Classic Lorient Agglomération: Elisa Balsamo overtakes three-time winner Mischa Bredewold to triumph in Plouay

PLOUAY, FRANCE - AUGUST 29: (L-R) Elisa Balsamo of Italy and Team Lidl - Trek celebrates at finish line as race winner ahead of Mischa Bredewold of Netherlands and Team SD Worx - Protime during the 25th Classic Lorient Agglomeration Ceratizit - Women Elite 2026 a 172.6km one day race from Plouay to Plouay / #UCIWWT / on August 29, 2026 in Plouay, France. (Photo by Alex Broadway/Getty Images).

Elisa Balsamo (Lidl-Trek) won the Classic Lorient Agglomération - Ceratizit in the sprint of a reduced peloton, passing Mischa Bredewold (SD Worx-Protime) on the final metres to take the victory. Franziska Koch (FDJ United-Suez) completed the podium with third place.

After an early breakaway was reeled in on the finishing circuit around Plouay, there were numerous attacks on the last two laps. Maëva Squiban (UAE Team L'Imad) got away with 12.5km to go and began the Côte de Ty Marrec 15 seconds ahead of the peloton but was passed on the climb when Célia Gery (FDJ United-Suez) and Eleonora Gasparrini (UAE Team L'Imad) attacked.

Gery and Gasparrini were only a few seconds ahead, though, and when they were caught with 3.6km to go, the race was bound for a sprint finish. Bredewold tried to anticipate by using the downhill into the finishing straight to get up to speed and launch a long sprint, but Balsamo went into Bredewold's slipstream, pulled alongside on the last 100 metres, and just pipped Bredewold to the line.

“I need to say a big, big thank you to my team. They did an amazing job. When I saw that I could survive the last climb, we went all in for the sprint. I’m super happy,” Balsamo thanked her teammates for setting up her victory.

“On the last climb I was just watching the wheel in front of me because it was so hard. But I was still in the first group, and I fully trusted my teammates. I knew they could close everything,” she looked back on the final time up the Côte de Ty Marrec.

Bredewold, winner of the previous three editions, tried to go long in the sprint, but Balsamo just managed to pass her.

“She started a really long sprint on the left and I was on the right, but I know this is a super hard finish, so I kept believing until the end because I know it’s super hard, especially the last 50 metres,” said Balsamo.

Second-place Mischa Bredewold (SD Worx-Protime), winner Elisa Balsamo (Lidl-Trek) and third-place Franziska Koch (FDJ United-Suez) celebrate on the podium ceremony after the 25th Classic Lorient Agglomeration Ceratizit (Image credit: Getty Images)

How it unfolded

Starting and finishing in Plouay, the 172.6km race consisted of a long 104km loop to the south and east before returning to Plouay in order to climb the Bosse du Lézot out of the town and do another 25km loop including the Côte de Marta Kerhoat. The race entered the finishing circuit with 41.6km to go and would do 2.5 laps, with a total of three ascents of the Côte de Ty Marrec and another two climbs of Lézot.

In the first hour of racing Sara Martín (Movistar) initiated a breakaway that also included Cristina Tonetti (Laboral Kutxa-Fundación Euskadi), Alison Jackson (St Michel-Preference Home-Auber93), and Natalie Quinn (Mayenne-Monbana-MyPie), though Jackson soon dropped back after a mechanical.

Instead, Anna Henderson (Lidl-Trek), Anouska Koster (Uno-X Mobility), Sophie von Berswordt-Wallrabe (VolkerWessels), and Clémence Latimier (Ma Petite Entreprise) bridged to the front to make it a break of seven, and they increased their advantage to seven minutes.

Clemence Latimier (Ma Petite Entreprise) leads the breakaway (Image credit: Getty Images)

When the live broadcast began with 65km to go, the gap was down to 3:30, and Von Berswordt-Wallrabe had lost contact with the other escapees on the Bosse du Lézot. Latimier crashed on a downhill 180-degree turn with 58km to go. She could rejoin the break, but a few minutes later, there was a big crash in the peloton in the same turn that took down pre-race favourite Kim Le Court-Pienaar (AG Insurance-Soudal), Marte Berg Edseth (Uno-X Mobility), and Mikayla Harvey (SD Worx-Protime), all of whom eventually had to abandon the race.

