The Bretagne Ladies Tour will not take place in 2025 after organisers failed to secure the necessary budget to run the race. Initially scheduled from 28th May to 1st June, the five-day event was missing €37,000, forcing its cancellation.
Concerns over the race’s future arose when it was absent from the UCI Road Calendar, though organisers had initially reassured its continuation last October. However, the funding gap proved insurmountable, as race director Loïc Déniel confirmed to Le Télégramme:
“We had almost all our stopover towns, we were sure to have 20 teams, including four from the WorldTour, we were resolutely confident for these five days of racing.
Unfortunately, we were unable to raise enough budget. As we expected a drop in subsidies from local authorities, we had taken the lead by approaching private partners. This did not come to fruition and as our association is young, we have no cash flow.”
Déniel remains optimistic about the race’s return, stating that preparations for the 2026 edition are already underway.
Grace Brown, the reigning Olympic time trial champion, remains the most recent overall winner after taking consecutive victories in 2023 and 2024.
Two-time winner of the race, Audrey Cordon-Ragot, expressed her frustration over the cancellation, highlighting the broader impact on women’s cycling.
“It’s sad… Many races depend on state subsidies, and given the current situation, we know it’s tough. It’s really disappointing for women’s cycling. It has been growing for several seasons, and now we have this setback.”
“The Bretagne Ladies Tour is an important race. Personally, it gave me the confidence to perform at the highest level. Now, young riders won’t have that opportunity. I feel sorry for them and for the organisers who have worked so hard. Two months before the start of the Tour de France Femmes, I don’t understand… Without races like this, how do we move forward? Should ASO step in to support such events? Because, be careful—without races like the Bretagne Ladies Tour, there might not be a Tour de France Femmes in the future.”
