Following on from the recent announcement that the city of Nice would no longer be hosting the 2016 Road Cycling European Championships due to security concerns, the Union Européenne de Cyclisme Management Board (UEC) have announced that the event will now take place Plumelec- Morbihan in Brittany. The races will take place as initially scheduled from 14 to 18 September.
Several bids (Yorkshire, Trentino, Marche and Bretagne-Morbihan) had been presented to the UEC following the city of Nice’s withdrawal at very short notice.
“We would like to convey our sincere thanks to the town of Plumelec in the department of Morbihan, in East Brittany and the government who have stepped in to organise these Road European Cycling Championships following the withdrawal of the city of Nice, said David Lappartient, UEC President.
“The Breton venue in Plumelec is a very good solution enabling us to fulfil the UEC’s technical and sporting requirements. Brittany has loyal and passionate cycling fans and we are delighted to offer a quality venue to host the 1st European Professional Championships.”
“In these special circumstances the UEC and its partners will do everything in its power to deliver a great event to the 50 European Federations, to the 800 riders and to all cycling fans.”
“I would also like to thank our friends from Yorskshire, Trentino and Marche for their bids. Yorkshire hosted magnificent events lately and we wish them every success for the Tour of Yorkshire. Trentino, a great cycling region has for years demonstrated exceptional organizational skills as well as the city of Offida (Marche). All these bids demonstrate the attractiveness of Road Cycling European Championships”.
The town of Plumelec is used to hosting major cycling events having already welcomed the Tour de France five times, the last time in 2015 in addition to three French professional Championships. Key international and national calendar events are also organised there each year: the GP Plumelec- Morbihan registered on the Professional France Cup (UCI category 1.1), the Women’s GP Plumelec-Morbihan and the Classique Morbihan, Manche-Atlantique.
The European Championships will follow the route of the GP Plumelec-Morbihan using the climb of the Côte de Cadoudal (1.8 km at an average of 7.8%) with the finish at the summit.
