A frustrating final Breton race

May 10, 2025, 08:22 PM

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Photo credit : Pierre Le Bihan

After the Pointe du Raz Ladies Classic and the Classique de Morbihan, the riders in the French squad concluded their Breton tour with the Grand Prix du Morbihan. It was a day of learning.

After the Classic, it was time for the Grand Prix. In Morbihan, Marine Allione, Camille Fahy, Marie-Morgane Le Deunff, Fiona Mangan, Florence Normand and Constance Valentin took the start of the fourth round of the French Cup (83.9km). Although the WOS residents were involved on several occasions, their efforts were not rewarded.

Franck Renimel : "I'm convinced that with time and racing, we'll be able to take things to the next level"

"The result is disappointing", analyses sporting director Franck Renimel. "We didn't set out to finish this far behind (Fiona Mangan, the team's first rider, came 26th, 52 seconds behind winner Eleonora Gasparrini, editor's note). It's a young team, not only because they don't really know the race, but above all because they need to learn to race together. That's what's been the most difficult to put in place over the last three days. We were too soft in the final stages to hope to slip into the last group. It was within reach."

Constance Valentin : "These three days of racing will take us to the top"

These three days in Brittany have taught us a lot. "The girls are in good shape and capable of racing when the going gets tough. Not everything has been perfect. We still need to improve our communication and develop a sense of automaticity. I'm convinced that with time and racing, we'll get to the next level", he says.

The same goes for Fiona Mangan. "We missed the final. We were in almost all the breakaways. Perhaps we didn't communicate well at the end. We're learning and we hope to get better places in the races to come."

On the offensive in the Morbihan Classic on Friday, Constance Valentin believes she has had "three great days, collectively and personally". "I'm feeling better and better. These three days of racing are going to lift us up".

Now it's off to the Spanish sunshine with the same old grit!

Riders rankings :

26th - Fiona Mangan

42nd - Constance Valentin

44th - Camille Fahy

45th - Marine Allione

71st - Florence Normand