GP Ouest-France

For the women's event, see GP de Plouay.
GP Ouest-France
Race details
Date Late August
Region Brittany, France
English name Grand Prix of West France
Local name(s) Grand Prix de Ouest-France (French)
Discipline Road
Competition UCI World Tour
Type One-day race
Organiser Comité des Fêtes de Plouay
History
First edition 1931 (1931)
Editions 79 (as of 2015)
First winner  François Favé (FRA)
Most wins 9 riders with 2 wins
Most recent  Alexander Kristoff (NOR)

The GP Ouest-France, formerly known as Grand-Prix de Plouay Ouest-France, is an elite cycling classic held annually in late summer around the Breton village of Plouay in western France.

Since 1989, the race has been known as GP Ouest-France. It was included in the inaugural UCI ProTour in 2005 and in 2011 in its successor, the UCI World Tour.

Since 2002, a women's event, the GP Plouay-Bretagne is organized on Saturday, the day before the men's race. Supporting events have grown over the years and now include BMX races, track racing and a mass-participation ride, as part of a four-day festival in the last summer weekend in Brittany.

Gilbert Duclos-Lasalle is the last rider who won the race twice

History

The GP Ouest France, originally named 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.[1] 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. Nine riders have won the race two times, all of them French. The last to do so was Gilbert Duclos-Lasalle, winning in 1981 and 1987.

Nonetheless, 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 just 21.[2] Italian Vincenzo Nibali, on his way to cycling legend, took a surprise victory in 2006, at the age of 22.[3] 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.[4][5]

In 2014 the attackers managed to hold off the chasing peloton, with Frenchman Sylvain Chavanel winning the seven-man sprint.[6] Alexander Kristoff was only two seconds behind, winning the sprint for eighth place.[7] In 2015 it was Kristoff's turn for victory, leading out a bunch sprint of 69 riders.[8]

Route

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 27 km circuit and one 14-km 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 229.1 km (142.4 mi).

The first climb is addressed almost immediately after the start as the race goes over the Côte du Lézot, a one-kilometre climb with an average gradient of 6%. Next is a gentle six kilometre ascent up to the Chapelle Sainte-Anne des Bois, marking the half way 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 14 km, 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.[9]

