Bretagne Classic - Ouest-France 2024: Everything you need to know about the Breton classic
Thomas Huber
· 23.08.2024
A total of six races will be held during the "4 Jours Cic de Plouay 2024" - the four cycling days of Plouay. In addition to the two elite races, the following other cycling competitions will be held for para-athletes, young riders and amateurs:
- Grand Prix Plouay Paracycling (Thursday, 22 August)
- Grand Prix Men Junior (Friday, 23 August)
- Grand Prix Ceratizit Women Junior (Saturday, 24 August)
- Classic Lorient Agglomeration - Ceratizit (Saturday, 24 August) - UCI Women's World Tour
- Grand Prix Plouay Elite Men (Sunday, 25 August)
- Bretagne Classic - Ouest-France (Sunday, 25 August) - UCI World Tour
Bretagne Classic - Ouest-France: The men's World Tour race
The Bretagne Classic - Ouest-France will be held for the 93rd time on 25 August 2024. The one-day race stretches over 259.6 kilometres and includes 4250 metres of climbing. It starts and finishes on the Circuit Jean-Yves Perron in Ploulay. Overall, there are hardly any flat sections and the circuit is characterised by numerous short climbs typical of the classics. In particular, the climb to Rostervel nine kilometres before the finish and the climb to Lezot four kilometres before the finish could be decisive for the race.
The 2024 Bretagne Classic is looking for the successor to Valentin Madouas (Groupama-FDJ), who won the race last year. The Breton rider will be competing in his home race again this year. The race starts on Sunday 25 August at 10:30 am. Around 5 pm the drivers will cross the finish line.
The women's race Classic Lorient Agglomeration - Ceratizit
The Classic Lorient Agglomeration - Ceratizit women's race takes place on 24 August, one day before the men's race. The one-day race has been part of the UCI Women's World Tour since 2022. The 2024 edition is 158 kilometres long, on which the riders have to overcome 2540 metres in altitude. The elite women's race also starts and finishes in Plouay. The character of the route is similar to that of the men's race: the riders have to tackle numerous tough climbs. Typical classic riders are therefore likely to have the best cards.
Last year, Mischa Bredewold (Team SD Worx - Protime) won the Classic Lorient Agglomeration - Ceratizit in a bunch sprint. The Dutchwoman is taking part again this year and is one of the favourites. The race will kick off on Saturday 24 August at 12:30 pm, around 5 pm the riders should then cross the finish line.
TV broadcast & live stream of Bretagne Classic - Ouest-France
The women's and men's races will not be broadcast live on TV. On Saturday 24 August, Eurosport 1 will broadcast a race summary of the elite women's race Classic Lorient Agglomeration - Ceratizit from 6pm to 7pm. On Sunday 25 August, there will be a summary of the men's race of the Bretagne Classic - Ouest-France from 6pm to 7.30pm.
Both the Bretagne Classic - Ouest-France and the women's Classic Lorient Agglomeration - Ceratizit will be broadcast on the paid streaming service Discovery Plus. The men's race can be followed live there on Sunday 25 August from 12:40 to 17:10. The women's race will be broadcast live on Saturday 24 August from 14:10 to 17:10. There will also be a free live stream from the organiser for the other races at "4 Jours Cic de Ploulay 2024".
Further races at "4 Jours Cic de Ploulay 2024"
Since 2021, the Grand Prix de Plouay de Paracycling. There are different race formats for para-athletes and different distances for women and men. There are solo and tandem bike races, as well as competitions for handbike riders. There will be a total of six different races on Thursday 22 August. The day is fully dedicated to paracycling.
On Friday, 23 August, the Grand Prix de Ploulay Juniors Men on. It is a race for young male cyclists in the U19 category. The talented cyclists tackle 140.4 kilometres and 2050 metres in altitude. It will be held from 4 pm to around 7.15 pm. The defending champion is Louis Chaleil, who rides for the Decathlon AG2R La Mondiale U19 team.
The Saturday of the "4 Jours Cic de Ploulay" is dedicated to women's cycling. In addition to the elite women's race Classic Lorient Agglomeration - Ceratizit, there will also be an U19 race for talented female cyclists: the Grand Prix Ceratizit Juniors Women. The race is held parallel to the women's elite race. The juniors have to overcome a total of 94.5 kilometres and 1440 metres in altitude. Last year's winner was British rider Carys Lloyd, who will be riding for the World Tour team Movistar from the 2025 season.
The Grand Prix Plouay Elite Men is the biggest amateur race in Brittany. Young professionals now also compete in this race - including riders from Pro Tour teams or Continental teams, i.e. riders from the second and third leagues of cycling. The race was held for the first time in 2002, and all the winners, without exception, have gone on to become professionals. This race provides a stage for ambitious amateur riders to make the leap into professional cycling. The riders have to conquer 187.2 kilometres and 2736 metres in altitude at the 2024 edition. The 2024 Grand Prix Plouay Elite Men will be looking for the successor to Pierre Thierry, who will be under contract to Arkea-B&B Hotels from the 2025 season.
