Bretagne Classic

Last updated
Bretagne Classic
Bretagne Classic logo-2023.png
Race details
DateLate August
Region Brittany, France
English nameBrittany Classic West France
Local name(s)Bretagne Classic Ouest-France (in French)
Discipline Road
Competition UCI World Tour
TypeOne-day race
OrganiserComité des Fêtes de Plouay
Web site pco.bzh/4-jours-cic-plouay/grand-prix-bretagne-classic.php OOjs UI icon edit-ltr-progressive.svg
History
First edition1931;93 years ago (1931)
Editions87 (as of 2023)
First winnerFlag of France.svg  François Favé  (FRA)
Most wins10 riders with 2 wins
Most recentFlag of France.svg  Valentin Madouas  (FRA)

The Bretagne Classic, also called Bretagne Classic Ouest-France, is an elite cycling classic held annually in late summer around the Breton village of Plouay in western France.

Contents

The race was originally named Grand-Prix de Plouay and, from 1989 to 2015, GP Ouest-France. It was included in the inaugural UCI ProTour in 2005 and in 2011 in its successor, the UCI World Tour. Since 2016 it is called Bretagne Classic Ouest-France. [1]

Since 2002, a women's event, the Classic Lorient Agglomération is organized on Saturday, the day before the men's race. Supporting events have grown over the years and now include BMX races, track racing and a mass-participation ride, as part of a four–day festival in the last summer weekend in Brittany.

History

Gilbert Duclos-Lassalle (pictured at the 1993 Paris-Nice) is the last French rider to have won the race twice Gilbert DUCLOS-LASALLE.jpg
Gilbert Duclos-Lassalle (pictured at the 1993 Paris–Nice) is the last French rider to have won the race twice

The Bretagne Classic, originally named Circuit de Plouay and later the Grand-Prix de Plouay, [1] was created in 1931 by former Tour de France doctor Berty, who used his influence to attract some of the biggest names of French cycling to the inaugural edition. [2] Breton rider François Favé won the inaugural edition. In its first decades the race was dominated by French riders. The first non-French winner was Italian Ugo Anzile in 1954, the second was Holland's Frits Pirard in 1979. Ten riders have won the race two times, all of them French except Oliver Naesen, the most recent to do so with wins in 2016 and 2018.

Throughout its history, the roll of honour includes some illustrious winners. Séan Kelly was the first English-speaking rider to win in 1984. Belgian Frank Vandenbroucke became the youngest winner in 1996, at the age of 21. [3] Italian Vincenzo Nibali, on his way to cycling legend, took a surprise victory in 2006, at the age of 22. [4] Australians Simon Gerrans and Matthew Goss won in 2009 and 2010 respectively, with Norway's Edvald Boasson Hagen soloing to victory in 2012 and Italy's Filippo Pozzato helping resurrect his career with a surprise win in 2013. [5] [6]

In 2014 the attackers managed to hold off the chasing peloton, with Frenchman Sylvain Chavanel winning the seven-man sprint. [7] Alexander Kristoff was only two seconds behind, winning the sprint for eighth place. [8] In 2015 it was Kristoff's turn for victory, leading out a bunch sprint of 69 riders. [9]

Route

The race starts and finishes in the small village of Plouay, in the heartland of French cycling. The course consists of eight laps of a demanding 27 km (17 mi) circuit and one 14 km (8.7 mi) lap in the backdrop of Brittany. The circuit is known for its high rate of attrition, featuring climbs and technical descents. The total distance covered is 247 km (153.5 mi). [1]

The first climb is addressed almost immediately after the start as the race goes over the Côte du Lézot, a one-kilometre (0.62 mi) climb with an average gradient of 6%. Next is a gentle six-kilometre (3.7 mi) ascent up to the Chapelle Sainte-Anne des Bois, marking the halfway point of the circuit. After a flat section, the race addresses the Côte de Ty-Marrec, with a maximum gradient of 10%.

