The Classic Lorient Agglomération has grown into one of the most enduring fixtures on the Women’s WorldTour calendar, its identity shaped by the relentless roads of Brittany and a reputation for unpredictability. First held in 2002 under the banner of the GP de Plouay, it quickly became a cornerstone of the former World Cup before moving into the WorldTour era in 2016. Since then, the race has consistently attracted the very best riders, with winners ranging from sprinters with climbing strength to pure attackers capable of holding off the bunch.
The roll of honour is steeped in quality. Lizzie Deignan has won three times in differing styles, while Marianne Vos, Anna van der Breggen and Elisa Longo Borghini have all triumphed here. More recently, Mischa Bredewold made the race her own, winning in both 2023 and 2024 with two very different finishes. The variety of outcomes tells its own story – no single type of rider dominates Plouay. One year it can be decided by a solo move, the next by a reduced group, and occasionally by a larger sprint where only the most resilient sprinters survive.
For 2025, the race once again leans into its tradition of attrition. At 165 kilometres, this edition is the longest yet, featuring over 2,500 metres of elevation gain. The opening phase weaves through ten communes of the Lorient Agglomération, softening the legs before the decisive laps around Plouay. Each 11.7-kilometre circuit includes the Côte du Lézot, short but stinging, and the Côte de Ty Marrec, a ramp that regularly shapes the finale with pitches hitting 10 per cent. The repeated climbs and rolling terrain make it nearly impossible for the peloton to stay intact. By the time the riders crest Ty Marrec for the final time, only those with both climbing resilience and a finishing kick can hope to contest the win.
Previous Winners
2024
Mischa Bredewold
2023
Mischa Bredewold
2022
Mavi Garcia
2025 Classic Lorient Agglomération Race Profile
Live TV Coverage
Saturday 30th August 2025
Live on Discovery/Max/TNT Sports across Europe
Live: 13:55-16:00
All times in BST
Twitter: Updates
Startlist: FirstCycling
Photo Credit: Getty
Classic Lorient Agglomération 2025 Contenders
Mischa Bredewold returns as the two-time defending champion and clear favourite for the 2025 edition of the Classic Lorient Agglomération. Her victories in both 2023 and 2024 were taken in very different ways – one from a long-range move and the other in a reduced sprint – underlining just how well this race suits her style and versatility. This year, SD Worx bolsters her campaign with the return of Anna van der Breggen, who won here in 2019 and has featured in the top 10 on four other occasions. Now in a super-domestique role, Van der Breggen is unlikely to lead the charge but will be crucial in shaping the race for Bredewold. Blanka Vas, who placed 8th on debut in 2022, remains a dangerous option if the final split is large enough to need a second card. And while the days of Elena Cecchini hunting results here may be behind her, her record is worth noting: six consecutive top-10s between 2015 and 2020, including a 2nd-place finish in 2016, show she knows exactly how this course plays out, and she remains a calm and experienced road captain.
Elisa Longo Borghini returns to the Classic Lorient Agglomération as one of the most decorated riders in the field. She won here in 2021 and has racked up four other top-10 finishes across her career, and her form this season suggests she’s still sharp when the road kicks up. Just this week she soloed to victory at Kreiz Breizh Elites, a race that mirrors many of the demands found here – short climbs, constant pressure, and a need for tactical timing. UAE Team ADQ may have their sprint bases covered too with Eleonora Gasparrini, who finished 6th here last year and has been solid again through the summer. If the peloton is still reasonably sized late on, she’s their best card for the line. Then there’s the wildcard factor of Maeva Squiban, whose two stage wins at the Tour de France Femmes this year came on lumpy, aggressive terrain that echoes the final circuits in Plouay. If she’s recovered well, she could be given freedom to race on instinct and attack on the punchy climbs.
AG Insurance-Soudal field a line-up that blends experience with recent stage-winning form. Ashleigh Moolman-Pasio has been a regular presence at Classic Lorient Agglomération, lining up twelve times and rarely far from the top-10. Her best result remains 4th in 2015, and while 11th last year was her most recent placing, she continues to thrive on races that demand repeat climbs and tactical depth. This terrain still suits her capabilities, particularly if the race splits under pressure. Making her debut is Kim Le Court, who brings explosive power and climbing speed – the kind of all-rounder who could either go on the attack or hold her own in a reduced group sprint. Gladys Verhulst-Wild knows how to get results here, having taken 2nd in 2021 and 5th the following year. Her form at this race has dipped in the last two editions, but on the right day, she remains a threat, especially in unpredictable finales.
