Info with one day to go
May 9 th 2026 - 19:36
- Tomorrow, 21 teams will tackle the 29 ribinou of the 42nd edition of the Tro Bro Leon, a race as unpredictable as ever. "Riding skills on the ribinou will be crucial," warns technical director Cédric Coutouly, while the route was affected by some downpours on Saturday.
- Bastien Tronchon (Groupama FDJ-United) is ready to defend his title but is not in his best shape. "The goal remains the same: to win," said the 2025 runner-up Pierre Gautherat. He will have to fight against a strong field, particularly among the French contingent. "I'm going to be ambitious," warns Benoît Cosnefroy, who recently secured his first victory with the UAE Emirates XRG team.
- Six riders competing this Sunday have already reached the podium at the Tro Bro Leon, but many others hope to do so for the first time, including Axel Zingle, Briton Fred Wright, or Norwegian Rasmus Tiller.
“YOU NEED GOOD LEGS, BUT NOT ONLY”
202.1 kilometers, including 34 on unpaved roads, 29 ribinou, and 21 teams ready to battle it out: Finistère is looking forward to the 42nd edition of the Tro Bro Leon, this Sunday. The route has been slightly modified, as it has been every year since the race's creation in 1984. One thing hasn't changed: the sporting suspense, which remains as intense as ever. The race's technical director, Cédric Coutouly, considers the field “very competitive once again,” with 11 teams and numerous cyclists slated to compete in the upcoming Tour de France. “We should have a fairly French battle, but with a few talented foreign riders to shake things up,” predicts the man who finished second here in 2005. “To win, you need good legs, of course. But there are also some unpredictable elements: you need a bit of luck, for example, with punctures.”
On Saturday, all eyes in Lannilis were on the Breton sky. We had some downpours while Cédric Coutouly and his team were out reconnoitering the route. "We immediately saw puddles, and the ribinou that absorb less water were getting muddy. But it's windy and that will help it dry out. There won't be any deep mud like last year, when the conditions were horrendous, but it will be wet. So, riding skill in the ribinou will be crucial," he anticipates. The latest weather forecast predicts winds averaging 30 km/h and possible rain along the route. Another epic edition is on the horizon, a year after the dramatic turn of events that saw Bastien Tronchon crowned.
“ONE OF THE GREATEST EMOTIONS OF MY LIFE”
The Frenchman from Groupama-FDJ United is one of two former winners riding this Sunday, alongside Hugo Hofstetter (NSN Cycling), winner of the 2022 edition. A year after his victory in Lannilis, the Chambéry native is still electrified by what he describes as “one of the greatest emotions of my life,” in “such a unique race.” He left nothing to chance in his title defense, even testing clothing in the rain to find the most suitable gear. His preparation, however, was marked by health problems that prevented him from winning in recent months. “But the issues are resolved, and I’m enjoying again. I’m in a good shappe, but without the confidence of the results I achieved at the start of the 2025 season.”
His teammate Valentin Madouas is also running to succeed him, having last secured a victory in the region (Bretagne Classic 2023). The Brest native finished 3rd here last year, winning the prize for best Breton rider. “The Tro Bro Leon is one of my objectives, but it’s a comeback race for me, whereas last year I was more at the end of a cycle. I’ve trained hard to be in good form; there’s that slight question mark because it's my comeback, but otherwise, everything is looking good. I want to prove to myself that I’m capable of performing, but the race will decide. The number one objective is for a rider from the team to be at the front,” emphasizes the Paris 2024 Olympic silver medalist.
GAUTHERAT: "THE GOAL IS TO WIN"
Winners with Tronchon last year, the Decathlon CMA CGM team did a 1-2 thanks to Pierre Gautherat. Already third in 2024, the Alsatian still has one more step on the podium to reach: the top. "I'm very motivated and the goal remains the same: to win," affirms the recent winner of Paris-Camembert. "The Tro Bro Leon is always an important moment in the season. It's a unique race, and that's what attracts people, what makes it so beautiful. We really have a great team, and I hope everything will be good with some luck on our side, because we need that too." And if luck isn't with him, Decathlon CMA CGM can count on other contenders like Noa Isidore and Paul Lapeira.
