Following the announcement of the city of Nice's withdrawal from organising the 2016 Road European Championships, the Union Européenne de Cyclisme Management Board (UEC) has just assigned the event to Plumelec- Morbihan-Bretagne (France). The competition will, as initially scheduled, take place from 14 to 18 September 2016.
Several bids (Yorshire-GBR, Trentino-ITA, Marche-ITA, Bretagne-Morbihan-FRA) were presented following the city of Nice's withdrawal to host the new major event of the European cycling season at very short notice. The solution agreed will fully respect the contract for the competition with a difficult circuit enabling the best European professional riders to compete on a suitable terrain.
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 and 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.
These European Championships will follow the route of the GP Plumelec-Morbihan with in particular the famous Côte de Cadoudal (1.8 km at an average of 7.8%) with the finish at the summit. All the technical details on the circuit will be confirmed in the next few days.
David Lappartient, UEC President: "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 Championships following the withdrawal of the city of Nice. 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 their power to deliver a great event to the 50 European federations, to the 800 riders and to all cycling fans.
I 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, 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 the Road European Championships”.
For the first time in its history, the event will be broadcast live in nearly 60 countries on Saturday 17th September and Sunday 18th September 2016 thanks to the partnership between the UEC and EBU-Eurovision, reaching approximately 150 million homes throughout Europe.
