The warrior spirit

April 2 ^nd 2026 - 20:00

• The route for the 42nd edition of the Tro Bro Leon, which will take place on May 10, has just been unveiled and remains true to its combative nature. The course will feature 29 ribinou sections and 34 kilometers of unpaved roads, for a total distance of 202.1 kilometers, with both the start and finish in the town of Lannilis.
• The list of contenders for victory is beginning to take shape and notably includes defending champion Bastien Tronchon, former winner Hugo Hofstetter, runners-up Clément Venturini (in 2024) and Pierre Gautherat (in 2025), their compatriots Axel Zingle and Benoît Cosnefroy seeking revenge, as well as the new gravel world champion Florian Vermeersch.

It’s a tradition that has endured for 42 years, ever since the creation of the Tro Bro Leon in 1984: Jean-Paul Mellouët, the founding father of the race, has never designed the same course twice. The 2026 edition is no exception and introduces a new ribin in Porspoder: the Messoudal'ch section, 1,600 meters long and positioned at kilometer 116 of the race’s 202.1 total. A very small part of it has been used before, but in the opposite direction; the route to be raced this Sunday, May 10, will be brand new.

The organizers are also innovating with the route of the ribin of Le Cosquer, in Saint-Pabu. While it is not entirely new to the race, it had previously only been covered in short stretches, whereas this time riders will have to tackle its full 800 meters of uphill false flat. This section is one of the 29 ribinou on the program, the same number as in the 2025 edition. “It’s a bit of a Finistère number,” smiles Jean-Paul Mellouët, as 29 is the departmental code of the area where the race takes place. Altogether, this represents 34 kilometers of tracks made up of dirt and stone.

TWO PASSES OVER THE LINE BEFORE THE FINISH  

The course will reach its southernmost point at Pointe Saint-Mathieu, where the longest of the 29 ribinou is located: the Keryel, stretching 2,300 meters. Rocky and expected to be demanding, it is rated three out of four in difficulty. As in recent years, the race will return along the Iroise Sea via the coastal tourist route, passing near the Pointe de Landunvez.  

The riders will cross the line in Lannilis for the first time with 45.2 km to go, before taking on a first demanding loop. They will notably face two consecutive ribinou: the ribin of Mescleguer (700 meters) and the ribin of Kerdraon (2,000 meters). Rated four stars, Kerdraon could see the favorites test each other - or even launch attacks. A second pass over the line, with 12.8 km remaining, will send the riders into the final loop. Each time, they will tackle the ribin of Keradraon (1,600 meters), famous for the Château de Kerouartz it runs through, as well as for the editions of the Tro Bro Leon that have been decided there.  

FIRST RIDERS ANNOUNCED, INCLUDING TWO FORMER WINNERS  

A total of 21 teams are expected at the start of the Tro Bro Leon, with the full start list to be revealed soon. At least two former winners will be on the line, including defending champion Bastien Tronchon (Groupama-FDJ United), who could become the first rider to win back-to-back editions since Samuel Dumoulin in 2003-2004. Also expected is Hugo Hofstetter (NSN Cycling Team), winner of the 2022 edition, when his victory - still his most recent to date - brought him to tears of joy. He will be joined in the peloton by his teammate Brady Gilmore, who just claimed victory on Stage 7 of the Tour of Catalonia last Sunday.  

Runner-up in 2024, Clément Venturini (Unibet Rose Rockets) arrives boosted by his recent win at the La Roue Tourangelle and dreams of climbing the final step that eluded him in Lannilis two years ago. The same goes for Pierre Gautherat (Decathlon CMA CGM Team), who already has two podium finishes at the race (3rd in 2024, 2nd in 2025) and recently won Paris-Camembert.  

French fans will also be cheering for Benoît Cosnefroy (UAE Team Emirates-XRG), returning with the ambition of improving on his 15th place finish on his race debut in 2024. His compatriot Axel Zingle (Team Visma - Lease a Bike) will likewise be seeking revenge on the Breton event. Local supporters can already prepare their banners for Clément Alleno (Burgos Burpellet - BH), the 2025 Brittany cyclo-cross champion. Traditionally visited by the world champions of gravel, the Tro Bro Leon will rely on the new strongman of the discipline, Florian Vermeersch (UAE Team Emirates-XRG), crowned last October and who finished in second place at the 2021 Paris-Roubaix Hauts-de-France.

CIC, A MAJOR PARTNER OF THE TRO BRO LEON AND OFFICIAL PARTNER OF THE TRO BRO LEON CHALLENGE.  

A committed player in sports in France, CIC is becoming a major partner of the professional race and the official partner of the amateur event. CIC will reward the winner of the professional race on Sunday, May 10, and will also support the amateurs of the Challenge who will take on the gravel paths on Saturday, May 9, the day before the main race.  

Claude Koestner, Deputy Chief Executive Officer of CIC: “We are very pleased to support the Tro Bro Leon and contribute to its new sporting momentum. CIC is accustomed to supporting entrepreneurs and, in the world of sports, to backing those who take initiative by supporting leading popular events. The Tro Bro Leon is recognized as a race that has established itself through its unique character and the authenticity of its identity.”  

Jean-Paul Mellouët, founder of the Tro Bro Leon: “The arrival of CIC as a major partner of the Tro Bro Leon and official partner of the Challenge is a wonderful recognition for our event and for everyone who has kept it alive for more than forty years. Our race has been built around a strong identity, that of the ribinou, and a territory to which we are deeply attached. The commitment of such an important player as CIC will allow us to continue growing the event, strengthen its influence, and preserve what makes it unique in the cycling calendar. It is a real driving force for the future.”

On Saturday, May 9, 2026, on the eve of the legendary Tro Bro Leon, cycling and gravel enthusiasts will have the unique opportunity to ride the famous ribinou, those iconic dirt tracks of Brittany.  

For road cycling, three distances are offered: a 34 km route featuring 8 ribinou, a 106 km course including 17 ribinou, and a more demanding 150 km route crossing 22 ribinou. On the gravel side, formats are tailored to more technical terrain, with a first 65 km loop including 24 ribinou, an intermediate 104 km route with 36 ribinou, and a long-distance event of 147 km, featuring 50 ribinou. A total immersion in the “Hell of the West,” with routes that are as challenging as they are authentic.  

📍 Info & registration here