Bretagne Classic (GP Plouay) - 1.WT2

[Wvv]

Because, well, there are far too few threads about all kinds of races.
For crying out loud, it's the second largest one day race in France (behind l'Enfer and since the dishonoring of Paris-Tours).
Where's the enthusiasm?

53rd Bretagne Classic-Ouest-France: Plouay-Plouay (248,1 km)

Click for a larger version.

I read the route has changed. I feel like it's more challenging, better for classic riders and less suited for sprinters. The fact that a lot of them fast men preferred the Deutschland Tour might add to that assumption. The final with the Côte de Ty Marrec seems to be the same. They almost reach 250 kilometres, which makes it significantly longer than races like San Sebastian and Hamburg.


Last year

Twelve months ago Oliver Naesen claimed his second victory in Plouay. In horribly wet weather conditions, Ag2r's Flemish leader proved to have the stronger kick compared to Michael Valgren Andersen (2018's revelation, 2019's disappointment) and compatriot Tim Wellens.

1 Oliver Naesen ALM 6:16:34
2 Michael Valgren AST +0
3 Tim Wellens LTS +3
4 Michael Matthews SUN +1:13
5 Ruben Guerreiro TFS +1:13
6 Zdenek Štybar QST +1:13
7 Olivier Le Gac GFC +1:15
8 Valentin Madouas GFC +1:17
9 Benoît Cosnefroy ALM +1:18
10 Fabio Jakobsen QST +1:24


Favourites & competitors

When things would come down to a bunch sprint, European champion and 2017 winner Viviani is the clear favourite. With in that case Démare, Matthews, Trentin, Laporte, Coquard, Nizzolo, Philipsen as his biggest rivals. Some of them might benefit from a more northern classic kind of race development, which would obviously bring guys like Van Avermaet, Wellens, Benoot, Jungels, Mohoric, Vanmarcke, Terpstra, Kragh Andersen, Valgren (showed to still be alive during the BinckBank Tour), ... and of course Olli Naesen into contention.

Click for the startlist

***
Oliver Naesen & Elia Viviani
**
Michael Matthews, Matteo Trentin & Greg Van Avermaet
*
Bob Jungels, Christophe Laporte, Matej Mohoric & Tim Wellens


Extra

Estimated finish time: 16:50 GMT+1
Weather conditions: a bit over 20° Celsius with sunny spells

 

[Alexandre B.]

Tim Wellens to rip the peloton apart in the ribins, just like last year.

It really was a magnificent edition.

 

[Velolover2]

They have added much more hills in this recent edition. It looks much harder. Almost like an Ardennes classics. I don't think it can be won by a sprinter anymore even if Viviani is perhaps the best one-day racer of all the pure sprinters.

That's why many of the teams are bringing puncheurs and even climbers to the race. People like Groenewegen, Ackermann and Ewan are skipping this race for a good reason.

 

[SafeBet]

Viviani is in monster shape, so I wouldn't bet against him surviving the hills. He's got a good team to control the race too.

 

[Alexandre B.]

Race is on.

The first ribin is coming.

 

[Alexandre B.]

34 riders in the peloton with 40k to go, Viviani survives for now.

 

[RedheadDane]

Viviani looking good, in more ways than one.
Looking like he's got good legs.
Looking good in his championship jersey.

 

[Kazistuta]

Any livestreams?

 

[Alexandre B.]

Naesen, Valgren and Trentin try to bridge to the front group.

 

[RedheadDane]

Did the group just make it up, only for Naesen to be dropped again?

 

[EganArley]

Any livestreams?

If u have facebook, gcn racing is livestreaming the race

 

[RedheadDane]

That the podium gone away?

 

[fauniera]

Looks like it.

 

[RedheadDane]

Nice one, Sep!

 

[Velolover2]

Finally after all these 2nd, 3rd and 4th places in the classics. So happy for Sep.

 

[Alexandre B.]

That was a masterclass of a finale from Vanmarcke.

And for all Vuelta watchers, look forward for the replay.

 

[Laplaz]

Great job Sep!

 

[Velolover2]

The tendency has been pretty clear in most of the recent classics. The sprinters can no longer win them.

 

[yaco]

Good effort by Haig - First time he's showed up in this type of one day race.

 

[SafeBet]

It's been forever since Sep won his last one day race. Very happy for him.

 

[del1962]

Picture breakdown

Wrong thread

 

[tobydawq]

Wow, this was Vanmarcke's first ever WorldTour win!

 

[Anderis]

So happy for Vanmarcke to finally take a biggish win. I guess he was the best rider without a WT win in recent years.

 

[Keram]

Wow, this was Vanmarcke's first ever WorldTour win!

I was pretty surprised too when I seen his win list . Allways there never wins. Glad for him.

 

[tobydawq]

So happy for Vanmarcke to finally take a biggish win. I guess he was the best rider without a WT win in recent years.

Yup, agreed. I think Kelderman takes the cake now (at least as the most surprising non-winner) but maybe Coquard should also be in contention. Or Mads Pedersen, Sosa, Geoghegan Hart.