Preview: Can Anyone Challenge UAE's Star-Studded Team in Bretagne Classic 2025

The Bretagne Classic Ouest-France is traditionally—and once again this year—a challenging, hilly race with Plouay as the epicenter. The course designer has drawn up a slightly longer loop compared to last year. While riders had to cover 259.8 kilometers twelve months ago, the total distance now amounts to no less than 261.7 kilometers.

And that’s not all, because over this just under 262-kilometer distance, riders also have to climb an impressive 4,352 meters of elevation gain. To underline how tough this is: these figures correspond to an average Alpine or Pyrenean stage in the Tour de France. Compared to previous editions, the race has thus become significantly more demanding.

Last season, the elevation gain (4,250 m) was already notable, but in the years before that it was ‘only’ 3,600 m (2021), 2,800 m (2020), 3,700 m (2019), and 2,800 m (2018) in the (then) Grand Prix de Plouay. Now, there are considerably more meters of climbing, which will certainly lead to a tough race scenario. This suits the stronger climbing puncheurs who will line up at the start.

The organization has largely kept last year’s route intact, though there are some shifts in emphasis. Whether this will influence the race dynamics is debatable, knowing that the Bretagne Classic-Ouest France generally falls into place decisively only in the finale, once riders have started the local circuit. If the first hours of racing pass by slowly, there is still plenty to enjoy for fans of natural beauty: the rugged surroundings of the Brittany region are shown off in all their glory.

In the opening roughly 160 kilometers, there is already significant climbing, but perhaps the real action begins just over 100 kilometers from the finish. At that point, riders face a tough two-step challenge. It starts with the Col du Toullaeron (2.6 km at 4.4%), followed not long after by the Ty Coz (2.3 km at 5.4%). These climbs are still in the Finistère department. Two years ago, there was an unpaved section between Gourin and Guiscriff (the 1.1-kilometer gravel stretch of Les Hellès at 6.3%), but that will once again be bypassed.

After the Ty Coz, there are still ninety kilometers to the finish, but the finale can already open up. There will be no standstill on the narrow, hilly, and twisting roads on the west side of France. Before the last circuit in Plouay, there are at least ten serious climbs remaining, each with gradients between 5 and 10%. That will take a real toll.

The course in the finale of the Bretagne Classic has also been significantly reshaped compared to recent years. The now-familiar local circuit in Plouay is no longer part of the race, meaning riders face different but still tough climbs. Think of the Côte de Marta (1 km at 7.8%), Côte de Kerscoulan (1.5 km at 4.3%), and Côte de Lezot (700 meters at 5.1%). From there, about four kilometers remain to the finish. That final stretch mostly descends gently toward the finish line.

Favorites

The complete start list for the Bretagne Classic-Ouest France is not yet known. Therefore, the favorites section is not fully filled in. If a start list becomes available in time, we will update and revise this preview accordingly.

August is traditionally a busy month for racing. Cycling events are organized all across Europe. Most attention currently goes to Spain, where the third and last grand tour of the season—the Vuelta a España—is taking place. However, this does not mean that the Bretagne Classic-Ouest France organizer has to make do with a weakened lineup.

One could even say that the start list of the Vuelta pales in comparison to that of the Bretagne Classic. The crème de la crème of the classics field has massively flocked to Plouay. With some exaggeration, we could even call this race the ultimate test for the upcoming European Road Cycling Championships, which will also take place in France.

Browsing through the participants list reveals one big name after another, but what characteristics must one have to win the Bretagne Classic? Looking at the last ten editions, attackers (think Oliver Naesen, Benoît Cosnefroy, Valentin Madouas, and Marc Hirschi) have quite often taken the top prize. However, it is also quite common for the race to end in a sprint from a reduced group, which has brought victories for Alexander Kristoff, Elia Viviani, and Michael Matthews.