Bretagne Classic

File:Gilbert DUCLOS-LASALLE.jpg (pictured at the 1993 Paris–Nice) is the last French rider to have won the race twice]]

The Bretagne Classic, originally named Circuit de Plouay and later the Grand-Prix de Plouay, was created in 1931 by former Tour de France doctor Berty, who used his influence to attract some of the biggest names of French cycling to the inaugural edition.{{cite web|title=GP Ouest France – Plouay|url=http://www.uci.ch/road/news/article/ouest-france-plouay-168502/|website=uci.ch|publisher=UCI|access-date=27 November 2015}} Breton rider François Favé won the inaugural edition. In its first decades the race was dominated by French riders. The first non-French winner was Italian Ugo Anzile in 1954, the second was Holland's Frits Pirard in 1979. Ten riders have won the race two times, all of them French except Oliver Naesen, the most recent to do so with wins in 2016 and 2018.

Throughout its history, the roll of honour includes some illustrious winners. Séan Kelly was the first English-speaking rider to win in 1984. Belgian Frank Vandenbroucke became the youngest winner in 1996, at the age of 21.{{cite web|title=GP Ouest-France (GP de Plouay), France, Cat 1.1.|url=http://autobus.cyclingnews.com/results/archives/sep96/plo.html|work=CyclingNews|access-date=27 November 2015}} Italian Vincenzo Nibali, on his way to cycling legend, took a surprise victory in 2006, at the age of 22.{{cite web|title=La plus belle de Nibali|url=http://www.eurosport.fr/cyclisme/gp-ouest-france-plouay/2006/la-plus-belle-de-nibali_sto951907/story.shtml|website=europort.fr|publisher=Eurosport|access-date=27 November 2015}} Australians Simon Gerrans and Matthew Goss won in 2009 and 2010 respectively, with Norway's Edvald Boasson Hagen soloing to victory in 2012 and Italy's Filippo Pozzato helping resurrect his career with a surprise win in 2013.{{cite web|title=GP Ouest-France 2012|url=http://www.teamsky.com/teamsky/home/article/40511#oELmPeywbT2CkHmL.97|website=teamsky.com|publisher=Team Sky|access-date=27 November 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151208132621/http://www.teamsky.com/teamsky/home/article/40511#oELmPeywbT2CkHmL.97|archive-date=8 December 2015|url-status=dead}}{{cite web|last1=Ryan|first1=Barry|title=Pozzato outlines Worlds credentials with GP Ouest-France win. September 02, 2013|url=http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/pozzato-outlines-worlds-credentials-with-gp-ouest-france-win/|work=CyclingNews|access-date=27 November 2015}}

In 2014 the attackers managed to hold off the chasing peloton, with Frenchman Sylvain Chavanel winning the seven-man sprint.{{cite web|title=48th GP Ouest France – Plouay (1.UWT)|url=http://www.procyclingstats.com/race/GP_Ouest_France_Plouay_2014|website=procyclingstats.com|publisher=ProCyclingStats|access-date=27 November 2015}} Alexander Kristoff was only two seconds behind, winning the sprint for eighth place.{{cite web|title=Chavanel wins GP Ouest France-Plouay. August 31, 2014|url=http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/gp-ouest-france-plouay-2014/results/|work=CyclingNews|access-date=27 November 2015}} In 2015 it was Kristoff's turn for victory, leading out a bunch sprint of 69 riders.{{cite web|last1=Quénet|first1=Jean-François|title=Kristoff wins GP Ouest France Plouay. Katusha sprinter on fine form ahead of Worlds|url=http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/gp-ouest-france-plouay-2015/results/|work=CyclingNews|access-date=27 November 2015}}

The race starts and finishes in the small village of Plouay, in the heartland of French cycling. The course consists of eight laps of a demanding {{convert|27|km|abbr=on}} circuit and one {{convert|14|km|abbr=on}} lap in the backdrop of Brittany. The circuit is known for its high rate of attrition, featuring climbs and technical descents. The total distance covered is {{convert|247|km|1|abbr=on}}.

The first climb is addressed almost immediately after the start as the race goes over the Côte du Lézot, a {{convert|1|km|adj=on|spell=in}} climb with an average gradient of 6%. Next is a gentle {{convert|6|km|adj=on|spell=in}} ascent up to the Chapelle Sainte-Anne des Bois, marking the halfway point of the circuit. After a flat section, the race addresses the Côte de Ty-Marrec, with a maximum gradient of 10%.

