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France 03 Apr 2026 Class 1.1 – 1 day – Class 1
Website https://classicveloxadeliedevitre.com/
Data powered by FirstCycling.com
The 30th edition of the Classic Velox Adélie de Vitré is taking place today, Friday, April 3, 2026. This French classic is a key fixture of the UCI Europe Tour and the Coupe de France-FDJ.
The program for today’s race in Vitré is as follows:
Official Schedule (April 3, 2026)
- 09:30: Race course closed to traffic.
- 10:15: Presentation of the teams at the Place du Château de Vitré.
- 11:40: Departure of the publicity caravan.
- 12:10: Official Race Start from Place Saint-Yves.
- 14:00: Live TV coverage begins (Novo 19).
- 16:20: Estimated race finish at Promenade Saint-Yves.
- 16:35: Podium ceremony.
Race Details & Route
The race covers a total distance of 174.2 km around Vitré. The route is notoriously punchy and designed for endurance specialists, featuring:
- 5 Large Loops: To begin the race, establishing the early breakaways.
- 8 Small Loops: A repetitive, technical circuit that wears down the peloton and leads to a selective final.
- Profile: While 69% of the course is classified as “flat” (gradient between -2% and 2%), the constant succession of small climbs makes it a tactical battle for “puncheurs.”
Key Info
- Defending Champion: Stian Fredheim (Uno-X Mobility), who won the 2025 edition in a sprint finish.
- Guests of Honor: The 2026 edition features cycling legends Bernard Thévenet (double Tour de France winner) and Vincent Lavenu (founder of AG2R La Mondiale).
- Field: Approximately 130 riders from WorldTeams, ProTeams, and Continental teams are competing today.
If you are in Vitré, the Salon du Vélo is also active today at the Place de la Gare with 17 exhibitors.
Results powered by FirstCycling.com
The Classic Velox Adélie de Vitré is a relatively young but prestigious fixture in the French cycling calendar. It is known for its technical circuit and its role as a key scoring event for the Coupe de France (the French Cycling Cup).
Origins and Evolution
The race was founded in 1996 to replace a previous event, the Tour de l’Armorique. It was born out of a desire to keep professional cycling alive in the Brittany region, specifically around the medieval town of Vitré.
- Naming: The race takes its name from its primary sponsor, Adélie, a major ice cream manufacturer based in Vitré (part of the Agromousquetaires group). “Velox” refers to the organizing body.
- UCI Status: In 2005, the race joined the UCI Europe Tour as a 1.1 category event, which allows it to attract a mix of top-tier WorldTeams and smaller Continental squads.
The Course: A “Puncher’s” Playground
Unlike many classic races that travel from point A to point B, the Route Adélie is famous for its circuit format.
- The Route: It typically consists of several large laps around the Vitré countryside, followed by a series of smaller, more intense laps within the town and its immediate outskirts.
- The Finish: The finish line is often situated on a slight uphill gradient on the Promenade Saint-Yves, making it a perfect finish for “puncheurs” (riders with an explosive burst of speed on short climbs) rather than pure sprinters.
Notable Winners & Moments
The race has a history of launching or solidifying the careers of French and international stars.
| Decade | Notable Winners |
|---|---|
| The Early Years | Laurent Desbiens (first winner in 1996), Jaan Kirsipuu (the Estonian sprint legend who won in 1998). |
| The 2000s | French favorites like Sébastien Chavanel and Thomas Voeckler often used this race to showcase their form for the spring classics. |
| Recent Era | Notable winners include Bryan Coquard, Marc Sarreau, and Stian Fredheim, who became the first Norwegian winner in 2025. |
Cultural Significance
Beyond the competition, the race is a major cultural event for the town of Vitré. It is held on a Friday, which is unusual for a major race, but this allows it to anchor a full weekend of cycling festivities, including amateur races and the Salon du Vélo (Cycling Show).
The event is widely regarded as one of the most “atmospheric” races in Brittany, a region famous for its deep-rooted passion for the sport.