Winners

Rider Team
1931 France Favé, FrançoisFrançois Favé (FRA)
1932 France Bono, PhilippePhilippe Bono (FRA)
1933 France Bono, PhilippePhilippe Bono (FRA)
1934 France Tulot, LucienLucien Tulot (FRA)
1935 France Le Dily, JeanJean Le Dily (FRA)
1936 France Cogan, PierrePierre Cogan (FRA)
1937 France Goasmat, Jean-MarieJean-Marie Goasmat (FRA)
1938 France Cloarec, PierrePierre Cloarec (FRA)
1945 France Tassin, EloiEloi Tassin (FRA)
1946 France Le Strat, AngeAnge Le Strat (FRA)
1947 France Louviot, RaymondRaymond Louviot (FRA)
1948 France Tassin, EloiEloi Tassin (FRA)
1949 France Audaire, ArmandArmand Audaire (FRA)
1950 France Audaire, ArmandArmand Audaire (FRA)
1951 France Guerinel, EmileEmile Guerinel (FRA)
1952 France Guerinel, EmileEmile Guerinel (FRA)
1953 France Blusson, SergeSerge Blusson (FRA)
1954 Italy Anzile, UgoUgo Anzile (ITA)
1955 France Petitjean, JeanJean Petitjean (FRA)
1956 France Huot, ValentinValentin Huot (FRA)
1957 France Vitre, IsaacIsaac Vitre (FRA)
1958 France Gainche, JeanJean Gainche (FRA)
1959 France Crenn, EmmanuelEmmanuel Crenn (FRA)
1960 France Ferrer, HubertHubert Ferrer (FRA)
1961 France Picot, FernandFernand Picot (FRA)
1962 France Gainche, JeanJean Gainche (FRA)
1963 France Picot, FernandFernand Picot (FRA)
1964 France Bourles, JeanJean Bourles (FRA)
1965 France Goasduff, FrancoisFrançois Goasduff (FRA)
1966 France Mazeaud, ClaudeClaude Mazeaud (FRA)
1967 France Hamon, FrancoisFrançois Hamon (FRA)
1968 France Jourden, JeanJean Jourden (FRA)
1969 France Jourden, JeanJean Jourden (FRA)
1970 France Marcarini, JeanJean Marcarini (FRA)
1971 France Danguillaume, Jean-PierreJean-Pierre Danguillaume (FRA)
1972 France Bouloux, RobertRobert Bouloux (FRA)
1973 France Largeau, Jean-ClaudeJean-Claude Largeau (FRA)
1974 France Martin, RaymondRaymond Martin (FRA)
1975 France Guimard, CyrilleCyrille Guimard (FRA)
1976 France Bossis, JacquesJacques Bossis (FRA)
1977 France Bossis, JacquesJacques Bossis (FRA)
1978 France Villemiane, Pierre-RaymondPierre-Raymond Villemiane (FRA)
1979 Netherlands Pirard, FritsFrits Pirard (NED)
1980 France Friou, PatrickPatrick Friou (FRA)
1981 France Duclos-Lassalle, GilbertGilbert Duclos-Lassalle (FRA)
1982 France Castaing, FrancoisFrançois Castaing (FRA)
1983 France Bazzo, PierrePierre Bazzo (FRA)
1984 Republic of Ireland Kelly, SeanSean Kelly (IRL)
1985 France Guyot, EricEric Guyot (FRA)
1986 France Gayant, MartialMartial Gayant (FRA)
1987 France Duclos-Lassalle, GilbertGilbert Duclos-Lassalle (FRA)
1988 France Leblanc, LucLuc Leblanc (FRA)
1989 France Colotti, Jean-ClaudeJean-Claude Colotti (FRA)
1990 France Cornillet, BrunoBruno Cornillet (FRA)
1991 France Las Cuevas, Armand deArmand de Las Cuevas (FRA)
1992 France Pensec, RonanRonan Pensec (FRA)
1993 France Claveyrolat, ThierryThierry Claveyrolat (FRA)
1994 Moldova Tchmil, AndreiAndreï Tchmil (MDA)
1995 Switzerland Jarmann, RolfRolf Järmann (SUI)
1996 Belgium Vandenbroucke, FrankFrank Vandenbroucke (BEL)
1997 Italy Ferrigato, AndreaAndrea Ferrigato (ITA)
1998 France Herbe, PascalPascal Hervé (FRA)
1999 France Mengin, ChristopheChristophe Mengin (FRA)
2000 Italy Bartoli, MicheleMichele Bartoli (ITA)
2001 Belgium Mattan, NicoNico Mattan (BEL)
2002 United Kingdom Hunt, JeremyJeremy Hunt (GBR) BigMat-Auber 93
2003 France Flickinger, AndyAndy Flickinger (FRA) AG2R Prévoyance
2004 France Rous, DidierDidier Rous (FRA) Brioches La Boulangère
2005 United States Hincapie, GeorgeGeorge Hincapie (USA) Discovery Channel
2006 Italy Nibali, VincenzoVincenzo Nibali (ITA) Liquigas
2007 France Voeckler, ThomasThomas Voeckler (FRA) Bouygues Télécom
2008 France Fedrigo, PierrickPierrick Fédrigo (FRA) Bouygues Télécom
2009 Australia Gerrans, SimonSimon Gerrans (AUS) Cervélo TestTeam
2010 Australia Goss, MatthewMatthew Goss (AUS) Team HTC–Columbia
2011 Slovenia Bole, GregaGrega Bole (SLO) Lampre–ISD
2012 Norway Boasson Hagen, EdvaldEdvald Boasson Hagen (NOR) Team Sky
2013 Italy Pozzato, FilippoFilippo Pozzato (ITA) Lampre–Merida
2014 France Chavanel, SylvainSylvain Chavanel (FRA) IAM Cycling
2015 Norway Kristoff, AlexanderAlexander Kristoff (NOR) Team Katusha

