Tour champion Pauline Ferrand Prévot returns to racing, Bredewold digs deep to triumph after difficult week.
Mischa Bredewold on the podium ahead of Marianne Vos (Team Visma – Lease a Bike) and
Eline Jansen (Team VolkerWessels Cycling)
(Photo: Luc Claessen/Getty Images)
Updated August 30, 2025 04:56PM
Showing huge determination in a long drag race to the line, Dutch rider Mischa Bredewold outpaced her more famous compatriot Marianne Vos on Saturday, winning the GP Plouay for the third time in her career.
Now known as the Classic Lorient Agglomération – Ceratizit, the WorldTour race came down to a sprint after a dangerous move was recaptured inside 4km to go.
Vos and Bredewold had both won two editions of the race and were each vying for their third title, something which would bring them level with Lizzie Deignan.
“I can’t believe it,” Bredewold said after she emerged best in the gallop.
“I haven’t had the easiest few days. I was riding for my grandmother today. We received some bad news earlier this week and I was determined to perform well. The team helped me tremendously. They believed in me and made me feel that.
“The fact that I crashed didn’t throw me off balance. Two years ago, I was also involved in a crash during my first victory. Maybe crashing brings me luck in GP Plouay! Even after the crash, the team continued to believe in me. They did a perfect job in the chase. Their support gave me wings.”
US rider Chloe Dygert (Canyon-SRAM-Zondacrypto) was at the back of the group just before the sprint but put in a big effort to get into position. She finished sixth, with Ruth Edwards (Human Powered Health) 11th.
Vos appears to make tactical error
Vos went close to a third victory but may have launched too soon. (Photo: Luc Claessen/Getty Images)
Vos’ Visma-Lease a Bike team took control and gave her a strong leadout. However the 38 year old appeared to misjudge Bredewold’s strength in the sprint. The latter launched the gallop and while Vos was perfectly poised on her wheel and could have remained there until closer to the line, she kicked clear early.
Vos moved ahead, but then a determined Bredewold inched forwards again and triumphed.
Her victories in the past two years helped her to judge her finishing effort just right.
“I know this finish really well and it suits me perfectly, but it remains tricky,” she said.
“I approached the final meters at speed, but at one point Marianne Vos overtook me. It felt like she was in the lead for a long time. But I knew I had to keep going and give it my all in an attempt to beat her.
“Marianne is the GOAT, an inspiration and a true legend. Our sprint battle in the Vuelta was already special. I’m glad I managed to beat her in a sprint this time.
“Winning the GP Plouay for the third year in a row feels like a dream.”
Tour champion returns to competition
Chloe Dygert (Canyon-SRAM-Zondacrypto) powered in for sixth place while Pauline Ferrand-Prévot also rode well. (Photo: Luc Claessen/Getty Images)
The race marked the competitive return of Pauline Ferrand-Prévot, the Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift champion.
She hadn’t competed since taking that race almost a month ago. She was active in the finale prior to things coming back together, and rolled in towards the back of the lead group.
“It was nice to be back in the race. As a team, we performed well today,” she said.
“Eva [van Agt] and Margaux [Vigié] did an excellent job in the breakaway, and later we were also able to show ourselves in the finale.
“I’m happy with how we raced together. It feels good to have some race kilometers in the legs again.”
She is next due to compete in the world road championships at the end of the month.