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Paris - Tours 2010

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Hello and welcome to the Cyclingnews live coverage of Paris-Tours.

Although the French race is longer part of the UCI World or Historic calendar, it is a true end of season classic and a huge goal for the classics riders and sprinters.

Philippe Gilbert (Omega Pharma-Lotto) won last year and in 2008. He is also the big favourite this year and is looknig for revenge after just failing to win the world title last week in Australia.

As often is the case at Paris-Tours, the action began quickly and a strong tailwind has made for a fast race. The peloton covered 50km in the first hour and has been just as fast since then.

190 riders gathered in La Loupe, west of Chartres for the start, with the likes of Filippo Pozzato (Katusha), Daniele Bennati (Liquigas-Doimo), Romain Feillu (Vacansoleil) and of course Gilbert the favourites for victory.

-170km remaining from 0km

50km remaining from 0km

The breakaways are working hard but the wind is now blowing slightly from the side, making it dififcult for them to stay away.

45km remaining from 0km

Gilbert's Omega Pharma-Lotto teammates are now on the front, leading the chase of the break.

Thomas Voeckler (BBox Bouygues) is sat nicely in the peloton and could be a contender later. He must be happy that his team problems are behind after Europecar decided to take over sponsorship of the team. 

35km remaining from 0km

The gap is coming down rapidly as the short final climbs approach.

Simon Geschke (Skil-Shimano) is now having a go alone off the front of the break. He has little chance of staying clear but wants some final tv time.

After four hours of racing, the average speed is still over 48km/h! This year's race is set to be the second fastest ever in the long histroy of the race.

29km remaining from 0km

This year's race route has an extra short climb in the final part of the race. The Côte de Beau-Soleil comes 11.5km from the finish and will be the perfect place to launch an attack.

25km remaining from 0km

Felcha and Aleksejs Saramotins (HTC-Columbia) have now joined the two up front. But the peloton can see them.

The remains of the break is still chasing the four but the bunch is close too.

Stephane Bonsergent (Bretagne - Schuller) has crashed on the approach to a roundabout. His race is over.

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Rabobank is now on the front of the bunch, working for Oscar Freire perhaps.

The peloton is one long line now. It is fast at the front and surely painful down the back.

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Attack from RadioShack!

It seems Geoffroy Lequatre is trying to go off the front and has dragged three others with him. 

This section is back into open countryside and so the riders are back in the wind.

15km remaining from 0km

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The eight up front aren't working well together and so Flecha jumps after one of the attackers.

Now it is time for the new Côte de Beau-Soleil climb.

Upfront Lequatre has gone again. He's not waiting for the bunch and goes clear alone over the top of the first part of the climb.

The roads are switching left and right and so this helps Lequatre stay away.

10km remaining from 0km

This short climb is hurting Lequatre but he is dancing up it in a big gear.

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Geoffroy Lequatre (RadioShack) is totally committed now. He is on the Côte de l'Epan, but the bunch is chasing him.

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Matteo Tosatto (Quick Step) tries to go across to Lequatre. He was strong in the world championships and could create a strong duo.

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Lequatre has 18 seconds as he turns right on the long, long finishing straight. Can he do it?

Vacansoleil and Liquigas-Doimo are on the front on the bunch and leading the chase.

2km remaining from 0km

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Lequatre is on the left of the raod, struggling like crazy but he still has a gap.

Lequatre is caught just 300 metres from the line. Sprint!

Lampre lead out the sprint but Oscar Freire (Rabobank) came through late to win. Freire left it late but got it!

Freire was blocked but burst his way through to win. Angelo Furlan (Lampre-Farnese Vini) was second and Gert Steegmans (RadioShack) was third.

We'll have full results, a complete report and photographs from the race very soon here on Cyclingnews.

See you next Saturday for live coverage of the Tour of Lombardy.

Brief results:

1. Oscar Freire (Spa) Rabobank

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