"We are short 37,000 euros" - Disaster as lack of funding leads to cancellation of Bretagne Ladies Tour

The Bretagne Ladies Tour, a women's stage race held in Brittany, north-west France, has sadly been cancelled for 2025 due to financial difficulties.

The race, won in both 2023 and 2024 by Olympic and world time trial champion Grace Brown, was not included from the 2025 UCI Road Calendar when it was released last year, which set the alarm bells off about its future. And now the worst fear have been realised, as the race organisers have confirmed they do not have the required funding this year.

"We are short 37,000 euros," race organiser Loïc Déniel told Le Télégramme.

"We had almost all our stopover towns, we were sure to have 20 teams, including four from the WorldTour, we were resolutely confident for these five days of racing.

"Unfortunately, we were unable to raise enough budget. As we expected a drop in subsidies from local authorities, we had taken the lead by approaching private partners. This did not come to fruition and as our association is young, we have no cash flow."

Despite the setback, organisers have already turned their attention to the future and remain upbeat. "We are already working on the 2026 edition," Déniel added.

Two-time winner Audrey Cordon-Ragot expressed her disappointment at the cancellation, emphasising the broader implications for women's cycling.

"It’s sad. Many races depend on state subsidies, and given the current situation, we know it’s tough. It’s really disappointing for women’s cycling. It has been growing for several seasons, and now we have this setback."

"The Bretagne Ladies Tour is an important race. Personally, it gave me the confidence to perform at the highest level. Now, young riders won’t have that opportunity. I feel sorry for them and for the organisers who have worked so hard. Two months before the start of the Tour de France Femmes, I don’t understand.

“Without races like this, how do we move forward? Should ASO step in to support such events? Because, be careful! Without races like the Bretagne Ladies Tour, there might not be a Tour de France Femmes in the future."