Lidl-Trek will once again place their sprint hopes on Elisa Balsamo, who produced her best finish here last year with 4th after three straight finishes in 15th. She’s capable of holding position on the climbing sections and has been sharper in reduced bunch sprints throughout 2025. Anna Henderson makes a welcome return to the race after placing 10th in 2021, and although her racing here has been limited since, she’s found success this season as a key domestique with the freedom to attack on select occasions. Lucinda Brand brings a touch of nostalgia; she won here back in 2014, though her goals here are probably to get some race legs before focusing on the Simac Tour and the cyclocross season. Shirin van Anrooij is the rider who could blow the race open for Lidl-Trek. Her best result here is just 31st, but that belies her ability to attack on terrain like this and force selections. If it’s not a controlled finale, she could be the one to spark something long-range.
FDJ-Suez brings a well-rounded line-up with multiple scenarios covered. Ally Wollaston had a low-key showing last year, finishing 81st, but has grown into a more complete rider through 2025 and climbs well enough now to be a factor if it comes down to a reduced bunch sprint. Juliette Labous has been quietly consistent at this race, taking 5th in 2023 and 9th the year before, and could once again be among the strongest on the final lap’s uphill drag if things break apart. Amber Kraak, meanwhile, has unfinished business here. She was 2nd in 2022, finishing from a two-up move with Mavi Garcia, and if the race breaks open early again, she’s well-placed to follow or initiate the decisive move.
Susanne Andersen is enjoying one of her best seasons yet and leads Uno-X Mobility into this year’s edition with genuine outside chances. While her best result in Plouay so far is 40th in 2023, that doesn’t reflect her current form – podiums at Kreiz Breizh Elites, Dwars door de Westhoek, GP Lucien van Impe and GP Mazda Schelkens all show she’s racing with confidence and speed. A win at Antwerp Port Epic Ladies and a strong ride at Copenhagen Sprint underline her consistency. On a good day, Andersen can survive the climbs and still have the kick to contend.
Movistar bring a two-pronged approach to the 2025 Classic Lorient Agglomération, led by Liane Lippert, who finally cracked the top-10 here in 2024 with a strong 3rd place after seven previous appearances that hadn’t quite delivered. That result came off the back of one of her more aggressive rides, and she’ll likely be looking to repeat that tactic again. The punchy climbs and surging tempo of the Plouay circuits suit her when she’s on form, and her explosive accelerations can break up a reduced bunch late on. Alongside her, Cat Ferguson makes her debut in the elite version of this race. The teenager has continued to rise through the ranks and already has wins to her name at one-day races like the Navarra Women’s Elite Classic. This race is a step up in terms of profile and firepower, but Ferguson has shown she doesn’t shy away from hard racing and could find herself in the mix if she reads the race well.
For Canyon SRAM zondacrypto, Chloe Dygert headlines their line-up after pushing Mischa Bredewold all the way in last year’s edition, finishing 2nd in her debut at the race. That performance confirmed that the parcours suits her well – long draggy efforts and a finish that rewards resilience as much as raw speed. With a full season of road racing behind her and some strong results in both time trials and hard stages, Dygert should again be a serious contender if the race breaks apart. The team also brings Antonia Niedermaier for her first appearance here. While she’s more of a climber by profile, the short, sharp hills in Plouay could suit her if she’s allowed to race with freedom or follow attacks from deeper.
Team Visma | Lease a Bike rolls into the 2025 Classic Lorient Agglomération with two of the most decorated riders in the peloton, both returning to a race where they’ve featured heavily in the past. 2025 Tour de France Femmes winner Pauline Ferrand-Prévot hasn’t raced here since 2017, when she finished 2nd, but her record also includes 3rd in both 2014 and 2015. It’s a parcours she knows well, with punchy climbs, narrow Breton lanes and unpredictable race rhythms that suit her versatility. After refocusing more heavily on the road this year alongside her Olympic ambitions, a strong ride here could be part of her build-up. Marianne Vos, meanwhile, is a two-time winner at Plouay (2012 and 2013) and has four runner-up finishes stretching back to 2009. Her last appearance came in 2018, but with a handful of top-10s already this season and the ability to win from a group or anticipate it with a late move, she remains a wildcard. Whether either will be fully targeting the win or using it as part of their preparations remains to be seen – but the pedigree is undeniable.
A familiar name atop the startlist for Liv AlUla Jayco is Mavi Garcia, winner here in 2022 with a bold solo effort. While the course still plays to her strengths, repeating that result against a deeper field won’t be easy, especially with many teams now alert to her attacking style. Her teammate Silke Smulders was 16th last year and continues to build a profile as a reliable option on rolling one-day terrain. If the race ends in a reduced sprint, Letizia Paternoster offers a fast finish, though her 59th-place in 2023 is her only prior experience here. Caroline Andersson makes her debut and could feature in early moves if the race fragments on the finishing circuit.
