduced peloton across the finish line in fourth place.