With 36 kilometers to go, along the long, flat roads of the Lorie Valley, two riders managed to moved clear. Behind a chasing group formed including Trentin. The cobbled sectors and short climbs reduced the group's size with only four riders remaining in pursuit of the leading duo. The two in front started playing poker with 1km to go, the chasers made contact and Trentin positioned himself perfectly for the sprint, launching his effort in the final meters for the win.
"I feel old knowing I first won this race ten years ago, but inside I'm still young. I'm happy to finally win a race this year. After the Tour de France I felt strong, but some bad luck in Hamburg delayed things a bit. Today the two leaders (Thibaud Gruel and Paul Lapeira) were strong, but we managed to keep them close and close the gap. It was a hard race, with echelons, side wind, and high speed, but I could use my diesel energy and it worked.
And now?
"Enjoy my vacation. I'm still racing on Wednesday (Giro del Veneto). After that, I can relax."
-Matteo Trentin. His third victory in Paris-Tours, after winning the French classic in 2015 and 2017.
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