The 110th edition of Paris-Tours proves age is no excuse to stop trying new things. Tomorrow will see the race start in Dreux for the first time ever. Dreux, which has hosted races such as Paris-Brest and the Tour de l'Avenir, will send off a peloton featuring most of the world's sprinting elite on Sunday. Just one week before the Worlds in Qatar, the "classic of the falling leaves" will be a dress rehearsal for many. The legendary Avenue de Grammont is likely to see another a sprint royal and show once again why it is known as "the Alpe d'Huez of sprinting".

Last stop before Qatar
While the 2016 Paris–Tours will open several new chapters, including the start in Dreux, it will also bring others to a close. The race will be the curtain call for the Swiss IAM Cycling team, which is taking its final bow after four years in the peloton. Michel Thétaz's team has had an extraordinary farewell season, netting a total of 19 victories including one or more in each Grand Tour. His riders will be looking to end the team's saga in style with its 20th win of the season. Olivier Naesen, who finished an angry second to LottoNL–Jumbo's Dylan Groenewegen in last Sunday's Tour de l'Eurométropole, will be leading the charge. These two are not the only riders on the start list who have had a good week: Arnaud Démare (FDJ), dominated Binche-Chimay-Binche on Tuesday, Sam Bennett (Bora – Argon 18), defended his crown in Thursday's Paris–Bourges, and Nacer Bouhanni (Cofidis, solutions crédits), claimed the Tour de Vendée last Sunday. A win in the previous week is no guarantee of success in Paris–Tours. John Degenkolb remains the only rider to do the double in the last decade with his Paris–Bourges — Paris–Tours combo in 2013.
 
The "classic of the falling leaves" is greener than ever!
Tours has awarded the "Sustainable Sport Event" label to the 2016 edition of Paris–Tours. The incremental environmental approach implemented by race organiser ASO since the early 2000s is based on three pillars: waste management, reducing the environmental footprint, and promoting cycling and biodiversity. The label recognises the steps ASO has taken in its cycling races to promote sustainable development and cycling. Its ambition to increase the popularity of cycling in cities was reflected in this morning's inauguration of a new bike path in Dreux, the start city of Paris–Tours, in the presence of Christian Prudhomme, Bernard Hinault and mayor Gérard Hamel.