Frenchman Guesdon wins 100th Paris-Tours

Frenchman Frederic Guesdon claimed the 100th edition of the Paris-Tours classic yesterday with a late surge to deny Norwegian Kurt-Asle Arvesen.

Nine years after winning Paris-Roubaix, the Francaise des jeux rider won the 254-km penultimate ProTour race a week before his 35th birthday.

The Breton veteran beat Arvesen (CSC) in a sprint finish between two riders who had been part of the main break, launched after 25 km.

Just when the bunch were closing in Guesdon surged in the final climb with Arvesen on his heels. "Recent history showed it was possible to make a difference in the last couple of climbs," he said.

"We worked fine with Arvesen and when we were in the last kilometre, we exchanged glances, knowing it would be for one of us," he added.

There was no denying Guesdon victory this time, after nine years trying in vain to repeat his Roubaix feat of 1997. He stayed safely behind the former Norwegian champion before catching him off-guard when he surged in the last 200 metres.