This Sunday, four weeks after the Clasica San Sebastian, a new World tour race is on the menu. The Bretagne Classic – Ouest France (1.WT, 29/08) offers opportunities for classic riders and strong sprinters thanks to the 251 kilometer on the typical hilly roads in Brittany. I the previously named Grand Prix de Plouay, 4000 meters of climbing have to be covered between Plouay and the Bay of Douarnenez. The hills are well divided over the parcours, with among them the unpaved Saoutalarin (1.8km at 5.1%), and a concentration in the final and on the circuit in Plouay. The rider reach this final lap 17 kilometer before the finish. The Pont Neuf (1.5km at 4.2%), Lezot (1.4 km at 3.9%), Lann Payot (1.3 km at 2.6%) and again the Pont Neuf determine the final. A descent of 2 kilometer brings the strongest riders of this Bretagne Classic to the large and slightly uphill finish. Last year, Aimé De Gendt managed to escape from the peloton on the Pont Neuf with six other riders and sprint for the victory. If a breakaway will again survive this season will be known around 17h.
Intermarché-Wanty-Gobert will be at the start in Brittany with leaders Biniam Girmay Hailu, Quinten Hermans and Baptiste Planckaert. While Planckaert helped his teammates to podium spots and victories in the Arctic Race of Norway and on Belgian soil, Girmay Hailu and Hermans showed their good form in the Tour de Pologne. The Eritrean rider added a 7th place in the Druivenkoers in Overijse last Thursday. The Bretagne Classic – Ouest France is Hermans’ last road race before joining Tormans Cyclo Cross team on training camp to prepare the cyclocross season. The French rider Jérémy Bellicaud and Belgian riders Ludwig De Winter, Tom Devriendt and Pieter Vanspeybrouck are ready to support their leaders, under the sportive direction of Frédéric Amorison.
After my first weeks with Intermarché-Wanty-Gobert, I can say that I feel very good and I am very motivated. I was warmly welcomed and like the atmosphere. I managed to achieve my first top 10 results in the Tour of Poland and last Thursday in Overijse and hope to be able to do the same next Sunday. It is a long and hard World Tour Race, to which bad weather circumstances can add an additional difficulty. But based on the teamwork and good form we've shown the last couple of weeks, I think we can be ambitious and aim for a top 10 or a podium spot.
Line up:
Bellicaud Jérémy
De Winter Ludwig
Devriendt Tom
Girmay Hailu Biniam
Hermans Quinten
Planckaert Baptiste
Vanspeybrouck Pieter
Sportive Direction:
Frédéric Amorison
