Paris-Tours is one of France’s oldest one-day cycling races, first held in 1896 and traditionally linking the Paris region with Tours in the Loire Valley. Known historically as the “Sprinters’ Classic,” the race has developed a different character in recent years through the introduction of vineyard tracks and short, sharp climbs during its decisive final kilometres.
Around the Peloton explores Paris-Tours through the landscapes behind the race, from the plains and historic towns of central France to the vineyards, châteaux and cultural heritage of the Loire Valley. More than a century of racing has transformed the road toward Tours into one of the enduring journeys of the European cycling calendar.
Paris-Tours has spent more than a century travelling south through the centre of France, but the landscape that defines the race today is concentrated into its final hour. The opening country is broad and agricultural, shaped by grain fields, small…
