Profile Bretagne Classic 2026: Plouay – Plouay
Plouay – Plouay, 228 kilometers
The race returns to its somewhat traditional format, with 228 kilometers in distance and 2900 meters of climbing throughout the day. A long race featuring countless small efforts up short hills, and constantly technical roads.
The race is not overly difficult in a profile point of view, but the profile does not show the technical features and explosivity that the race will feature. It’s not just the many climbs, but also the many extra fights for positioning that will be required when comparing to a regular race.
An attack can be decisive on the climbs, and inbetween them. Avoiding those multiple sharp efforts for positioning can also be important; and so the tactical aspect of this race is very important.
The riders reach the final circuit and then have four laps, including the Côte de Ty Marrec (1.3Km at 5.3%) and the Côte de Lezot (1.2Km at 4.4%). On the final lap, only the first will be ridden, ending with 5 kilometers to go.
The finale features an uphill drag to the line where a sprint often decides the winner, but provides an opportunity for those that are less explosive to surprise.
Preview Bretagne Classic 2026This is a race that often ends in a sprint, as modernly, many of the best also handle climbs quite well. Take Jasper Philipsen who just won the Renewi Tour, he is a clear favourite whilst Paul Magnier is also known to be able to do the same. These are the two teams with the responsibility to control the race, although others will at a latter point in the race certainly help keep things together.
Jayco has reason to do so for Michael Matthews and Andrea Vendrame, whilst teams like Astana (Mike Teunissen) and Red Bull (Laurence Pithie) have their best cards in a sprinter, who can finish on the podium quite nicely. But plenty others are in a similar situation.
Jake Stewart, Pavel Bittner and EF trio Marijn van den Berg, Noah Hobbs and Madis Mihkels are all sprinters who will try to survive; whilst a few riders can sprint well and benefit from the hard race: Efoardo Zambanini, Lukas Kubis, Natnael Tesfatsion, Ivan García Cortina and Jon Barrenetxea.
On the other hands, there are dozens of classics specialists who will want to disrupt the race, and a few are well capable of making the difference and going on to fight for the win. There are some riders who will want the hardest race possible like Louis Barré, Tiesj Benoot or Michael Valgren for example, who are not explosive and could hence have bigger chances of making the difference on the final climbs.
But the men to look out for, uphill, are Romain Grégoire and Jan Christen mainly, two of the best pure puncheurs in the world. Riders like Paul Lapeira, Mathias Vacek, Jenno Berckmoes and Benoît Cosnefroy can also be extremely powerful and dangerous.
Others will mostly have to look at the transition phases between climbs if they want to win, but resisting the terrain means they may have good opportunities towards the end. Marc Hirschi, Alec Segaert, Jonas Abrahamsen, Marco Frigo, Liam Slock, Quinten Hermans, Tim van Dijke, Neilson Powless and Per Strand Hagenes are also dangerous riders to look out for.
Prediction Bretagne Classic 2026:
*** Jasper Philipsen, Paul Magnier
** Laurence Pithie, Romain Grégoire, Benoît Cosnefroy
* Michael Matthews, Mike Teunissen, Pavel Bittner, Natnael Tesfatsion, Lukas Kubis, Paul Lapeira, Marc Hirschi, Jonas Abrahamsen, Quinten Hermans, Mathias Vacek, Jenno Berckmoes, Louis Barré, Jan Christen
Pick: Jasper Philipsen
How: Reduced peloton sprint.