The race ends with a final lap of 14 km (8.7 mi), with the last climb of the Côte de Ty-Marrec providing opportunities to launch attacks or distance sprinters. Sometimes a small group of riders manages to stay away, but often they are caught by the sprinters and their teams in sight of the finish line. [2]

Winners

YearCountryRiderTeam
"Circuit de Plouay"
1931 Flag of France.svg  France François Favé
1932 Flag of France.svg  France Philippe Bono
1933 Flag of France.svg  France Philippe Bono
1934 Flag of France.svg  France Lucien Tulot
1935 Flag of France.svg  France Jean Le Dily
1936 Flag of France.svg  France Pierre Cogan
1937 Flag of France.svg  France Jean-Marie Goasmat
1938 Flag of France.svg  France Pierre Cloarec
1945 Flag of France.svg  France Eloi Tassin
1946 Flag of France.svg  France Ange Le Strat
1947 Flag of France.svg  France Raymond Louviot
1948 Flag of France.svg  France Eloi Tassin
1949 Flag of France.svg  France Amand Audaire
1950 Flag of France.svg  France Amand Audaire
1951 Flag of France.svg  France Émile Guérinel
1952 Flag of France.svg  France Émile Guérinel
1953 Flag of France.svg  France Serge Blusson
1954 Flag of Italy.svg  Italy Ugo Anzile
1955 Flag of France.svg  France Jean Petitjean
1956 Flag of France.svg  France Valentin Huot
1957 Flag of France.svg  France Isaac Vitré
1958 Flag of France.svg  France Jean Gainche
1959 Flag of France.svg  France Emmanuel Crenn
"Grand-Prix de Plouay"
1960 Flag of France.svg  France Hubert Ferrer
1961 Flag of France.svg  France Fernand Picot
1962 Flag of France.svg  France Jean Gainche
1963 Flag of France.svg  France Fernand Picot
1964 Flag of France.svg  France Jean Bourlès
1965 Flag of France.svg  France François Goasduff
1966 Flag of France.svg  France Claude Mazeaud
1967 Flag of France.svg  France François Hamon
1968 Flag of France.svg  France Jean Jourden
1969 Flag of France.svg  France Jean Jourden
1970 Flag of France.svg  France Jean Marcarini
1971 Flag of France.svg  France Jean-Pierre Danguillaume
1972 Flag of France.svg  France Robert Bouloux
1973 Flag of France.svg  France Jean-Claude Largeau
1974 Flag of France.svg  France Raymond Martin
1975 Flag of France.svg  France Cyrille Guimard
1976 Flag of France.svg  France Jacques Bossis
1977 Flag of France.svg  France Jacques Bossis
1978 Flag of France.svg  France Pierre-Raymond Villemiane
1979 Flag of the Netherlands.svg  Netherlands Frits Pirard
1980 Flag of France.svg  France Patrick Friou
1981 Flag of France.svg  France Gilbert Duclos-Lassalle
1982 Flag of France.svg  France François Castaing
1983 Flag of France.svg  France Pierre Bazzo
1984 Flag of Ireland.svg  Ireland Sean Kelly Skil–Reydel–Sem–Mavic
1985 Flag of France.svg  France Éric Guyot Skil–Sem–Kas–Miko
1986 Flag of France.svg  France Martial Gayant Système U
1987 Flag of France.svg  France Gilbert Duclos-Lassalle Vétements Z–Peugeot
1988 Flag of France.svg  France Luc Leblanc Toshiba–Look
"GP Ouest-France"
1989 Flag of France.svg  France Jean-Claude Colotti R.M.O.
1990 Flag of France.svg  France Bruno Cornillet Z–Tomasso
1991 Flag of France.svg  France Armand de Las Cuevas Banesto
1992 Flag of France.svg  France Ronan Pensec R.M.O.
1993 Flag of France.svg  France Thierry Claveyrolat GAN
1994 Flag of Moldova.svg  Moldova Andreï Tchmil Lotto
1995 Flag of Switzerland (Pantone).svg   Switzerland Rolf Järmann MG Maglificio
1996 Flag of Belgium (civil).svg  Belgium Frank Vandenbroucke Mapei–GB
1997 Flag of Italy.svg  Italy Andrea Ferrigato Roslotto–ZG Mobili
1998 Flag of France.svg  France Pascal Hervé Festina–Lotus
1999 Flag of France.svg  France Christophe Mengin Française des Jeux
2000 Flag of Italy.svg  Italy Michele Bartoli Mapei–Quick-Step
2001 Flag of Belgium (civil).svg  Belgium Nico Mattan Cofidis
2002 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg  Great Britain Jeremy Hunt BigMat–Auber 93
2003 Flag of France.svg  France Andy Flickinger AG2R Prévoyance
2004 Flag of France.svg  France Didier Rous Brioches La Boulangère
2005 no winner [lower-alpha 1]
2006 Flag of Italy.svg  Italy Vincenzo Nibali Liquigas
2007 Flag of France.svg  France Thomas Voeckler Bouygues Télécom
2008 Flag of France.svg  France Pierrick Fédrigo Bouygues Télécom
2009 Flag of Australia (converted).svg  Australia Simon Gerrans Cervélo TestTeam
2010 Flag of Australia (converted).svg  Australia Matthew Goss Team HTC–Columbia
2011 Flag of Slovenia.svg  Slovenia Grega Bole Lampre–ISD
2012 Flag of Norway.svg  Norway Edvald Boasson Hagen Team Sky
2013 Flag of Italy.svg  Italy Filippo Pozzato Lampre–Merida
2014 Flag of France.svg  France Sylvain Chavanel IAM Cycling
2015 Flag of Norway.svg  Norway Alexander Kristoff Team Katusha
"Bretagne Classic"
2016 Flag of Belgium (civil).svg  Belgium Oliver Naesen IAM Cycling
2017 Flag of Italy.svg  Italy Elia Viviani Team Sky
2018 Flag of Belgium (civil).svg  Belgium Oliver Naesen AG2R La Mondiale
2019 Flag of Belgium (civil).svg  Belgium Sep Vanmarcke EF Education First
2020 Flag of Australia (converted).svg  Australia Michael Matthews Team Sunweb
2021 Flag of France.svg  France Benoît Cosnefroy AG2R Citroën Team
2022 Flag of Belgium (civil).svg  Belgium Wout van Aert Team Jumbo–Visma
2023 Flag of France.svg  France Valentin Madouas Groupama–FDJ
  1. George Hincapie was declared winner. However, in 2012, he was stripped of all results by the UCI between May 31, 2004, and July 31, 2006 due to his use of performance-enhancing drugs.