Christina Schweinberger leads Fenix-Deceuninck after finishing 6th here last year in her only appearance. She’s had a quietly solid season and continues to prove herself in races that balance climbing with strong finishes from reduced groups. The rolling roads and attritional profile suit her, and she’s likely to be their best bet if it comes back together. Making her debut at Plouay, Marthe Truyen is more known for sprinting, but her gritty style has seen her succeed on tough days before. If the pace softens or she makes the right move, she could be a factor in the closing kilometres.
French hopes lie with Cédrine Kerbaol, who led the line well for EF Education-Oatly in 2024 to finish 9th. With strong positioning and a punchy finish, she has all the tools to improve on that this time around, especially with no dominant sprinter in the field. Noemi Rüegg, back for her first appearance since a DNF in 2020, adds a sprinting option for the team, with the Swiss rider able to negotiate climbs well before finishing off races.
Form and depth could make the difference for Human Powered Health, who bring several potential leaders. Ruth Edwards, 9th in 2019 and riding her fifth edition, has the experience to manage positioning and the legs to stick with a tough finale. Thalita de Jong, who finished 38th in 2022, remains a strong option from breakaways if fully recovered from recent injuries. Should the peloton arrive largely intact, Daria Pikulik is a viable contender in a sprint, though the repeated climbs may blunt her finishing power before the line.
Sarah Van Dam lines up for her first Classic Lorient Agglomération as part of the Ceratizit Pro Cycling squad, which announced its final season this week. The Canadian is arriving off the back of a consistent summer with plenty of results notched. Her ability to handle repeated short climbs and race from aggressive positions could make her a factor if the race splits early. Though untested at this level in a race of this length, she has the raw power to influence a selective edition, particularly if the team isn’t beholden to chasing for a sprint.
Pfeiffer Georgi returns for her second attempt at Plouay after placing 26th last year, and although that result didn’t turn heads, her 2025 has included solid rides on similarly undulating terrain. Her strength lies in timing late attacks, and on a course that often rewards well-judged aggression rather than pure climbing or sprinting, she could thrive if the race becomes disorganised in the final lap. Expect her to race opportunistically rather than ride for a bunch finish.
Classic Lorient Agglomération 2025 Outsiders
VolkerWessels brings one of the most in-form duos among the smaller squads. Eline Jansen has been a standout over the past fortnight, taking 6th at Kreiz Breizh Elites and 3rd at Grote Prijs Yvonne Reynders. That shows she can climb, sprint, and hang tough over hard races – all skills crucial on the Plouay circuit. Making her debut here, she’s likely to ride freely without expectations, and could finish much higher than her more established rivals if the favourites hesitate. Teammate Margot Vanpachtenbeke brings valuable experience from her 41st place in 2024 and a strong 7th at Kreiz Breizh Elites. Both riders are strong enough to feature in breakaways and savvy enough to take advantage of tactical gaps left by the bigger teams.
Alicia Gonzalez has quietly built one of her strongest summers to date and arrives at Classic Lorient Agglomération as a serious contender for a top result. Her performances in July and early August suggest she’s peaking at the right time – 11th at GP Lucien van Impe and a fighting 4th place on a stage of the Tour de Pologne Feminin underlined her consistency, while a solid 10th overall in GC showed she’s more than just a sprinter. Most notably, her 9th place on Stage 4 of the Tour de France Femmes, one of the toughest sprint stages of the race, proves her ability to survive repeated climbs and still deliver a strong finish. On a course like Plouay that typically drops the pure sprinters and rewards those with endurance and positioning, Gonzalez has all the tools to feature in the final selection.
Stepping up to this level for the first time, Kaja Rysz gives Roland Le Dévoluy an ambitious presence in the bunch. Her 7th overall at the Tour de Pologne Feminin, where she also placed 4th and 10th on stages, confirms her ability to handle multiple days of undulating racing. The climbs in Plouay are sharper than those in Poland, so the question will be whether she can stay in contact when the pace lifts. If she does, a top-20 or even a dark-horse top-10 isn’t out of reach.
Nadia Quagliotto has proven herself capable on hilly one-day parcours and will lead Cofidis after placing 10th at last year’s race. That result came off the back of a late-race split, and with the race often favouring those who can climb well but also roll a fast finish, she’s well-suited again. Having spent most of 2025 animating smaller races rather than chasing results, she may approach this as a rare opportunity to convert strong form into a marquee top-10.
Karolina Perekitko has already proven she’s not afraid of taking chances in aggressive one-day races, and that’ll be her best shot at a result for Winspace. A strong rouleur with a solid sprint, she lacks the pure climbing ability to survive if the top riders go full gas up Lezot or Restergal on the final lap. However, if a breakaway forms and stays away due to hesitation behind, she has the power and tenacity to finish it off from the front.
Top 3 Prediction
⦿ Kim Le Court
⦿ Elisa Longo Borghini
⦿ Marianne Vos
