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  Regardless of the outcome Lizzie Armitstead will walk away the overall winner of the 2014 World Cup series, as will Elena Cecchini in the Young Rider classification. Technically the team classification is still open but Rabo has a 226 point lead and the way they have been riding it is hard to see them overtaken by Boels Dolmans here.

Alena Amialiusik leads the mountains classification on 12 with Vera Koedooder (who is not riding). There are two climbs for a total of 12 points on offer. Ferrand-Prevot, Moolman and Armitstead are all on 10, with van der Breggen on 8. The overall is still up for grabs. Iris Slappendel leads the sprint classification on 20 points and with just one sprint on offer and Sticker not riding the classification will go to the jersey designer.

Unlike last week at Open de Suède Vargarda where the course can suit both climbers and sprinters, GP de Plouay-Bretagne is a race for the puncheurs and climbers. Vos has won the past two years and will be looking to make it three in a row and the only three time winner. Vos has three other podium appearances. Emma Johansson has never won here but has been on the podium three times.

Past Results

Former Winners

2013 - Marianne Vos
2012 - Marianne Vos
2011 - Annemiek van Vleuten
2010 - Emma Pooley
2009 - Emma Pooley
2008 - Fabiana Luperini
2007 - Noemi Cantele
2006 - Nicole Brandli
2005 - Noemi Cantele
2004 - Edita Pucinskaite
2003 - Nicole Cooke
2002 - Regina Schleicher

2013 Results

1 Marianne Vos
2 Emma Johansson +12
3 Anna Van der Breggen +17
4 Alena Amialiusik +1:27
5 Karol-Ann Canuel +1:35
6 Lucina Brand +3:56
7 Noemi Cantele +3:56
8 Tatiana Antoshina +3:56
9 Annemiek Van Vleuten +3:56
10 Rossella Ratto +3:56

The Route


4 Laps


1 Lap

The race initially takes place over four laps of a 26.9km circuit. Undulating throughout with three main climbs, the first, Côte du Lezat comes after only a 1.5km with sections at 7%. The Côte de la Chapelle Ste Anne is the location of the two GPM points in the race. The GPM sprints come on laps two and three (aprox 41km and 68km). The gradient is below 5% but the climb covers over 5km and doesn't stop at the GPM point. The biggest feature of the circuit is the Côte de Ty-Marrec, with most of the climb over 10% coming just 4km before the end of the circuit. With the penultimate climb of Côte de Ty-Marrec coming just 18km from the finish expect to see attacks to try and get away from what will already be a small group.

After completing the opening four laps riders complete a 13.9km circuit before reaching the finish. Much of the course is the same including the Côte du Lezat and Côte de Ty-Marrec, with the middle section cut out. With much less respite between Côte du Lezat and Côte de Ty-Marrec expect a fierce pace. If there is still a group together coming in to the Côte de Ty-Marrec expect those without a quick sprint to try and escape. Dropping the likes of Vos, Johansson and Armitstead will likely be difficult.

The Contenders

Marianne Vos

Might not have defended her win at Open de Suède Vargarda last weekend but she still won the reduced bunch sprint for 4th. Has not finished outside the top 10 once this season and has 20 wins in 2014. She has been happy to support teammates at various points this season and it is likely we will see that continue. Distancing Vos will be difficult unless she is happy to let a group with a teammate go. In a sprint finish will be nearly impossible to beat.

Pauline Ferrand-Prevot

There is not much the talented Frenchwoman cannot do. She climbs with the best of the them, her sprint against the likes of Johansson and Armitstead is unlikely to see her take the win however. Has spent the past few weeks racing on the dirt but with the World Championships fast approaching expect to see her fighting for the win and road form.

Emma Johansson

Johansson probably races more than anyone although she has missed a number of races you would normally see her in this year. Whatever the race she is always in the mix. Nine wins this season and after three podium places here including second last year she will be looking towards that top step. Orica-AIS made a big mistake letting a group go last weekend with anyone in it. From here they used up the team chasing leaving Johansson isolated at the finish. Rest assured the team will not allow that to happen again and they bring a team full of climbers and domestiques.