The race ends with a final lap of {{convert|14|km|abbr=on}}, with the last climb of the Côte de Ty-Marrec providing opportunities to launch attacks or distance sprinters. Sometimes a small group of riders manages to stay away, but often they are caught by the sprinters and their teams in sight of the finish line.

{{Cycling past winner start}}

|-

| colspan=4 align=center|↓ "Circuit de Plouay" ↓

{{Cycling past winner rider|year=1931|name={{sortname|François|Favé||Favé, François}}|nat=FRA|natvar=|team=}}

{{Cycling past winner rider|year=1932|name={{sortname|Philippe|Bono}}|nat=FRA|natvar=|team=}}

{{Cycling past winner rider|year=1933|name={{sortname|Philippe|Bono}}|nat=FRA|natvar=|team=}}

{{Cycling past winner rider|year=1934|name={{sortname|Lucien|Tulot}}|nat=FRA|natvar=|team=}}

{{Cycling past winner rider|year=1935|name={{sortname|Jean|Le Dily}}|nat=FRA|natvar=|team=}}

{{Cycling past winner rider|year=1936|name={{sortname|Pierre|Cogan}}|nat=FRA|natvar=|team=}}

{{Cycling past winner rider|year=1937|name={{sortname|Jean-Marie|Goasmat}}|nat=FRA|natvar=|team=}}

{{Cycling past winner rider|year=1938|name={{sortname|Pierre|Cloarec}}|nat=FRA|natvar=|team=}}

{{Cycling past winner rider|year=1945|name={{sortname|Eloi|Tassin}}|nat=FRA|natvar=|team=}}

{{Cycling past winner rider|year=1946|name={{sortname|Ange|Le Strat}}|nat=FRA|natvar=|team=}}

{{Cycling past winner rider|year=1947|name={{sortname|Raymond|Louviot}}|nat=FRA|natvar=|team=}}

{{Cycling past winner rider|year=1948|name={{sortname|Eloi|Tassin}}|nat=FRA|natvar=|team=}}

{{Cycling past winner rider|year=1949|name={{sortname|Amand|Audaire}}|nat=FRA|natvar=|team=}}

{{Cycling past winner rider|year=1950|name={{sortname|Amand|Audaire}}|nat=FRA|natvar=|team=}}

{{Cycling past winner rider|year=1951|name={{sortname|Émile|Guérinel}}|nat=FRA|natvar=|team=}}

{{Cycling past winner rider|year=1952|name={{sortname|Émile|Guérinel}}|nat=FRA|natvar=|team=}}

{{Cycling past winner rider|year=1953|name={{sortname|Serge|Blusson}}|nat=FRA|natvar=|team=}}

{{Cycling past winner rider|year=1954|name={{sortname|Ugo|Anzile}}|nat=ITA|natvar=|team=}}

{{Cycling past winner rider|year=1955|name={{sortname|Jean|Petitjean}}|nat=FRA|natvar=|team=}}

{{Cycling past winner rider|year=1956|name={{sortname|Valentin|Huot}}|nat=FRA|natvar=|team=}}

{{Cycling past winner rider|year=1957|name={{sortname|Isaac|Vitré}}|nat=FRA|natvar=|team=}}

{{Cycling past winner rider|year=1958|name={{sortname|Jean|Gainche}}|nat=FRA|natvar=|team=}}

{{Cycling past winner rider|year=1959|name={{sortname|Emmanuel|Crenn}}|nat=FRA|natvar=|team=}}

|-

| colspan=4 align=center|↓ "Grand-Prix de Plouay" ↓

{{Cycling past winner rider|year=1960|name={{sortname|Hubert|Ferrer}}|nat=FRA|natvar=|team=}}

{{Cycling past winner rider|year=1961|name={{sortname|Fernand|Picot}}|nat=FRA|natvar=|team=}}

{{Cycling past winner rider|year=1962|name={{sortname|Jean|Gainche}}|nat=FRA|natvar=|team=}}

{{Cycling past winner rider|year=1963|name={{sortname|Fernand|Picot}}|nat=FRA|natvar=|team=}}

{{Cycling past winner rider|year=1964|name={{sortname|Jean|Bourlès}}|nat=FRA|natvar=|team=}}

