Frenchman Sylvain Chavanel called time on his 19-year cycling career following the Paris-Tours one-day race in France today.
Chavanel’s swansong in the 214.5km race provided a respectable exit after he formed part of the day’s leading breakaway and ended up finishing 45th, just over four minutes behind the winner Søren Kragh Andersen of Sunweb.
Frenchman Sylvain Chavanel, pictured here at the Tour de France this year, called time on his 19-year cycling career following the Paris-Tours today. Photo: Photo credits
Chavanel, 39, who rode for Direct Energie in the past three seasons, this year set the Tour de France record for the most starts and finishes, completing 16 Tours out of 18 starts, which included three stage wins.
During his career he had various spells in the leader’s jersey in both the French Grand Tour and the Vuelta a Espana and racked up nine French national titles in the road, time-trial and track disciplines.
Andersen soloed to victory in the Paris-Tours today in 4:37:55, beating Quick-Step Floors’ Niki Terpstra and AG2R La Mondiale’s Benoit Cosnefroy by 25 seconds.
