The Coupe de France goes on during the Giro
The Coupe de France de cyclisme sur route (French Road Cycling Cup) is an annual trophy organized by the Ligue National de Cyclisme that combines several French one-day races of categories 1.Pro and 1.1 into a combined classification. This weekend, and even though all eyes in the cycling world are focused on Italy and the start of the Giro, two races of this national competition are being held. These are Grand Prix du Morbihan and Tro-Bro Léon, which, being of category .Pro, are also contested in Cycling Fantasy and count for the France 1.Pro classification in the application.
Grand Prix du Morbihan
Route: The 2023 Grand Prix de Morbihan presents a route of 189 kilometers and 2717 meters of positive elevation, making it significantly tougher than the 2022 edition (+2471 meters) or the 2021 edition (+1926 meters). The final part of the race takes place in the surroundings of Plumelec, where the riders will have to do five laps on the first circuit (13.5 km) before entering the 8-km final circuit, to which they will have to do 7 laps more. Both circuits pass through the finish line, located at the top of the Côte de Cadounal (1.7 km at 6.3%).
Favorites: The 13 climbs to the line will make things difficult for pure sprinters, so the favorites must be fast puncheurs or resistant sprinters. Julien Simon (200), Arnaud De Lie (400), Stan Dewulf (200), Alexander Krsitoff (800), Bryan Coquard (600), Hugo Hofstetter (200), Axel Zingle (200), Clement Venturini (200), Rasmus Tiller (200), Orluis Aular (200), or Florian Vermeersch (200) are some of the most prominent names on the start list.
Tro-Bro Léon
Route: On its part, Tro-Bro Léon is a special race that is characterized by including several sections on unpaved dirt roads, which has earned it the nickname "the little Paris-Roubaix" due to its similarities with the famous monument. On this occasion, the cyclists will have to overcome 27 sections of sterrato distributed throughout the 205-kilometer route.
Favorites: Unlike Grand Prix de Morbihan, the start list for Tro-Bro Léon is still in an initial phase and many teams have yet to confirm their lineups. For now, Hugo Hofstetter (400), Valentin Madouas (400), Arnaud De Lie (400), Nils Eekhoff (200), John Degenkolb (200), Clement Venturini (200), Samuel Watson (200), or Adrien Petit (200) are some of the favorites.
Photo: Tro-Bro Léon / Sébastien Delaunay