{{Cycling past winner rider|year=1965|name={{sortname|François|Goasduff||Goasduff, François}}|nat=FRA|natvar=|team=}}

{{Cycling past winner rider|year=1966|name={{sortname|Claude|Mazeaud}}|nat=FRA|natvar=|team=}}

{{Cycling past winner rider|year=1967|name={{sortname|François|Hamon||Hamon, François}}|nat=FRA|natvar=|team=}}

{{Cycling past winner rider|year=1968|name={{sortname|Jean|Jourden}}|nat=FRA|natvar=|team=}}

{{Cycling past winner rider|year=1969|name={{sortname|Jean|Jourden}}|nat=FRA|natvar=|team=}}

{{Cycling past winner rider|year=1970|name={{sortname|Jean|Marcarini}}|nat=FRA|natvar=|team=}}

{{Cycling past winner rider|year=1971|name={{sortname|Jean-Pierre|Danguillaume}}|nat=FRA|natvar=|team=}}

{{Cycling past winner rider|year=1972|name={{sortname|Robert|Bouloux}}|nat=FRA|natvar=|team=}}

{{Cycling past winner rider|year=1973|name={{sortname|Jean-Claude|Largeau}}|nat=FRA|natvar=|team=}}

{{Cycling past winner rider|year=1974|name={{sortname|Raymond|Martin|Raymond Martin (cyclist)}}|nat=FRA|natvar=|team=}}

{{Cycling past winner rider|year=1975|name={{sortname|Cyrille|Guimard}}|nat=FRA|natvar=|team=}}

{{Cycling past winner rider|year=1976|name={{sortname|Jacques|Bossis}}|nat=FRA|natvar=|team=}}

{{Cycling past winner rider|year=1977|name={{sortname|Jacques|Bossis}}|nat=FRA|natvar=|team=}}

{{Cycling past winner rider|year=1978|name={{sortname|Pierre-Raymond|Villemiane}}|nat=FRA|natvar=|team=}}

{{Cycling past winner rider|year=1979|name={{sortname|Frits|Pirard}}|nat=NED|natvar=|team=}}

{{Cycling past winner rider|year=1980|name={{sortname|Patrick|Friou}}|nat=FRA|natvar=|team=}}

{{Cycling past winner rider|year=1981|name={{sortname|Gilbert|Duclos-Lassalle}}|nat=FRA|natvar=|team=}}

{{Cycling past winner rider|year=1982|name={{sortname|François|Castaing|François Castaing (cyclist)|Castaing, François}}|nat=FRA|natvar=|team=}}

{{Cycling past winner rider|year=1983|name={{sortname|Pierre|Bazzo}}|nat=FRA|natvar=|team=}}

{{Cycling past winner rider|year=1984|name={{sortname|Sean|Kelly|Sean Kelly (cyclist)}}|nat=IRL|natvar=|team=Skil–Reydel–Sem–Mavic}}

{{Cycling past winner rider|year=1985|name={{sortname|Éric|Guyot}}|nat=FRA|natvar=|team=Skil–Sem–Kas–Miko}}

{{Cycling past winner rider|year=1986|name={{sortname|Martial|Gayant}}|nat=FRA|natvar=|team={{UCI team code|SUG|1986}}}}

{{Cycling past winner rider|year=1987|name={{sortname|Gilbert|Duclos-Lassalle}}|nat=FRA|natvar=|team={{UCI team code|C.A|1987}}}}

{{Cycling past winner rider|year=1988|name={{sortname|Luc|Leblanc}}|nat=FRA|natvar=|team=Toshiba–Look}}

|-

| colspan=4 align=center|↓ "GP Ouest-France" ↓

{{Cycling past winner rider|year=1989|name={{sortname|Jean-Claude|Colotti}}|nat=FRA|natvar=|team=R.M.O.}}

{{Cycling past winner rider|year=1990|name={{sortname|Bruno|Cornillet}}|nat=FRA|natvar=|team={{UCI team code|C.A|1990}}}}

{{Cycling past winner rider|year=1991|name={{sortname|Armand de|Las Cuevas}}|nat=FRA|natvar=|team={{UCI team code|MOV|1991}}}}

{{Cycling past winner rider|year=1992|name={{sortname|Ronan|Pensec}}|nat=FRA|natvar=|team=R.M.O.}}

