PARIS, Sept 22, 2010 (AFP) – Sprinters with an eye on victory at the Paris-Tours one-day classic will have extra motivation during the 104th edition in a fortnight when the Avenue de Grammont hosts the finish for the last time.

The Grammont has traditionally hosted the finish of the race, which usually ends in a bunch sprint thanks to the 2.7km long home straight after 233km of racing.

Because of the construction of a new tramway system in the city, race organizers ASO (Amaury Sports Organization) have had to make contingency plans.

In the finale of this year’s race it will be business as usual, but from
2011 onwards ASO will have to find a new finish line, albeit “with the aim of maintaining the same kind of finish to the race,” according to an ASO spokesman.

The 25 teams for Paris-Tours:
Germany: Milram
Belgium: Quick Step, Omega Pharma, Topsport
Denmark: Saxo Bank
Spain: Caisse d’Epargne
United States: HTC-Columbia, Garmin-Transitions, RadioShack, BMC
France: AG2R-La Mondiale, FDJ, Bbox, Cofidis, Saur-Sojasun, Big Mat, Bretagne-Schuller, Roubaix-Lille Metropole
Britain: Sky
Italy: Lampre, Liquigas
Netherlands: Rabobank, Skil, Vacansoleil
Russia: Katusha