Frederic Guesdon of France won the
Paris-Tours cycling race Sunday, beating Norway's Kurt-Asle Arvesen
and Australian Stuart O'Grady in the 100th edition of the race.
Guesdon, who won his second race at home, is the first French
winner since Richard Virenque in 2001. He also won the Paris-Roubaix
race in 1997.
``I had to play it tactically, because I knew he (Arvesen) was
going to go quick,'' Guesdon said. ``I knew the fresher rider would
win and I didn't feel too bad.''
Riders maintained an average speed of 48 km/h through the first
two hours of the 254.5-kilometre Pro Tour race.
The final 2.6-kilometre sprint along the Avenue de Gramont is
among the longest in any cycling race.
Jaan Kirsipuu of Estonia was honoured by organizers prior to the
start at Saint-Arnoult en-Yvelines in the Paris suburbs. The
37-year-old Kirsipuu, who placed third at Paris-Tours in 1999 and
has four Tour de France stage wins, is retiring.
© The Canadian Press, 2007