Tonetti was dropped from the break on the Côte de Marta Kerhoat, and in the peloton there were attacks from Antonia Niedermaier (Canyon-SRAM), Nina Berton (EF Education-Oatly), Fleur Moors (Lidl-Trek), and Gery, though none of them could get away.

Entering the finishing circuit at Pont Neuf with 41.6km to go, the peloton was two minutes behind. Passing the finish line with 32.2km to go to enter the penultimate lap, this had been reduced to 50 seconds, mainly by EF Education-Oatly.

Nina Berton (EF Education-Oatly) sets the pace at the front of the peloton (Image credit: Getty Images)

In the breakaway, Martín attacked in the lead-up to the Bosse du Lézot and was followed by Henderson, while Quinn then left Koster and Latimier behind on the climb in an attempt to bridge to the front duo, but all five escapees came back together after the climb.

In the peloton, Niedermaier attacked over the top of the climb but was quickly caught again. Daniek Hengeveld (Visma-Lease a Bike) then got away on the plateau and went off to chase down the breakaway, finally bridging the 40-second gap with 22.5km to go, at the foot of the Côte de Ty Marrec, and immediately going to the front of the group.

Koster could not follow the pace on the climb and dropped back to the peloton where Cédrine Kerbaol (EF Education-Oatly) had attacked, followed by Niamh Fisher-Black (Lidl-Trek), Gery, Gasparrini, and Sarah Van Dam (Visma-Lease a Bike). They reached the front group on the small roads after the climb but were caught again just after the 20km mark, prompting a counterattack from Koch, who was reeled in with 18km to go at the bottom of the short climb through Kerdalvé.

Despite attacks from Loes Adegeest (Lidl-Trek), and world champion Magdeleine Vallières (EF Education-Oatly) on this climb, a peloton of more than 50 riders entered the final lap together. Mavi García (UAE Team L’Imad) attacked with 15km to go, before the Bosse du Lézot, but Vallières went after her, closed the gap, and then led the race up the climb to set up an attack by Kerbaol over the top.

Koch reeled in Kerbaol, and after an unsuccessful attack by García, Squiban got away with 12.5km to go, quickly opening a gap. Sara Casasola (Fenix-Premier Tech), Rosita Reijnhout (Visma-Lease a Bike), Célia Le Mouël (Ma Petite Entreprise), Gery, Vallières, Letizia Borghesi (AG Insurance-Soudal), and Ingvild Gåskjenn (Uno-X Mobility) briefly formed a chase group but were soon back in the peloton.

Francesca Barale (Movistar), Lucie Fityus (Picnic PostNL), and Katharina Sadnik (Visma-Lease a Bike) all tried to get away, but it was Nadia Gontova (Liv AlUla Jayco) who succeeded just before the turn onto the wide road up the Côte de Ty Marrec.

Going into the climb, Squiban was 19 seconds ahead of the peloton, with Gontova having a three-second gap on the bunch. Vallières set the pace on the first half of the climb, catching Gontova, but then Gery attacked. The French champion quickly reached Squiban, who helped Gasparrini jump across before swinging off.

Gery and Gasparrini were seven seconds ahead at the 5km mark atop the climb, but Lidl-Trek quickly organised the chase and caught them with 3.6km to go. Vallières launched a final attack into the Kerdalvé climb but was neutralised by Justine Ghekiere (AG Insurance-Soudal) and Niedermaier, and 34 riders entered the final kilometre together.

Bredewold launched her sprint just after the 500m mark, accelerating along the barriers on the left-hand side while Balsamo was being led out on the right side. Bredewold was several bike lengths ahead at the 200m mark, but Balsamo had now found her wheel, pulled alongside on the last 100 metres and could beat Bredewold to the line while Koch beat Gasparrini to third place.

The peloton, including Elisa Balsamo (Lidl-Trek), Eleonora Gasparrini (UAE Team L'IMAD) and Mischa Bredewold (SD Worx-Protime), sprinting to the finish line (Image credit: Getty Images)