Orica-AIS

They bring a strong squad to support Johansson but don't discount others on the team. They probably haven't brought a team this strong to a race for a while and will be looking to take the win. Carlee Taylor is one of the best domestiques in the business and will sit on the front chasing for as long as she needs to. Gracie Elvin and Amanda Spratt are both very strong puncheurs, climbing well on sharp climbs and from a small group has a very quick finish. The Australian National Championships course is not unlike the route here and they are the two more recent winners there. Expect to see Valentina Scandolara her attacking self to take pressure off the team.

Elisa Longo Borghini

Fifth at the Giro Rosa, and the winner of stages and the overall at both Tour de Bretagne Féminin and Trophée d'Or Féminin in the past two months. One of the strongest climbers in the women's peloton and will no doubt attack on the Côte de Ty-Marrec.

Ashleigh Moolman

Along with Longo Borghini, Moolman forms part of a very strong Hitec Products duo. Hasn't quite repeated her success of 2013 but has strong results since the South African National Championships in January. It is on this sort of terrain that Moolman is at her best. Hasn't raced since taking Bronze in the road race at the Commonwealth Games.

Evelyn Stevens

Hasn't raced as much in 2014 as previous seasons. Did her own Grand Tour riding the Giro Rosa and then the Internationale Thüringen Rundfahrt the next day, where she took a stage and the overall win. Helped Specialized-lululemon take a more than dominant win at the Open de Suède Vargarda TTT. In the road race didn't seem at her absolute best but should never be discounted.

Karol-Ann Canuel

You might not remember it but Canuel was 5th here last year, as one of a few riders chasing after Vos, Johansson and Van der Breggen. Part of the winning Specialized-lululemon squad in the Open de Suède Vargarda TTT and took 17th in the road race. Her form looks to be peaking for this race so don't be surprised to see her up there again this year.

Tiffany Cromwell

Made the switch to Specialized-lululemon but hasn't quite had the season she might have hoped. Just missed the podium in the road race at the National Championships in January, which was a big target. It was the same case at the Commonwealth Games missing a medal by centimetres. Didn't race in Sweden last weekend but has a track record here finishing second in 2012. Her form seems to be coming good with fifth at the Ladies Tour of Norway. With Worlds fast approaching don't expect her to be at her best yet though.

Lizzie Armitstead

Has already sealed the overall World Cup classification but don't expect her to now sit back and not fight for the win. Her success in 2014 has been what many knew she was capable of. With that said wins are still elusive. Took the win at Omloop van het Hageland and then the first World Cup Boels Rental Ronde van Drenthe but then had to wait four months for the next win. Only four wins this year. Her climbing has improved and that will be important here but in a sprint doesn't seem anywhere near as fast as she used to.

Boels-Dolmans

Armitstead is the undisputed leader of the team but with the World Cup won it might be time to pay back her team for the support this year. Jessie Daams is a very underrated rider, you don't often hear the name but when you look at her results they are always very good. Much more so when you consider she normally rides in support of others. A great climber so don't be surprised to see her perform well. Megan Guarnier is another strong climber who often sits a little under the radar. Solid results all season including 7th at the Giro Rosa.

Alena Amialiusik

Started the season strongly in South America before returning to Europe and picking up consistent results there. Took a bit of a surprise third place at Trofeo Alfredo Binda but it was an indication of what she can do. Finished 14th at the Giro Rosa and second earlier this month at La Route de France. The course is one of the better ones for her with short steep climbs. Currently tied on points in the mountain classification and with Koedooder not racing is likely to walk away with at least one prize.

Elena Cecchini

The Italian National Championship and track rider has already sealed up the young rider classification but for Cecchini who has improved the most of anyone this year there are bigger targets. Finished 11th last year and her climbing has improved a great deal since then. Seems to be coming in to form after spending some time on the track, 11th last weekend at Open de Suède Vargarda. Look for a strong result from Cecchini.

Claudia Lichtenberg

Joined Giant-Shimano as an option for GC in stage races and the hillier one day races Lichtenberg has picked up solid results. Won the opening stage and the overall at La Route de France, 5th Emakumeen Euskal Bira and 6th Giro Rosa. The short sharp climbs are not perfect for her here but you can still expect a strong performance. Finished just outside the top 10 last weekend at Open de Suède Vargarda.

Other names to watch: Anna van der Breggen, Audrey Cordon, Elena Berlato, Christine Majerus, Sarah Roy, Elena Kuchinskaya, Rossella Ratto and Sofie De Vuyst.
 
 
         
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