Jelle Wallays became a surprise winner of the final classic of the season when he beat Thomas Voeckler in a two-rider sprint in Paris-Tours. The young Belgian hopes that the performance will open a door to the WorldTour.

Jelle Wallays (Topsport Vlaanderen-Baloise) managed to beat veteran Thomas Voeckler in the sprint in Sunday's sprint Paris-Tours. He remained on the wheel of the Frenchman and passed him in the sprint. 

"This is a wonderful victory," 25-year-old Wallays said. "I hope this opens doors because I still dream of being part of a WorldTour team."

Since 1996, Paris-Tours also organized a race for U23 riders. A lot of Belgians, including Jürgen Roelandts and Tom Boonen have won this race, and Wallays did so in 2010. However, he is the first winner to add the elite race to his palmares.

"I just learned that I am the first to do so," siad Wallays. "I have only one word: wonderful. Only on Saturday I learned that, just as in 2010, the start was in Bonneval. This morning I had a plan: four years ago I got a nice victory and the wind was again good. I wanted to go on the offensive. And I was lucky that Voeckler was in the group as he does his share of the work. I had been very happy with second place, but when you beat such a rider, you have to be very happy.

On the Côte de Beausoleil, Voeckler attacked but Wallays didn't crack. 

"We dropped Kevin (Van Melsen, red) and I saw that Voeckler was also suffering. I knew I still had something in the legs and did not panic. I continued to follow Thomas."

Although the peloton came close, Wallays no longer took over from Voeckler. 

"At three kilometers from the finish I actually realized that it would be between us," said the rider from Topsport-Vlaanderen. "In the final kilometre, I looked back and I saw that we would make it. Voeckler asked me to take another turn but I refused. I played a bit of poker and I also realized that I was away with a Frenchman who only wanted to win and he would certainly ride all the way to the finish. That was in my head. On the climbs I had felt that I could beat him. I was shocked that I passed him in the sprint, but I'm very happy."

Wallays was in the spotlight after the 2011 Belgian championships in 2011 in Gits. He took the bronze medal behind Philippe Gilbert and Gianni Meersman. 

"Then I thought that the train had left," said Wallays. "But that was not the case. I always work hard, but I have had a lot of bad luck in recent years and sometimes fell sick at the wrong time, especially in the spring where there are lots of races for me. I have taken this win partly out of frustration. 

"I am very happy at Topsport-Vlaanderen, but I want to take a step forward to a WorldTour team. I hope that everyone has now seen what I'm capable of. If I can do a good spring with this condition, I will be able to do good things."