Since making her return to the sport in 2025, Anna van der Berggen has celebrated a victory on stage 4 at the La Vuelta Femenina.
"I did not expect this at all, it was also not the plan. We were in a small group in the downhill at that point I was alone, I don't know, the speed was out on a good moment and I went. I did not expect to arrive solo but it feels really nice."
-Ann van der Berggen
One of my favorite one-day classic races is Tro Bro Leon, and it returns this Sunday:
Le Breton Valentin Madouas, the French national road champion, 25 June 2023.
Valentin Madouas from the Finistere department will receive a late baptism of fire when the 41st edition of the Tro Bro Leon gets under way on Sunday. The 28-year-old Breton has watched it "somewhere between 15 and 20 times" from the roadside since he was a little boy, but he has never before lined up for his 'home race', the Groupama-FDJ rider has come to 'love'. An overhauled schedule will allow the Olympic silver medallist to take the start in Lannilis. He is determined to finish with one arm wrapped around a pig and the other one around a bouquet.
"It's my home race, after all. I've been going to the race since I was a kid. It's kind of the local fixture. The tracks are what I really like about it. It's a proper race, not use a sprint finish. The landscapes are breathtaking. It also shines a light on the beauty of northern Finistere. And the tracks make it a bit... You never quite know how it's going to play out. I've seen some absolutely wild turnarounds here. It's always a cracking race to watch. I love it!"
-Valentin Madouas
By the Bulls Horn by Jean-Paul Mellouet
Comments