Greg Van Avermaet wins 2011 Paris-Tours

Tours station: a city landmark

There was to be no victory for Mark Cavendish in this year’s Paris-Tours, which was won by Greg Van Avermaet (BMC). Van Avermat easily won the sprint from Marco Marcato, his breakaway companion, on the Avenue de Grammont.

Avermaet and Marcato broke away from a group of 21 riders, who had escaped from the peloton. They caught Arnaud Gerard, who had broken away with 15K to go, on the Côte de l’Epan at 7K from the finish. Kasper Klostergaard-Larsen of Saxo Bank was third with Ian Stannard fourth.

The peloton appeared to be disorganised and unable to mount an effective pursuit of the 21-strong escape group.

Paris – Tours: Mark Cavendish competes with his new rainbow jersey

Hotel de Ville@the northern end of the Avenue de Grammont

The end of season classic, Paris-Tours, is this Sunday. Paris is somewhat of a misnomer as the race actually starts at Voves to the south of Chartres. The course meanders around the Beauce passing to the north of Châteaudun before passing through Vendôme, Amboise, Truyes, Veigné and Ballan-Miré before finishing in Tours on the Avenue de Grammont – a famous sprinters' finish. 

The finish on the Avenue de Grammont won't be quite what it used to be. Until last year the full length of the Avenue, running from north to south, was used – 2600 metres – but the construction of a tramway has reduced the finish to 600 metres. 

This will be Mark Cavendish's first race as World Champion wearing the rainbow jersey and he will doubtless be wanting to add Paris-Tours to his palmares.