About the Tour

Tour de Bretagne Cycliste, also known as the Tour de Bretagne trophée des granitiers and formerly known as Ruban Granitier Breton - the Tour started 43 years ago.

Jersey will host the opening two stages of the 2010 Tour de Bretagne cycle race after having successfully hosted the time trail stage in 2007. Jersey will host the first road race stage ever to leave the frontiers of Brittany for the first time in its 44 year history.

The Tour de Bretagne is the highest profile annual sporting event in Brittany's calendar. Permission to return to Jersey and stage two races had to be granted from the President of Brittany, Jean-Yves Le Drian.

The President expressed a desire to use the Tour de Bretagne as an opportunity to create closer links with the island. President Le Drian “owns” the race and it is a fiercely guarded sporting icon in the Breton psyche. The Tour is escorted by the highly visual and prestigious President of France’ Garde Republicaine and is the only French cycle race to have this honour bestowed on it except for the Tour de France itself.

Stage 1 & 2  -  25th & 26th April 2010

The opening stage, or “étape”, on Sunday 25th April 2010 will be a 150 km route of 10 laps of 15 km, taking place on Jersey's east coast. The Race Director has deemed the stage “challenging” as it incloves a climb from sea level to over 100 metres.

The 150 km of 10 km laps starts on the main road on Gorey common tracing through Gorey and beneath Mont Orgueil Castle along the coast road, turning westward to St Martin and back  along La Grande Route de Faldouet turning up past Queens Valley toward La Hougue Bie across the B46 returning to Gorey on the A3.

Stage 2 is the time trial event where riders depart at regular individuals and race against the clock. The fastest rider to complete the 10km circuit wins.

In 2007 it was held along Victoria Avenue, the dual-carriageay on Jersey's south coast. In 2010, the 'Five Mile Road' will be used, which runs almost the length of St Ouen's Bay on the West Coast.

After Stage 2, the Tour will then continue through Brittany and end in Dinan on Saturday 1st May.

The Teams

22 professional teams are participating in the race including the British National team. It is an invitation only event with high criteria; typically this means that only National teams and the very best of the professional teams are invited. E.g. Rabobank, QuickStep, Rapha, GB Sky team.   Team nationalities represented include France, Great Britain, Japan, Spain, Germany and The Netherlands. The Tour de Bretagne staying entourage will be in excess of 400 people.