Paris-Tours ended without a LottoNL-Jumbo rider upfront in the final kick into town, where Fernando Gaviria (Etixx) celebrated victory today. Maarten Wynants survived many kilometres in the breakaway, but the group caught him in the final in Tours.

"It was a predictable course,” Sports Director Addy Engels said. “With a view to the Worlds, the hills were removed in the final and that made it even more of a sprinters’ race." 

“You know with so many sprinters’ teams that it is hard to survive in an escape, but for that small chance it works out, it's just good to have someone there. Maarten Wynants had the intention to get into the breakaway and he succeeded. "

After the group nailed down the escape, several riders attacked. A bunch sprint was written on the wall, however. Team LottoNL-Jumbo supported Van Asbroeck and Hofland.

"In the final it went wrong, we had the plan to sprint with Moreno Hofland, but the riders lost each other in the hectic final,” Engels added. “In the last kilometres, there was no control in the peloton."

Wynants

"It was a long day given that you’re almost certain it is going to end in a bunch gallop into Tours,” Wynants explained. “Also without wind, there’s no chance for echelons to make it interesting.”

“You have to start with different ambitions. For me, the goal was to make the break. It was quite a fight but after 30 kilometres, we drove clear.

"You hope that sprinters’ teams look at each other and leave a big gap to the escapees. Four minutes was not enough in a race of 250 kilometres. In the final, the pack began to accelerate and it was over."

In recent weeks, Wynants showed that he is in form even with the end of the season in sight. "Perhaps for that very reason, I want to start the winter with a good feeling. It's great that I’m going well, but I’m ready for this long season to end."