Two other riders present this Sunday, like Gautherat, already know the second step of the podium: Piet Allegaert (Cofidis) in 2021, and Clément Venturini (Unibet Rose Rockets) in 2024. "I really want to do well," the Frenchman announced. "I was unlucky last year, I hope it will be on our side this year. We know it's a very unpredictable race and that a lot can happen at the Tro Bro Leon, but I hope to be there for the overall victory," declared the seven-time French cyclo-cross champion.
COSNEFROY "AMBITIOUS", FIRST VICTORY HERE ON THE WAY?
"I'm getting back to my best, that was evident in the classics, but i'm still chasing a victory," Benoît Cosnefroy recently said. The Frenchman finished 3rd in La Flèche Brabançonne and the Amstel Gold Race, then 4th in La Flèche Wallonne. He finally won for the first time with the UAE Emirates XRG team at the Grand Prix du Morbihan on Saturday. It boosted his confidence on the eve of the Tro Bro Leon, where he finished 15th in 2024. "It will be a completely different race, but I'm going to be ambitious," he declared. This first victory of the year for Cosnefroy might inspire his compatriot Axel Zingle (Team Visma-Lease A Bike), who has yet to raise his arms in victory in 2026. His team will be discovering the Finistère race, bringing with them several newcomers.
Florian Dauphin (TotalEnergies) is already well aware of what he'll be facing, and for good reason: a local rider born in Quimperlé, this is his third time participating. "I've done a good block of training to be in top form for the Tro Bro Leon, which is the most beautiful race on the calendar," says the rider who finished 12th last year. "There's a great show, and it's a true Breton race where it's all about the legs, with the ribinou, the sometimes difficult weather, and extraordinary scenery... It's also special for me because it's in Finistère, and I'll have supporters along the roads or watching on TV. I had a good race in 2025, but I was just a little short of a big result. A top-five finish would already be fantastic considering the level of the field."
WHO CAN STOP THE FRENCH RIDERS?
Five of the last ten winners of the Tro Bro Leon were not French. Two years after Belgian winner Arnaud de Lie (Lotto Intermarché), his compatriot Tim Wellens (UAE Emirates XRG), a stage winner in all three Grand Tours, is one of his country's contenders. The Pinarello Q36.5 team is fielding Quinten Hermans as well as British contender Fred Wright, who finished 8th in his first participation in 2025. "The Tro Bro Leon has a unique identity. It's a race that demands commitment, resilience, and a real feel for the terrain, which makes it incredibly exciting for both riders and spectators. You always need a bit of luck alongside strong legs. But if everything comes together, I believe we can fight for a very strong result," he says eagerly.
His compatriot Lewis Askey (NSN Cycling), twice in the top 20, is another outsider from Great Britain. Norway is chasing its first victory, but also its first podium finish, and Hagenes isn't the only one who can achieve it. Rasmus Tiller (Uno X-Mobility) is also in contention after four top-10 finishes in Lannilis. "This race suits me quite well and I always look forward to it. If I have a good day, at the front, and I can avoid technical problems and crashes, I can try to aim for a podium spot, or even the win," he hopes.
THE TRO BRO LEON CHALLENGE IS GROWING
The eve of the Tro Bro Leon means it was riding day for the Tro Bro Leon Challenge cyclists! Amateurs turned out in greater numbers than ever to test themselves on the famous ribinou, with 2,500 participants tackling six different routes. Three distances were offered for the road cycling events, set against spectacular scenery between land and sea: a 34km course (8 ribinou), a 106km route (17), and a more demanding 150km course (22). For gravel riders, a veritable feast of dirt tracks awaited, with an initial 65km circuit (24 ribinou), an intermediate 104km version (36), and a long-distance event of 147km comprised of 50 ribinou – 21 more than the professional race!