89th Bretagne Classic - Ouest-France (261km). 31.08.2025

[MagliaNera]

This race might be the best remaining opportunity for a French rider to finally win a WorldTour race this year (after 5 second places).

(Edit: actually the first WorldTour win in almost two years - since the Bretagne classic 2023)

...aaand another second place

 

[Samamba]

A bit lucky that other teams closed it down, but holy *** this guy is strong again. And compared to previous years he now knows exactly what to do in sprints.

 

[Unchained]

It’s never too late to delete this. Not everyone has noticed

Or just keep reposting it, UAE showed nothing, got nothing, Bora waiting for someone else to work, Michael Matthews at 100 years old gets another top ten!! Guy knows how to finish a race.

 

[Samamba]

It’s never too late to delete this. Not everyone has noticed

What are you on about. They got destroyed. That was pathetic, especially from UAE today. 10M salary combined in their selection probably.

 

[Peyroteo94]

De Lie seems to be in stellar shape.

 

[E_F_]

The Vuelta stage with the lamest profile stole the show anyway, lol.

 

[Tim Cahill]

Canadian races should be extremely competitive, well Quebec will be anyway, the one Pogacar hasn’t won and probably isn’t favourite for so will need to go very hard to try and dislodge the versatile sprinters.

 

[Hugo Koblet]

De Lie seems to be in stellar shape.

He certainly does. Would be great if he next season could perform in the spring as well.

 

[E_F_]

well Quebec will be anyway

Even more guaranteed bunch sprint than previously this year, right?

 

[Tim Cahill]

Even more guaranteed bunch sprint than previously this year, right?

Iirc they have changed the profile but it’s still similar, a touch harder perhaps. Reduced bunch the most likely outcome but the climbers will try as always.

 

[E_F_]

Iirc they have changed the profile but it’s still similar, a touch harder perhaps. Reduced bunch the most likely outcome but the climbers will try as always.

It's a lot softer this year... A lot, a lot. So I don't think the attacks will get any traction. That was always the saving grace - that the last few kilometers were more interesting than just a pure uphill bunch sprint. I really don't like the Quebecois races at all, to be honest.

 

[Didinho]

Didn’t know this was a 260km race. Good win for De Lie again.

 

[Brullnux]

De Lie could get a moral MSR win next year (third behind the two freaks).

 

[Netserk]

Good race, very delicate dynamics in the finale. De Lie simply the best, also very strong before the sprint.

 

[Netserk]

What are you on about. They got destroyed. That was pathetic, especially from UAE today. 10M salary combined in their selection probably.

Wellens was very disappointing, and it's weird that their strongest rider was the one to dig deep far from the finish in order to make the race hard.

 

[Netserk]

Barree with not pulling and then attacking killed the break.
Nice from De Lie.

He needed to get away from the others, and with Girmay behind he was the only one of the four who could afford to sit on. Completely right strategy.

 

[Samamba]

It's a lot softer this year... A lot, a lot. So I don't think the attacks will get any traction. That was always the saving grace - that the last few kilometers were more interesting than just a pure uphill bunch sprint. I really don't like the Quebecois races at all, to be honest.

Is it? I don't think it is? They just made the last one longer climb instead of 3 super short cilmbs before tha last drag. I think this is way better for Pogacar for example to dreop everyone. He has like 700 steep meters to drop others instead of 3 times 300 or 200.

To be clear I think it's a dumb change. I really liked these consecutive super short climbs, it was something different than other races on the calendar, but I don't think it's necessarily softer. I just think it suits Pogacar more now (and I wouldn't be surprised if that's the reason why they did it).

Also it's not an uphill sprint anymore, or not really. It's a different finish.

 

[Faserr]

He needed to get away from the others, and with Girmay behind he was the only one of the four who could afford to sit on. Completely right strategy.

Understandable strategy. I wouldn't say perfect. In the end the only chance for the group was to work together and Girmay isn't really fast this year. I think only McNulty could have pulled this off solo.

 

[E_F_]

Is it? I don't think it is? They just made the last one longer climb instead of 3 super short cilmbs before tha last drag. I think this is way better for Pogacar for example to dreop everyone. He has like 700 steep meters to drop others instead of 3 times 300 or 200.

To be clear I think it's a dumb change. I really liked these consecutive super short climbs, it was something different than other races on the calendar, but I don't think it's necessarily softer. I just think it suits Pogacar more now (and I wouldn't be surprised if that's the reason why they did it).

Also it's not an uphill sprint anymore, or not really. It's a different finish.

You're right about the finish being different, I forgot about that. But I still think the new route is way softer. We'll have to look into it in the race thread, when that drops!

 

[RedheadDane]

@Armchair Cyclist, @Cookster15, did one of you just decide to sticky the thread after the race was done?

 

[Armchair Cyclist]

@Armchair Cyclist, @Cookster15, did one of you just decide to sticky the thread after the race was done?

I stickied it as soon as I was aware of it. I have not yet worked out how to do so prior to that point.

 

[Rob5091]

Arnaud used his head for once and won - chapeau! Onto Canada!
https://cyclinguptodate.com/cycling...continues-winning-run-at-the-bretagne-classic

...credited the role of Jenno Berckmoes in shaping theteam’s strategy in the closing stages. “In previous years, I always raced aggressively here, but today I had to be smart: follow on the climbs and leavethe tactical decisions in the finale to Jenno Berckmoes. That worked outperfectly. I’m just really, really happy.”

 

[Squire]

Arnaud used his head for once and won - chapeau! Onto Canada!
https://cyclinguptodate.com/cycling...continues-winning-run-at-the-bretagne-classic

So Berckmoes basically played PCM with De Lie?

 

[RedheadDane]

I stickied it as soon as I was aware of it. I have not yet worked out how to do so prior to that point.

Just a bit funny that you didn't just... leave it. No point in stickying it after the race.

 

[Rob5091]

So Berckmoes basically played PCM with De Lie?

... and he won!