Three days in Brittany

The Utmost Ian Brown’s Cycleshop Academy enjoyed a fruitful trip to France, picking up several podiums over the course of a tough weekend of road racing. A team of 11 headed to Brittany to compete on closed roads against some of the best local riders.

Day 1

The blustery showers at Le Verger, west of Rennes, might have put a dampener on the annual village fete celebrations on Saturday, but it didn’t stop the riders enjoying what was the first taste of racing on continental roads for many of the team. Theo Horton, Remi Le Compte, Zach Smith, Amy and Holly Smith were first off in the 60km U17 race closely followed by Derick van Zutphen, Freddie Martel, Harry and Archie Manning in the 30km U15 race as all tackled the wet 5km circuit at the same time. The U15 race stayed together until a big attack at half distance saw the race split up and a solo rider break away for the win whilst a chase bunch of seven just behind who duked it out in a bunch sprint for second, with Derick finishing in fifth position. Freddie finished in the peloton in tenth, and Archie and Harry eighteenth and twentieth just behind, whilst Holly finished first girl and Amy second in their longest race ever.

Amy said after the race: “The first race I enjoyed the most even though I found it the toughest. I was in U17 group which meant 60km in the heavy rain. I finished the race in 2nd in the U17 female after 2 mechanicals and lots of leg cramps. Race 2 included a course with lots of headwind and a gravel section which wasn’t ideal as I had skinny tires. I got into a small group but ended up finishing the race on my own and picking up a trophy.”

With Remi climbing off just after half distance, it was left to Zach and Theo in the ongoing U17s race. They found themselves in the lead group in the closing laps but, as a group of 25 riders flew round the last corner to gasps from the crowd, Zach found himself a bit far back in the sprint for the win but still finished as best Guernsey rider in sixteenth.

Remi Le Compte said “I really enjoyed racing in France for the first time it was a great experience and something new that I have never done. I really enjoyed the racing as have never experienced such a big bunch and such high level of racing”.

Island Games riders Seth Davey and Ollie Duguid then endured a soaking at the start of the 75km senior race. A strung out peloton from the off indicated the pace was high from the off but it took until 40km until a group of 12, including Seth, managed to escape up the road. With the sharp final left hand corner about 200m from the finish looking key to taking the win, Seth found himself slightly far back in the group and ended fifth in the sprint finish, whilst Ollie came home safely in the peloton in thirty-second.

Day 2

Sunday’s race on the outskirts of Landivisiau, hometown of World Tour rider David Gaudu in the very far west of the region, featured a section of ‘ribin’ – a rough, unpaved gravel road that is a signature feature of the nearby professional Tro-Bro Léon race that is known as ‘the Hell of the West’. The ribin didn’t take long to claim it’s first victim, with Ollie Duguid puncturing on lap two of the morning’s 66km senior race, although the race rules allowed him to take a lap out and rejoin the peloton after a wheel change. Both he and Seth Davey then settled into the race as the peloton was gradually reduced by each passing lap up the testing finish climb. With five laps to go Seth broke away with a local, whilst Ollie did sterling work on the front of the peloton disrupting the chase to help them to stay away to the finish. Although Seth came off the gravel in first place he was overhauled on the final climb to finish second, with Ollie coming in thirteenth out of a field of sixty in the bunch sprint for the minor places.

Youngster Ethan Shorto joined the group for the U11 race, having bagged a 4^th place the day before in Ploermel, and went two places better to finish 2^nd behind the same winner from the day before.

With Holly and Amy Smith racing with the U15 boys, the team were well represented in the next race with six riders in the 28-strong field. With a break of two going clear early on, Freddie Martel attacked the peloton at around half distance and rode a superb solo effort to take third, just ahead of Derick van Zutphen who won the bunch sprint among the peloton for fourth. Harry and Archie Manning found themselves in smaller groups further back, coming eighteenth and twenty-first respectively, whilst Holly was first girl ahead of Amy in second.