Results

Pos	Rider	Time
1	Elisa Balsamo (Ita) Lidl-Trek	04:30:49
2	Mischa Bredewold (Ned) SD Worx-Protime	0:0:00
3	Franziska Koch (Ger) FDJ United-SUEZ	0:0:00
4	Eleonora Camilla Gasparrini (Ita) Uae Team L'Imad	0:0:00
5	Soraya Paladin (Ita) Canyon//Sram	0:0:00
6	Paula Ostiz Taco (Spa) Movistar Team	0:0:00
7	Eleonora Ciabocco (Ita) Picnic PostNL	0:0:00
8	Célia Gery (Fra) FDJ United-SUEZ	0:0:00
9	Noemi Rüegg (Swi) EF Education-Oatly	0:0:00
10	Letizia Borghesi (Ita) AG Insurance-Soudal	0:0:00
11	Karlijn Swinkels (Ned) Uae Team L'Imad	0:0:00
12	Julie Bego (Fra) Cofidis Women Team	0:0:00
13	Sarah van Dam (Can) Visma-Lease a Bike	0:0:00
14	Ingvild Gåskjenn (Nor) Uno-X Mobility	0:0:00
15	Usoa Ostolaza Zabala (Spa) Laboral Kutxa-Fundacion Euskadi	0:0:00
16	Celia le Mouel (Fra) Ma Petite Entreprise	0:0:00
17	Cedrine Kerbaol (Fra) EF Education-Oatly	0:0:00
18	Lily Williams (USA) Human Powered Health	0:0:00
19	Nadia Gontova (Can) Liv AlUla Jayco	0:0:00
20	Justine Ghekiere (Bel) AG Insurance-Soudal	0:0:00
21	Maeva Squiban (Fra) Uae Team L'Imad	0:0:00
22	Cecilie Ludwig (Den) Canyon//Sram	0:0:00
23	Margot Vanpachtenbeke (Bel) Lidl-Trek	0:0:00
24	Silke Smulders (Ned) Liv AlUla Jayco	0:0:00
25	Sara Casasola (Ita) Fenix-Premier Tech	0:0:00
26	Caroline Andersson (Swe) Liv AlUla Jayco	0:0:00
27	Antonia Niedermaier (Ger) Canyon//Sram	0:0:00
28	Francesca Barale (Ita) Movistar Team	0:0:00
29	Magdeleine Vallieres Mill (Can) EF Education-Oatly	0:0:00
30	Rosita Reijnhout (Ned) Visma-Lease a Bike	0:0:00
31	Maud Rijnbeek (Ned) Volkerwessels	0:0:00
32	Margarita Victoria Garcia Cañellas (Spa) Uae Team L'Imad	0:0:00
33	Niamh Fisher-Black (NZl) Lidl-Trek	0:0:00
34	Fleur Moors (Bel) Lidl-Trek	0:0:29
35	Ruby Roseman-Gannon (Aus) Liv AlUla Jayco	0:01:15
36	Katharina Sadnik (Aut) Visma-Lease a Bike	0:01:15
37	Catalina Soto Campos (Chi) Laboral Kutxa-Fundacion Euskadi	0:01:44
38	Eline Jansen (Ned) Volkerwessels	0:01:44
39	Clémence Latimier (Fra) Ma Petite Entreprise	0:01:44
40	Jeanne Korevaar (Ned) Liv AlUla Jayco	0:01:44
41	Sara Martin Martin (Spa) Movistar Team	0:01:44
42	Natalie Quinn (USA) Mayenne Monbana My Pie	0:01:44
43	Léa Stern (Swi) Ma Petite Entreprise	0:01:44
44	Anna Henderson (GBr) Lidl-Trek	0:01:44
45	Quinty Schoens (Ned) Volkerwessels	0:01:44
46	Océane Mahe (Fra) Ma Petite Entreprise	0:01:44
47	Daniek Hengeveld (Ned) Visma-Lease a Bike	0:01:44
48	Loes Adegeest (Ned) Lidl-Trek	0:01:48
49	Nina Berton (Lux) EF Education-Oatly	0:02:19
50	Fiona Mangan (Irl) Mayenne Monbana My Pie	0:02:19
51	Elyne Roussel (Fra) St Michel - Preference Home - Auber93	0:02:19
52	Idoia Eraso Lasa (Spa) Laboral Kutxa-Fundacion Euskadi	0:02:19
53	Flora Perkins (GBr) Fenix-Premier Tech	0:02:19
54	Justyna Czapla (Ger) Canyon//Sram	0:02:19
55	Elena Cecchini (Ita) SD Worx-Protime	0:02:29
56	Anouska Koster (Ned) Uno-X Mobility	0:04:48
57	Bodine Vollering (Ned) Volkerwessels	0:05:20
