Dutch rider Erik Dekker won the 252.5-kilometer Paris to Tours cycling classic, sprinting to the finish line ahead of the chasing pack. Dekker broke away about 500 meters before the finish line Sunday, and finished in five-hours, 33 minutes and three seconds. It was the ninth race of the 10-event World Cup season. Dekker glanced over his shoulder before he crossed the finish line just ahead of German Danilo Hondo, in second place, and Spaniard Oscar Freire in third. Both men were credited with the same time.
While Dekker got 100 points for the victory, Italian Paolo Bettini leads the overall World Cup standing with 340 points. Davide Rebellin is second with 327, while defending world champion Oscar Friere is third with 252. Dekker is fourth with 237.