The Belgian does it again
Jelle Wallays already won the race back in 2014, and this year’s victory is all that much sweeter after the injury troubles he had to contend with this season.
“I had a difficult season,” Wallays admitted, “I crashed in the beginning of the year and lost three teeth. So I started again with the Belgian championships, my condition was good and I wanted to go to the Tour de France but I was not in the selection. Then I went to the Vuelta but I got sick so I made Paris-Tours my goal. The race I always prefer is Paris-Roubaix so I look forward to being in the final for that one.”
Wallays won after a strong solo attack with 50km to go. The chase group failed to catch up, and the Belgian finished 30 seconds ahead of the poursuivants.
Paris-Tours 2019: Chartres to Tours (217km)
1. Jelle Wallays (Lotto-Soudal) – 5:34:20
2. Niki Terpstra (Total Direct Energie) + 29s
3. Oliver Naesen (Ag2r La Mondiale) + 30s
4. Arnaud Démare (Groupama-FDJ) + 36s
5. Amaury Capiot (Sport Vlaanderen-Baloise) + 49s
6. Aimé De Gendt (Wanty-Gobert)
7. Lars Ytting Bak (Dimension Data) + 51s
8. Bert De Backer (Vital Concept – B&B Hotels) + 53s
9. Kevyn Ista (Wallonie-Bruxelles)
10. Julien Vermote (Dimension Data)
