Race Report: Classic Lorient Agglomération

The GP de Plouay, officially known as Classic Lorient Agglomération, is on the calendar of the women’s WorldTour since 2020, however the race started it’s women series in 1999 . This year, the 158-kilometer race was a victory for Mischa Bredewold of SD Worx-Protime. Bredewold’s triumph was her second consecutive win in Plouay, making her part of an elite group of riders who have managed to win this challenging race back-to-back.

How the race unfolded

The GP de Plouay is renowned for its punishing course that winds through the rolling hills of Southern Brittany. The race started with a large peloton navigating the first 60 kilometers cautiously, with multiple teams testing the waters with small attacks, none of which managed to stick early on. The peloton’s pace was measured, and the riders were clearly saving their energy for what would be a highly demanding final.

The first significant move came when Linda Zanetti (Human Powered Health) broke away, gradually extending her lead as the race progressed into its middle stages. With 75 kilometers remaining, Zanetti was joined by Maaike Coljé (Arkéa-B&B Hotels) and her teammate Henrietta Christie. The trio worked well together, building a lead that peaked at around two minutes.

However, as the peloton began to organize its chase, spearheaded by teams like SD Worx and Movistar, the gap began to decrease. The race was now entering its most challenging phase, with several key climbs and technical sections that would test the riders’ legs and tactical nous.

As the peloton approached the final 50 kilometers, the breakaway’s advantage dwindled, and the key players began to position themselves for the decisive moves. Elisa Longo Borghini (Lidl-Trek) launched a powerful attack that was immediately marked by Chloé Dygert (Canyon-SRAM), Bredewold, and others including Liane Lippert (Movistar), Shirin van Anrooij (Lidl-Trek), and Amber Kraak (FDJ-Suez). This elite group quickly gained a 15-second advantage, but a lack of cooperation saw Kraak go solo with 44 kilometers remaining.

Kraak’s bold move initially looked promising as the gap extended to over two minutes. However, her solo effort was gradually reeled in, particularly as Movistar and Lidl-Trek committed to the chase. With just over 5 kilometers remaining, Lippert made her move on the steep Bosse du Lezot climb, catching and passing Kraak, with Bredewold and Dygert hot on her heels.

The final few kilometers were a masterclass in tactical racing. Dygert, known for her time trial abilities, briefly gained a small gap after a well-timed attack with just over 1 kilometer to go. Bredewold, however, kept her cool, staying on Lippert’s wheel before launching her sprint in the final 250 meters. Using Dygert’s slipstream to her advantage, Bredewold surged past her in the last 50 meters to claim a memorable victory.

Mischa Bredewold’s victory showed her tactical intelligence. By timing her sprint to perfection, she managed to outmaneuver two of the strongest riders in the peloton, Dygert and Lippert, who finished second and third, respectively.

After the race, Bredewold expressed her joy and emotion, particularly since this was her final race in the European champion’s jersey. “It’s unbelievable, it really means a lot to me. It’s my last race in this jersey, and it’s been such an incredible year. It’s been so special to wear it,” she said, with tears of joy in her eyes.

Chloé Dygert, who fought valiantly in the final kilometers, was gracious in defeat, acknowledging the strength and savvy of Bredewold in the closing moments. “I gave it everything I had today, especially in the final kilometers. I knew I had to take the initiative, but Mischa [Bredewold] was incredibly strong. I’m proud of how I raced and how close I came, but there’s always more to learn.”

With the cancelation of the Tour of Scandinavia, the next stop in the Women’s WorldTour is Tour de Romandie