France 12 Oct 2025 Class 1.Pro – 1 day – UCI ProSeries

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History of Paris–Tours

The Paris–Tours is a historic and long-standing professional cycling race, often considered a “sprinters’ classic” in the late season.

Here are some key points about its history:

First Edition: The race was first held in 1896, making it one of the oldest races on the cycling calendar.
First Winner: The inaugural race in 1896 was won by Frenchman Eugène Prévost.
Scheduling: It has traditionally been held annually in the autumn, usually in October, serving as one of the final major European classics of the road cycling season.
Route: The race is a one-day event, covering a distance of approximately 200–250 km, running from the area near Paris (though the start has moved outside of the city center over the years) south-west to the city of Tours. Its famously flat route used to make it a prime target for fast finishers and sprinters, culminating in a sprint finish on the long Avenue de Grammont in Tours.
Route Changes: The route has seen changes over the years. Notably, recent editions have introduced unpaved vineyard paths (known as chemins) in the final part of the race to make it more selective and less of a guaranteed bunch sprint.
Name Variations: The race has occasionally changed its name or direction, for example:
- In 1974 and 1975 it was known as Tours–Versailles (running the reverse direction).
- From 1976 through 1987 it was called the Grand Prix d’Automne.
- The 1917 and 1918 editions also ran from Tours to Paris.
Records: Several riders have won the race multiple times, with four riders holding the record for the most victories with three wins each: Gustave Danneels, Paul Maye, Guido Reybrouck, and Erik Zabel.

The Paris–Tours is one of cycling’s oldest and most prestigious one-day classic races, dating back to 1896.

Foundation and Timing: The first edition was held in 1896, and it has traditionally been an annual event held in the autumn, usually in October. It often serves as one of the final major European classics of the road cycling season.
Route Characteristics: The race runs from the area near Paris southwest to the city of Tours, covering approximately 200–250 km. Historically, its relatively flat profile earned it the nickname of the “Sprinters’ Classic,” culminating in a mass sprint on the long Avenue de Grammont in Tours.
Modern Route Evolution: In recent years, the route has been deliberately altered to challenge pure sprinters by incorporating several short, steep climbs and, most notably, unpaved vineyard paths (known as chemins) in the final sectors. These gravel sections now make the race more demanding and often favor classics specialists and puncheurs.
Name and Direction Changes: The race has occasionally been held in the reverse direction (Tours to Paris) or under different names, such as Tours–Versailles (1974–1975) and the Grand Prix d’Automne (1976–1987).

Results of François Faber and Nicolas Frantz in Paris–Tours

Both François Faber and Nicolas Frantz were iconic Luxembourgish cyclists of the early 20th century, both winning the Tour de France (Faber in 1909, Frantz in 1927 and 1928). They also found success in the Paris–Tours classic:

François Faber (Luxembourg)

François Faber was known as “The Giant of the Road” and was a powerful rider who excelled in tough conditions.

Year	Result
1908	3rd Place
1909	Winner
1910	Winner
1912	6th Place

Key takeaway: François Faber won Paris–Tours twice, in back-to-back years (1909 and 1910).

Nicolas Frantz (Luxembourg)

Nicolas Frantz was a dominant figure in the late 1920s, famous for his consistency and for wearing the Tour de France yellow jersey from start to finish in 1928.