Multiple Winners

Wins Rider Editions
2  Philippe Bono (FRA) 1932 + 1933
 Eloi Tassin (FRA) 1945 + 1948
 Armand Audaire (FRA) 1949 + 1950
 Émile Guérine (FRA) 1951 + 1952
 Jean Gainche (FRA) 1958 + 1962
 Fernand Pinot (FRA) 1961 + 1963
 Jean Jourden (FRA) 1968 + 1969
 Jacques Bossis (FRA) 1976 + 1977
 Gilbert Duclos-Lasalle (FRA) 1981 + 1987

Wins per Country

Wins Country
62  France
4  Italy
2  Australia
 Belgium
 Norway
1  Ireland
 Moldova
 Netherlands
  Switzerland
 Slovenia
 United Kingdom
 United States

Grand Prix de Plouay for Women Elite

Main article: GP de Plouay

Since 2002, a women's event, the GP de Plouay, is organized the day before the men's race and on the same circuit. The women's race features six 19 km laps, totalling 114 km, and is part of the UCI Women's Road World Cup.[10][11] Italian Noemi Cantele, Holland's Marianne Vos and Britain's Emma Pooley hold the record with two wins.

Winners

2002 ·  Regina Schleicher (GER)
2003 ·  Nicole Cooke (GBR)
2004 ·  Edita Pučinskaitė (LIT)
2005 ·  Noemi Cantele (ITA)
2006 ·  Nicole Brändli (SUI)
2007 ·  Noemi Cantele (ITA)
2008 ·  Fabiana Luperini (ITA)

2009 ·  Emma Pooley (GBR)
2010 ·  Emma Pooley (GBR)
2011 ·  Annemiek van Vleuten (NED)
2012 ·  Marianne Vos (NED)
2013 ·  Marianne Vos (NED)
2014 ·  Lucinda Brand (NED)
2015 ·  Lizzie Armitstead (GBR)

Trivia

References

  1. "GP Ouest France – Plouay". uci.ch. UCI. Retrieved 27 November 2015.
  2. "GP Ouest-France (GP de Plouay), France, Cat 1.1.". autobus.cyclingnews.com. CyclingNews. Retrieved 27 November 2015.
  3. "La plus belle de Nibali". europort.fr. Eurosport. Retrieved 27 November 2015.
  4. "GP Ouest-France 2012". teamsky.com. Team Sky. Retrieved 27 November 2015.
  5. Ryan, Barry. "Pozzato outlines Worlds credentials with GP Ouest-France win. September 02, 2013". cyclingnews.com. CyclingNews. Retrieved 27 November 2015.
  6. "48th GP Ouest France - Plouay (1.UWT)". procyclingstats.com. ProCyclingStats. Retrieved 27 November 2015.
  7. "Chavanel wins GP Ouest France-Plouay. August 31, 2014". cyclingnews.com. CyclingNews. Retrieved 27 November 2015.
  8. Quénet, Jean-François. "Kristoff wins GP Ouest France Plouay. Katusha sprinter on fine form ahead of Worlds". cyclingnews.com. CyclingNews. Retrieved 27 November 2015.
  9. "GP Ouest France – Plouay". uci.ch. UCI. Retrieved 27 November 2015.
  10. Johnson, Greg. "Columbia-HTC has options for women’s GP Plouay assault. August 21, 2009". cyclingnews.com. CyclingNews. Retrieved 27 November 2015.
  11. "Grand Prix de Plouay – Bretagne: who will be crowned UCI Women Road World Cup winner? 27 August 2015". uci.ch. UCI staff. Retrieved 27 November 2015.
  12. Courroux, John. "Le GP de Plouay en cinq chiffres (in French)". velochrono.fr. Vélo Chrono. Retrieved 27 November 2015.
  13. Jones, Jeff. "Preview". autobus.cyclingnews.com. CyclingNews. Retrieved 27 November 2015.
  14. "2000 World Road Cycling Championships 67th. Edition: October 15, 2000. Plouay, France". bikeraceinfo.com. Bikeraceinfo. Retrieved 27 November 2015.
  15. Knapp, Gerard. "Elite Women's Road Race. Saturday, October 14, 2000". autobus.cyclingnews.com. CyclingNews. Retrieved 27 November 2015.

External links

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