Lotto Soudal’s Jelle Wallays soloed to victory in the 217km Paris-Tours race that finished in Tours today.
The 30-year-old, who first won the event in 2014, beat Niki Terpstra (Total-Direct Energie) and Oliver Naesen (AG2R La Mondiale) into second and third respectively.
Earlier, Sunweb’s Soren Kragh Andersen, who was second in 2017 and the winner last year, was the lone leader with Wallays chasing him.
Wallays passed Andersen when the latter suffered a rear wheel puncture with less than 45km remaining.
The Belgian held his solo lead all the way to the finish.
“I wanted to make a little gap with a little group, but suddenly I was alone,” said Wallays.
“I go to Andersen but then he has a flat, so I needed to do it alone.
“I had a good feeling from the beginning and also the last week, so I was focused on this race and I gave it my all.”
Jelle Wallays soloed to victory in the Paris-Tours race that finished in Tours today. Photo: A.S.O./ B.Bade
View more results below.
Results
1. Jelle Wallays (Bel) Lotto Soudal 5:34:20
2. Niki Terpstra (Ned) Direct Energie +0:00:29
3. Oliver Naesen(Bel) AG2R La Mondiale +0:00:30
4. Arnaud Demare (Fra) Groupama-FDJ +0:00:36
5. Amaury Capiot (Bel) Sport Vlaanderen-Baloise +0:00:49
6. Aime De Gendt (Bel) Wanty-Gobert
7. Lars Bak (Den) Dimension Data +0:00:51
8. Bert De Backer (Bel) Vital Concept-B&B Hotel +0:00:53
9. Kevyn Ista (Bel) Wallonie Bruxelles
10. Julien Vermote (Bel) Dimension Data
*Selected
33. Reinardt Janse van Rensburg (Team Dimension Data) +0:04:14
55. Morne van Niekerk (St Michel-Auber93) +0:10:42