Derick van Zutphen said after his race: “I think that both races at Landivisiau and Le Verger were great fun. Le Verger was our first race and it was quite rainy. At Le Verger, there were many attacks from the regional champ and in the end, I sprinted for 6th place. my positioning cost me a potential podium but I think I stayed with the group well. The next day was the race in Le Verger. At Landivisiau, I attacked a reduced peloton with 2 other riders and sprinted for 4th place. I think overall, I found that I wasn't the best at positioning in key moments but I did a good sprint. However, I had an amazing time with the GVC and I can't wait for the next time. Overall, I think it was a tough double race weekend with lots of attacks. I built valuable experience that will help me in future races.”

The U17 race featured not only the current Brittany champion, but also last year’s too, and the race was ripped apart early on by the high pace. Unfortunately a puncture for Remi Le Compte put him out of contention early on, whilst Zach Smith faired slightly better as he lasted until lap seven before dropping out. Theo Horton found himself in a group of local riders who seemed determined to drop him, repeatedly attacking him up the finish line climb, but he dug deep to respond every time and finish twentieth.

Day 3

The team was able to enjoy some ‘friendly’ racing on Monday with a training session at the indoor vélodrome at Loudéac, although that didn’t mean the hard work stopped. Local coaches put them through their paces with a series of team sprints, flying laps against the clock, and even an elimination race, as they got to grips with the fixed gear bikes round the 45-degree banked 200m long wooden track.

Rider quotes:

Amy Smith: "On Monday we went as a club to the velodrome. The velodrome was an amazing experience and even though we had tired legs it was very cool!”

Holly Smith: “The trip to France was amazingly fun - it was a really great experience racing with new people and on new courses - The first day was very wet and grey in the morning but cheered up for our race - the second day was sunny but turned for the worse towards the end of the race - The last day of cycling in the velodrome was awesome, I had gained confidence since last year which meant I could focus on my speed rather then the positioning of where I was on the track- Overall it was an amazing experience which only could of been better if there were more girls to race against”

Archie Manning: “My trip to France with the velo club was an unforgettable experience and a real test of my limits. The road race was intense, especially on the climbs, where I really struggled and felt the suffering in my legs as the gradient dragged on. The peloton was aggressive, with constant attacks that made it nearly impossible to stay on their wheel for long. Despite that, I performed well on the flat sections, where I could hold a solid pace and felt much more in control. One of the highlights was getting the chance to ride on a velodrome—something I’d never done before and found incredibly exciting. This trip taught me a lot about my strengths and weaknesses. Next time, I know I need to focus more on improving my climbing ability and my endurance to respond to attacks, so I can stay with the group longer and be more competitive throughout the race.”

Harry Manning: “It was a fantastic experience racing away in France but there were some tough competition. To improve my race next time I could work on my power and sprints to stick with the peloton during breakaways. The highlight of my weekend was the second race. The course was brilliant and they even added a gravel section, and I placed better in this race. I have come away from this trip with an unforgettable experience and even got to cycle on a velodrome!! - which was awesome.”

Freddie Martel: “The races were a great opportunity to learn to ride in a competitive peloton. I found it hard, getting used to a longer circuit than we usually ride at home. After a tentative first race in Le Verger I built up the confidence to plan an attack at Landivisiau, resulting in a big push on from the Peloton to put me 3rd on the podium. A massive result for me in a very competitive field of riders”.

Zach Smith: “Great to be part of the academy travelling Road team. It certainly was challenging and great to try a different discipline, with the velodrome being the highlight of my weekend.”

Ollie Duguid: “What a weekend! My final trip as part of the Guernsey Academy was a special one, with two races in France bringing great results, unforgettable memories, and amazing team camaraderie. My best result came on Sunday, finishing 13th out of 60 riders — my best ever. It was a proud and defining moment in my time as an academy rider. From the coaching of parents to the support of club members, the journey has been brilliant, and I’m hugely grateful. Without that backing, I would never have achieved what I have — including the chance to compete at the Island Games.”

Seth Davey: “Both days of racing were super enjoyable with all the support from the team, the weather was challenging on Saturday with heavy rain and the gravel on Sunday made for a challenging but fun course. Overall strong riders made it tough but I’m really happy with a 5th and second place.”