{{Cycling past winner rider|year=1993|name={{sortname|Thierry|Claveyrolat}}|nat=FRA|natvar=|team={{UCI team code|C.A|1993}}}}

{{Cycling past winner rider|year=1994|name={{sortname|Andreï|Tchmil||Tchmil, Andrei}}|nat=MDA|natvar=|team={{UCI team code|LTS|1994}}}}

{{Cycling past winner rider|year=1995|name={{sortname|Rolf|Järmann||Jarmann, Rolf}}|nat=SUI|natvar=|team=MG Maglificio}}

{{Cycling past winner rider|year=1996|name={{sortname|Frank|Vandenbroucke|Frank Vandenbroucke (cyclist)}}|nat=BEL|natvar=|team={{UCI team code|MAP|1996}}}}

{{Cycling past winner rider|year=1997|name={{sortname|Andrea|Ferrigato}}|nat=ITA|natvar=|team=Roslotto–ZG Mobili}}

{{Cycling past winner rider|year=1998|name={{sortname|Pascal|Hervé||Herbe, Pascal}}|nat=FRA|natvar=|team={{UCI team code|FES|1998}}}}

{{Cycling past winner rider|year=1999|name={{sortname|Christophe|Mengin}}|nat=FRA|natvar=|team={{UCI team code|FDJ|1999}}}}

{{Cycling past winner rider|year=2000|name={{sortname|Michele|Bartoli}}|nat=ITA|natvar=|team={{UCI team code|MAP|2000}}}}

{{Cycling past winner rider|year=2001|name={{sortname|Nico|Mattan}}|nat=BEL|natvar=|team={{UCI team code|COF|2001}}}}

{{Cycling past winner rider|year=2002|name={{sortname|Jeremy|Hunt|Jeremy Hunt (cyclist)}}|nat=GBR|natvar=|team=BigMat–Auber 93}}

{{Cycling past winner rider|year=2003|name={{sortname|Andy|Flickinger}}|nat=FRA|natvar=|team={{UCI team code|ALM|2003}}}}

{{Cycling past winner rider|year=2004|name={{sortname|Didier|Rous}}|nat=FRA|natvar=|team={{UCI team code|BBO|2004}}}}

{{Cycling past winner rider|year=2005|name=no winner {{efn|name=Hincapei|George Hincapie was declared winner. However, in 2012, he was stripped of all results by the UCI between May 31, 2004, and July 31, 2006 due to his use of performance-enhancing drugs.}}|nat=|natvar=|team=}}

{{Cycling past winner rider|year=2006|name={{sortname|Vincenzo|Nibali}}|nat=ITA|natvar=|team={{UCI team code|LIQ|2006}}}}

{{Cycling past winner rider|year=2007|name={{sortname|Thomas|Voeckler}}|nat=FRA|natvar=|team={{UCI team code|BBO|2007}}}}

{{Cycling past winner rider|year=2008|name={{sortname|Pierrick|Fédrigo||Fedrigo, Pierrick}}|nat=FRA|natvar=|team={{UCI team code|BBO|2008}}}}

{{Cycling past winner rider|year=2009|name={{sortname|Simon|Gerrans}}|nat=AUS|natvar=|team={{UCI team code|CTT|2009}}}}

{{Cycling past winner rider|year=2010|name={{sortname|Matthew|Goss}}|nat=AUS|natvar=|team={{UCI team code|THR|2010}}}}

{{Cycling past winner rider|year=2011|name={{sortname|Grega|Bole}}|nat=SLO|natvar=|team={{UCI team code|LAM|2011}}}}

{{Cycling past winner rider|year=2012|name={{sortname|Edvald|Boasson Hagen}}|nat=NOR|natvar=|team={{UCI team code|SKY|2012}}}}

{{Cycling past winner rider|year=2013|name={{sortname|Filippo|Pozzato}}|nat=ITA|natvar=|team={{UCI team code|LAM|2013}}}}

{{Cycling past winner rider|year=2014|name={{sortname|Sylvain|Chavanel}}|nat=FRA|natvar=|team={{UCI team code|IAM|2014}}}}

