Mathieu van der Poel Set to Show Rainbow Jersey in Paris-Tours
September 7th, 2023 – The 117th edition of Paris–Tours is set to kick off on October 8th, with defending world champion Mathieu van der Poel looking to conquer another challenging course. This year’s race will feature 10 kilometers on unpaved roads, adding an extra dimension to the competition.
Van der Poel’s Alpecin–Deceuninck team is among the 23 teams selected to participate in the race, and the cyclist is eager for a fresh challenge following his triumph at Roubaix.
The U23 Paris–Tours Espoirs, a 178.9 km race, will also follow the same course as last year, starting from Bonneval and ending at Avenue de Grammont.
Since 2018, Paris–Tours has included vineyard tracks, leading to its nickname as the “Race of the Harvested Grapes.” These tracks present new challenges, with a mix of climbs and white roads providing opportunities for counter-attacks. Local authorities work hard to maintain the 10 kilometers of farm trails to prevent accidents, while still testing the handling skills of the riders. The course for this year’s edition is a replica of the 2022 route.
With 13 WorldTour teams and a total of 17 teams from the last Tour de France, the competition in the vineyards of Touraine is expected to be fierce. Two-time winner Arnaud Démare will be closely watched in his new Arkéa–Samsic colors, but the man to beat is Mathieu van der Poel. The Dutch cyclist has had a remarkable season, claiming victory at Milan–San Remo and Paris–Roubaix in addition to earning the rainbow jersey in Glasgow. Fans eagerly await his return to the competition in Paris-Tours.