Multiple winners

WinsRiderEditions
2Flag of France.svg  Philippe Bono  (FRA) 1932 + 1933
Flag of France.svg  Eloi Tassin  (FRA) 1945 + 1948
Flag of France.svg  Amand Audaire  (FRA) 1949 + 1950
Flag of France.svg  Émile Guérinel  (FRA) 1951 + 1952
Flag of France.svg  Jean Gainche  (FRA) 1958 + 1962
Flag of France.svg  Fernand Picot  (FRA) 1961 + 1963
Flag of France.svg  Jean Jourden  (FRA) 1968 + 1969
Flag of France.svg  Jacques Bossis  (FRA) 1976 + 1977
Flag of France.svg  Gilbert Duclos-Lassalle  (FRA) 1981 + 1987
Flag of Belgium (civil).svg  Oliver Naesen  (BEL) 2016 + 2018

Wins per country

WinsCountry
63Flag of France.svg France
6Flag of Belgium (civil).svg Belgium
Flag of Italy.svg Italy
3Flag of Australia (converted).svg Australia
2Flag of Norway.svg  Norway
1Flag of Ireland.svg  Ireland
Flag of Moldova.svg  Moldova
Flag of the Netherlands.svg Netherlands
Flag of Slovenia.svg  Slovenia
Flag of Switzerland (Pantone).svg  Switzerland
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg United Kingdom

Classic Lorient Agglomération

Since 2002, a women's event, the Classic Lorient Agglomération has been organized, using the same circuit. Originally part of the UCI Women's Road World Cup, the race is now part of the UCI Women's World Tour. [10] [11] Britain's Lizzie Deignan holds the record with three wins.

Trivia

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References

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