{{Cycling past winner rider|year=2015|name={{sortname|Alexander|Kristoff}}|nat=NOR|natvar=|team={{UCI team code|KAT|2015}}}}

|-

| colspan=4 align=center|↓ "Bretagne Classic" ↓

{{Cycling past winner rider|year=2016|name={{sortname|Oliver|Naesen}}|nat=BEL|natvar=|team={{UCI team code|IAM|2016}}}}

{{Cycling past winner rider|year=2017|name={{sortname|Elia|Viviani}}|nat=ITA|natvar=|team={{UCI team code|SKY|2017}}}}

{{Cycling past winner rider|year=2018|name={{sortname|Oliver|Naesen}}|nat=BEL|natvar=|team={{UCI team code|ALM|2018}}}}

{{Cycling past winner rider|year=2019|name={{sortname|Sep|Vanmarcke}}|nat=BEL|natvar=|team={{UCI team code|EFD|2019}}}}

{{Cycling past winner rider|year=2020|name={{sortname|Michael|Matthews|Michael Matthews (cyclist)}}|nat=AUS|natvar=|team={{UCI team code|SUN|2020}}}}

{{Cycling past winner rider|year=2021|name={{sortname|Benoît |Cosnefroy}}|nat=FRA|natvar=|team={{UCI team code|ALM|2021}}}}

{{Cycling past winner rider|year=2022|name={{sortname|Wout|van Aert}}|nat=BEL|natvar=|team={{UCI team code|TJV|2022}}}}

{{Cycling past winner rider|year=2023|name={{sortname|Valentin|Madouas}}|nat=FRA|natvar=|team={{UCI team code|GFC|2023}}}}

{{Cycling past winner rider|year=2024|name={{sortname|Marc|Hirschi}}|nat=SUI|natvar=|team={{UCI team code|UAD men|2024}}}}

{{Cycling past winner end}}

{{notelist}}

{{Main|Classic Lorient Agglomération}}

Since 2002, a women's event, the Classic Lorient Agglomération has been organized, using the same circuit. Originally part of the UCI Women's Road World Cup, the race is now part of the UCI Women's World Tour.{{cite web|last1=Johnson|first1=Greg|title=Columbia-HTC has options for women’s GP Plouay assault. August 21, 2009|url=http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/columbia-htc-has-options-for-womens-gp-plouay-assault/|work=CyclingNews|access-date=27 November 2015}}{{cite web|title=Grand Prix de Plouay – Bretagne: who will be crowned UCI Women Road World Cup winner? 27 August 2015|url=http://www.uci.ch/road/news/article/grand-prix-plouay-bretagne-who-will-crowned-uci-women-road-world-cup-winner/|website=uci.ch|publisher=UCI staff|access-date=27 November 2015}} Britain's Lizzie Deignan holds the record with three wins.

• No rider has won the race more than two times so far.
• The GP Ouest-France is one of only a few international sporting events organized entirely by volunteers: 600-700 members of the Comité des Fêtes de Plouay manage the proceedings of the organization.{{cite web|last1=Courroux|first1=John|title=Le GP de Plouay en cinq chiffres (in French)|url=http://www.velochrono.fr/actu/2011/le-gp-de-plouay-en-cinq-chiffres/|website=velochrono.fr|publisher=Vélo Chrono|access-date=27 November 2015}}
• Plouay has organized the 2000 Road World Championships, using the circuit of the GP Ouest-France.{{cite web|last1=Jones|first1=Jeff|title=Preview|url=http://autobus.cyclingnews.com/results/2000/worlds00/worlds00.shtml|work=CyclingNews|access-date=27 November 2015}} Latvian Romāns Vainšteins won the elite men's road race, beating Zbigniew Spruch and Óscar Freire in a bunch sprint.{{cite web|title=2000 World Road Cycling Championships 67th. Edition: October 15, 2000. Plouay, France|url=http://bikeraceinfo.com/worlds/worlds-2000.html|website=bikeraceinfo.com|publisher=Bikeraceinfo|access-date=27 November 2015}} Belarusian Zinaida Stahurskaia won the women's road race in a solo victory.{{cite web|last1=Knapp|first1=Gerard|title=Elite Women's Road Race. Saturday, October 14, 2000|url=http://autobus.cyclingnews.com/results/2000/worlds00/results/wrrresults00.shtml|work=CyclingNews|access-date=27 November 2015}}

{{reflist|30em}}

• {{Official website|https://www.pco.bzh/}}
• {{Cycling archives race|238}}

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