Jens Debusschere took the biggest classics result of his career when he sprinted to third in today's Paris-Tours. The result crowned a solid Lotto-Belisol performance that had seen the team been part of the action for most of the day.

With Paris-Tours, the last classic of the season took place today. Jelle Wallays, a man of the early breakaway, triumphed on the Avenue de Grammont. Not much later Jens Debusschere won the peloton's sprint for the third place.

 
Only five kilometres after the start in Bonneval five riders attacked: Benedetti, Paillot, Van Asbroeck, Voeckler and Wallays. Duval and Gouault joined them. The escapees had up to a seven minute lead. 55 kilometres from the finish the lead had gone down to less than 2’30”. In the meantime Pim Ligthart and his fellow countryman Maarten Tjallingii had jumped away from the bunch. They caught Benedetti, who got dropped in front because of a puncture. Afterwards the peloton reeled them in.
 
There were other attempts, but FDJ, Giant-Shimano and Tinkoff-Saxo seemed to have the situation under control to end the race with a sprint. After the Côte de Crochu, three leaders were left: Van Melsen, Voeckler and Wallays. Sep Vanmarcke accelerated on the Côte de Beau Soleil. Behind him a group could got away from the bunch. Tiesj Benoot and Jonas Van Genechten were part of it. Van Melsen was distanced in front, so there were two men ahead. The chasers were caught and Lotto Belisol led the bunch, but it was too late. The two early escapees would battle for the victory. In the sprint of two Wallays beat Voeckler. Twelve seconds later Jens Debusschere crossed the finish line as third.
 
“A third place is a good result," sports director Bart Leysen said. "The attack of Pim Ligthart wasn’t necessary when you look at it afterwards – he and Tjallingii didn’t make it to the leaders – but you never know beforehand and at that moment we could relax in the bunch.

"Tiesj Benoot and Jonas Van Genechten were part of the group that took off on the Côte de Beau Soleil, so that was good for us again. Unfortunately the cooperation wasn’t as it should be. Apparently not all riders knew that there were still two riders in front. Then we pulled the peloton and came close, but not enough. The trainees did a great job again.”