Paris-Tours - Arnaud Démare (8th): "I'm happy with the rebound I was able to get with Arkéa-Samsic"
Arnaud Démare finished in 8th place on the Avenue de Grammont in Tours, at the end of the “feuilles mortes” classic, when the peloton he was part of came to die on the heels of the breakaways.
“This edition of Paris-Tours was very nervous, and the race took a long time to settle down. We had quite a few punctures in the Arkéa-Samsic team, although I was spared this kind of problem. Punctures are a regular feature of Paris-Tours nowadays. We were a bit short-handed in the final, when we had to control things a bit and ride. I went there from time to time, but my presence in the peloton meant that a lot of riders kept a bit of it. Personally, I wasn’t strong enough to pedal away and drop everyone. Jenthe Biermans made a big effort in the final in my favour. The breakaways went all the way. It was another great Paris-Tours. Now I’m going to take a break. I was lucky enough to get this break on 1 August with Arkéa-Samsic. I was able to express myself and win two races. It bodes very well for the 2024 season with ARKEA-B&B HOTELS. I won’t have to adapt to the team from 1 January next year. I’ve already got my bearings. That’s time well saved. I want to do lots of things next year, but above all I want to win races.”
“The Arkéa-Samsic team did everything it could to give Arnaud Démare the best possible ride. We had a few minor problems with punctures for some of our riders, but we know that’s part and parcel of Paris-Tours. That’s part of the rules right from the start. What I want to remember is the commitment of all the riders. Once again, the team worked well in this classic. It’s always frustrating to die in the final so close to the breakaway, because when you’re a sprinter like Arnaud, it’s not the same thing to do it for a place of honour as to try and win. We’ve had a good week with three wins, plus a top 10 finish at Paris-Tours. These are encouraging signs for next season”.