Published on : 05/08/2026
Valentine Fortin claimed her first podium of the season this Friday at the Classique Morbihan. Our sprinter, who was among the contenders for victory, finished third.
Reaction from sports director Gaëtan Lemoine:
The objective was clear today: wait for the sprint and aim for a strong result with Valentine. The girls controlled the race well throughout the day, and I’m happy with what they showed—they rode as a united team. In the finale, everyone did a great job to put Valentine in the best possible position. In the end, she was passed with just 15–20 meters to go by riders coming from behind. It’s frustrating because victory slipped away by very little, but it’s still a very encouraging performance for our sprint group. Tomorrow we also have a strong card to play—I hope we can deliver the same kind of performance, just two places higher!
Sunshine, a dazzling blue sea and packed roadsides: all the ingredients were there on this Friday, May 8, to make the Classique Morbihan a great day of cycling. Starting from Quiberon, the ideal weather conditions gave an extra boost to a team already determined to shine.
And for good reason: over the past two years, the squad has consistently delivered strong performances on the roads of Morbihan. Victoire Berteau (5th) and then Valentine Fortin (8th) both managed to break into the top 10 of this race, the second round of the French Women’s Cup. The objective was clear: this promising group had every reason to be ambitious.
On a relatively flat course—a good warm-up before the repeated ascents of Cadoudal tomorrow morning—the race scenario left little doubt: victory would once again be decided among the fastest riders in the peloton. And in that kind of finish, Valentine Fortin had a real card to play. She went for it with determination after 111 kilometers of racing marked by countless attacks, though none of the aggressive riders managed to make a decisive move.
Usually in strong form during the month of May, our track specialist gave everything in the final straight in Pluvigner. In the end, she secured her first podium of the season. By finishing third at the Classique Morbihan, Valentine Fortin gets this Breton weekend off to a brilliant start.
Next up is the Grand Prix du Morbihan tomorrow morning in Plumelec. A true institution of women’s cycling, this race has always suited the team well. Victoire Berteau notably finished second there two years ago. With a strong squad on the start line, there should be plenty of suspense after the 84 kilometers of racing tomorrow.
