The city of Plouay (France) will host the 2020 Road European Championships from 24 to 28 August.
The decision was taken in the last few hours after preparatory talks with the French Cycling Federation, the organising committee of the City of Plouay and local authorities.
Located in the heart of Britanny in the department of Morbihan, the city of Plouay has always had very close links with cycling with over 80 editions of the Bretagne Classic Ouest-France, a race registered on the UCI World Tour calendar, the GP de Plouay - Lorient Agglomération Trophée WNT for the Women’s Elite and the UCI Road World Championships in 2000 then, this year, the Road European Championships that will strengthen even further this bond with cycling.
Although the final details of the circuit are still being determined, the programme for the continental event includes all Time-Trial races on the opening day (Monday 24 August), then Road races with the Men’s Elite race on Wednesday 26 August. That will enable Elite riders to first of all compete in the national championships scheduled in most European countries on 23 August, then travel to Nice (France) for the start of the Tour de France.
Rocco Cattaneo, President of the Union Européenne de Cyclisme: «In view of the especially difficult season because of the Covid-19 health crisis, being able to stage the European Road Championships is undoubtedly a great source of achievement and pride. Since the start of the health crisis that has affected the whole word, we have worked tirelessly to try and save, as far as possible, scheduled events and following the postponement of the Trento Championships (Italy) in 2021, we initiated a series of contacts in order not to lose our major event.
The organising committee of the city of Plouay, who we would like to sincerely thank, is a team of passionate, organised and professional people. Their experience in terms of the organisation of major events is a guarantee for the success of the European Championships that will held this year in close co-operation with the Bretagne Classic Ouest-France planned on Tuesday 25 August.
I would like to especially thank the French Cycling Federation, its President, Michel Callot, the Ligue National de Cyclisme, its President Marc Madiot, the Préfet du Morbihan, M. Patrice Faure, the city of Plouay, in particular its Mayor Gwenn Le Nay who, together with the President of the International Cycling Union (UCI) David Lappartient, who immediately accepted our proposal, with enthusiasm, passion and great dedication, bringing together all the relevant organisations in the area. We have consulted with them over the last few days to determine all the details of the general organisation as well as Eurovision who will as usual provide wide coverage of the event».
The UEC is already defining a health and organisational protocol based on the measures of the competent authorities, the Prefecture of Morbihan, the Union Cycliste Internationale and the French Cycling Federation.
2020 Road European Championships programme – Plouay (France):
Monday 24 August: Juniors-U23-Elite, Men’s and Women’s Individual Time-Trial
Wednesday 26 August: Women’s U23 and Men’s Elite Road races
Thursday 27 August: Men’s U23 and Women ‘s Elite Road races
Friday 28 August: Men Juniors and Women Juniors Road races, Mixed Relay
All information (circuit, technical guide and information) will be published in the next few days on the website www.uec.ch.
