Eurélien Hugo Page retraces his first elite Paris-Tour

What concerns?
First, after the first stretch of the path in the vineyard, about 50 miles from the finish, a group of runners fell in front of me and I got off. He broke the group into several pieces, it’s a shame, because at that moment I was in a good position. In spite of everything, we quickly regained the advantage.

Did you leave any juice in the case?
No, because we were still far from the finish line. The other problem is that at 350 meters from the finish I could not take part in the final sprint, because I broke the ceramic tread …

That is…
This is at the level of the derailleur and there I couldn’t go on anymore. I finish (36th), despite everything, at the same time as the winner.

A Eurélien from Paris-Tours

“Making a Top 10, it was possible”

If not, did you have a chance?
Chance to win, I don’t think. I couldn’t have beaten Arnaud (note: start, the winner)it was going very fast, but it was possible to get into the Top 10.

Let’s go back to the beginning, in Chartres, a dream that has come true?
Of course, when I was young at ES Auneau, I dreamed of doing Paris-Tours. It was a strong moment. The most exciting? When I got off the bus with all the supporters waiting for me!

The Belgian team Intermarché-Wanty-Gobert with Hugo Page (3rd from left).

Will Paris-Tours remain a highlight of your season?
Yes, like many others, more sporty, like wearing the green Dauphiné jersey or even my first podium, five days before the Paris-Tours, in Binche-Chimay-Binche, Belgium. A great moment there too, because our sponsor was present everywhere (Editor’s note: the headquarters of his Intermarché-Wanty-Gobert team are located in Isières, about forty kilometers from Binche).

Now the program?
Rest. I leave here in a month and a half for cyclocross in France, before resuming the road season in early January, probably, in Australia.

Jean-André Provost