List of winners Bretagne Classic Year1st2nd3rd2025Arnaud De LieEmilien JeannièreOlav Kooij2024Marc HirschiPaul MagnierMagnus Cort2023Valentin MadouasMathieu BurgaudeauFelix Großschartner2022Wout van AertAxel LauranceAlexander Kamp2021Benoît CosnefroyJulian AlaphilippeMikkel Frølich Honoré2020Michael MatthewsLuka MezgecFlorian Sénéchal2019Sep VanmarckeTiesj BenootJack Haig2018Oliver NaesenMichael ValgrenTim Wellens2017Elia VivianiAlexander KristoffSonny Colbrelli2016Oliver NaesenAlberto BettiolAlexander Kristoff2015Alexander KristoffSimone PonziRamūnas Navardauskas2014Sylvain ChavanelAndrea FediArthur Vichot2013Filippo PozzatoGiacomo NizzoloSamuel Dumoulin2012Edvald Boasson HagenRui CostaHeinrich Haussler2011Grega BoleSimon GerransThomas Voeckler2010Matthew GossTyler FarrarYoann Offredo2009Simon GerransPierrick FédrigoPaul Martens2008Pierrick FédrigoAlessandro BallanDavid López2007Thomas VoecklerThor HushovdDanilo Di Luca2006Vincenzo NibaliJuan Antonio FlechaManuele Mori2005George HincapieAlexandre UsovDavide Rebellin2004Didier RousSerge BaguetGuido Trentin2003Andy FlickingerAnthony GeslinNicolas Jalabert2002Jeremy HuntStuart O’GradyBaden Cooke2001Nico MattanPatrice HalgandPatrick Jonker2000Michele BartoliNico MattanWalter Bénéteau1999Christophe MenginMarkus ZbergSergei Ivanov1998Pascal HervéLudo DierckxsensStéphane Heulot1997Andrea FerrigatoSergio BarberoChris Horner1996Frank VandenbrouckeLaurent BrochardAndrei Tchmil1995Rolf JärmannLaurent MadouasChristian Henn1994Andrei TchmilRichard VirenqueJens Heppner1993Thierry ClaveyrolatJean-François BernardThierry Laurent1992Ronan PensecSerge BaguetThierry Claveyrolat1991Armand De Las CuevasAndreas KappesMiguel Arroyo1990Bruno CornilletMartial GayantThomas Wegmüller1989Jean-Claude ColottiBruno CornilletGilles Delion1988Luc LeblancCharly MottetPatrice Esnault1987Gilbert Duclos-LassalleJean-Claude BagotFrédéric Brun1986Martial GayantSean KellySøren Lilholt1985Eric GuyotRudy MatthijsMarc Madiot1984Sean KellyFrédéric VichotÉric Caritoux1983Pierre BazzoMarc MadiotStephen Roche1982Francis CastaingRégis ClèreDidier Vanoverschelde1981Gilbert Duclos-LassalleDominique ArnaudRaymond Martin1980Patrick FriouJacques BossisBernard Becaas1979Frits PirardJean ChassangYvon Bertin1978Pierre-Raymond VillemianeJoop ZoetemelkMarcel Tinazzi1977Jacques BossisRoger LegeayChristian Seznec1976Jacques BossisPatrick PerretPierre-Raymond Villemiane1975Cyrille GuimardJean-Louis DanguillaumeGuy Santy1974Raymond MartinJacques BotherelClaude Aiguesparses1973Jean-Claude LargeauGilbert BelloneGuy Sibille1972Robert BoulouxGérard BesnardEnzo Mattioda1971Jean-Pierre DanguillaumeJacques GestraudRaymond Delisle1970Gianni MarcariniRobert BoulouxRoland Berland1969Jean JourdenFrançois GoasduffLéon-Paul Ménard1968Jean JourdenJean-Claude LebaubeAndré Zimmermann1967François HamonGeorges ChappeMaurice Morin1966Claude MazeaudJean BourlèsPierre Le Mellec1965François GoasduffHubert NielJean-Louis Jaguneau1964Jean BourlèsHubert FerrerJean Gainche1963Fernand PicotPierre Le MellecFernand Delort1962Jean GaincheGeorges GroussardJoseph Morvan1961Fernand PicotÉmile Le BigaultMax Bléneau1960Hubert FerrerAndré FoucherJoseph Velly1959Emmanuel CrennJean GaincheFélix Le Buhotel1958Jean GaincheAndré RuffetFernand Picot1957Isaac VitréJoseph MorvanJoseph Groussard1956Valentin HuotRené FournierJoseph Morvan1955Jacques PetitjeanJacques DupontJoseph Le Cadet1954Ugo AnzileJean Le GuillyJean Gadras1953Serge BlussonLouis GilletRaymond Scardin1952Émile GuérinelFrançois MahéJean Bobet1951Émile GuérinelGuy ButteuxJean Erussard1950Armand AudaireAndré RuffetGermain Mercier1949Armand AudaireGuy ButteuxRené Haugustaine1948Eloi TassinFrancis ChrétienRaymond Louviot1947Raymond LouviotAlbert BourlonRoger Chupin1946Ange Le StratRoger ChupinPierre Cogan