58	Alessia Vigilia (Ita) Uno-X Mobility	0:05:20
59	Anastasiya Kolesava (Blr) Canyon//Sram	0:05:20
60	Marine Allione (Fra) Mayenne Monbana My Pie	0:10:19
61	Justine Gegu (Fra) Mayenne Monbana My Pie	0:10:19
62	Marie le Net (Fra) FDJ United-SUEZ	0:10:19
63	Henrietta Christie (NZl) EF Education-Oatly	0:10:19
64	Nienke Vinke (Ned) SD Worx-Protime	0:10:19
65	Solène Muller (Fra) St Michel - Preference Home - Auber93	0:10:19
66	Noemie Abgrall (Fra) Ma Petite Entreprise	0:10:19
67	Stina Kagevi (Swe) EF Education-Oatly	0:14:59
68	Alicia Gonzalez Blanco (Spa) St Michel - Preference Home - Auber93	0:14:59
69	Lucie Fityus (Aus) Picnic PostNL	0:20:24
70	Anneke Dijkstra (Ned) Volkerwessels	0:20:24
71	Victorie Guilman (Fra) Cofidis Women Team	0:20:24
72	Alison Jackson (Can) St Michel - Preference Home - Auber93	0:20:24
73	Irati Aranguren Carbayeda (Spa) Laboral Kutxa-Fundacion Euskadi	0:20:24
74	Mijntje Geurts (Ned) Cofidis Women Team	0:20:24
75	Becky Storrie (GBr) Picnic PostNL	0:20:24
76	Kiara Lylyk (Can) Mayenne Monbana My Pie	0:21:24
DNF	Femke Gerritse (Ned) SD Worx-Protime
DNF	Mikayla Harvey (NZl) SD Worx-Protime
DNF	Lisa van Belle (Ned) SD Worx-Protime
DNF	Sofia Bertizzolo (Ita) FDJ United-SUEZ
DNF	Jade Wiel (Fra) FDJ United-SUEZ
DNF	Eglantine Rayer Girault (Fra) FDJ United-SUEZ
DNF	Greta Marturano (Ita) Uae Team L'Imad
DNF	Maud Oudeman (Ned) Visma-Lease a Bike
DNF	Charlotte Kool (Ned) Fenix-Premier Tech
DNF	Fien van Eynde (Bel) Fenix-Premier Tech
DNF	Ceylin del Carmen Alvarado (Ned) Fenix-Premier Tech
DNF	Julie de Wilde (Bel) Fenix-Premier Tech
DNF	Kimberley le Court de Billot - Pienaar (Mri) AG Insurance-Soudal
DNF	Nicole Steigenga (Ned) AG Insurance-Soudal
DNF	Julie van de Velde (Bel) AG Insurance-Soudal
DNF	Amandine Fouquenet (Fra) AG Insurance-Soudal
DNF	Aude Biannic (Fra) Movistar Team
DNF	Letizia Paternoster (Ita) Liv AlUla Jayco
DNF	Marta Jaskulska (Pol) Human Powered Health
DNF	Katia Ragusa (Ita) Human Powered Health
DNF	Wiktoria Pikulik (Pol) Human Powered Health
DNF	Marte Berg Edseth (Nor) Uno-X Mobility
DNF	Jelena Erić (Srb) Uno-X Mobility
DNF	Mia Gjertsen (Nor) Uno-X Mobility
DNF	Audrey de Keersmaeker (Bel) Picnic PostNL
DNF	Ella Heremans (Bel) Picnic PostNL
DNF	Debora Silvestri (Ita) Laboral Kutxa-Fundacion Euskadi
DNF	Cristina Tonetti (Ita) Laboral Kutxa-Fundacion Euskadi
DNF	Sophie von Berswordt (Ned) Volkerwessels
DNF	Nikola Nosková (Cze) Cofidis Women Team
DNF	Valentine Fortin (Fra) Cofidis Women Team
DNF	Špela Kern (Slo) Cofidis Women Team
DNF	Margot Marasco (Fra) Ma Petite Entreprise
DNF	Clémence Chereau (Fra) St Michel - Preference Home - Auber93
DNF	Heidi Franz (USA) St Michel - Preference Home - Auber93
DNF	Frankie Hall (GBr) Mayenne Monbana My Pie
DNS	Alena Amialiusik (Blr) Uae Team L'Imad
DNS	Petra Stiasny (Swi) Human Powered Health
DNS	Carlotta Cipressi (Ita) Human Powered Health

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