If the Bretons have won several titles at the French youth cyclo-cross championships in recent years, only two crossmen from the region have won in the premier category since 1902, the date of the first French championship in the specialty: Jean Robic , crowned in 1945 in Fontainebleau, and Jean-Michel Richeux, crowned two years in a row, in 1971 in Saint-Junien (Haute-Vienne) and in 1972 in Saint-Leu-d’Esserent (Oise). And since then, nothing more…
Cyrille Guimard, now based in Morbihan, won the title in 1976 in Chazay-d'Azergues (Rhône) but since then the crossmen have not really been at the party. Only Pascal Poisson in 1982 and Ronan Pensec in 1986 obtained the bronze medal (behind Marc Madiot and Alex Gérardin for the first at Miramas, behind Martial Gayant and Yvon Madiot for the second at Fourmies).
Amandine Fouquenet, first Breton champion of France
Among the ladies, where the first French championship only dates back to the year 2000, only one Breton (Amandine Fouquenet, crowned in 2021 in Pontchâteau) has worn the tricolor jersey among the Elites, in 2021.
Hopes: seven titles in 23 years, seven silver medals, two bronze
In the young categories, on the other hand, the Bretons have often played the leading roles. Among the hopefuls, whose first French championship dates back to 1987, Guillaume Benoist (in 1999 in Pontchâteau), Matthieu Boulo (in 2010 in Liévin and in 2011 in Lanarvily), Tony Périou (in 2017 in Lanarvily), Antoine Benoist (in 2019 in Besançon and in 2020 in Flamanville) and Antoine Huby (in 2021 in Pontchâteau) have all become French champions.
Gwénaël Guégan (behind Dominique Arnould) in 1987, Stéphane Piriac (behind Christophe Mengin) in 1988, Franck Laurance (behind Emmanuel Magnien) in 1991, Thomas Lécuyer (behind Francis Mourey) in 2001, Florian Le Corre (behind Clément Lhotellerie) in 2006 , Matthieu Boulo (behind Arnaud Jouffroy) in 2009 and Mickaël Crispin (behind Antoine Benoist) in 2020.
Guillaume Benoist (in 1998) and Thomas Lécuyer (in 1999) also won the bronze medal.
Juniors: only one men’s title
The first French junior championship dates back to 1978 and, there too, the Bretons have often done well. Among the men, only one of them has worn the blue-white-red jersey, Antoine Huby in 2019 in Besançon but there are many podiums.
Gwénaël Guégan finished 2nd in 1984 like Guillaume Benoist in 1995, Lionel Calvez in 1997, Antoine Benoist in 2017 and Fantin Gloux in 2023.
Jean-Luc Poder in 1986, Matthieu Boulo in 2007, Nicolas Guillemin in 2017 and Maxime Vézie in 2024, for their part, obtained bronze.
Cadets: four titles, two silver medals
Romain Pinot (in 2005 in Liévin), Mickaël Crispin (in 2014 in Lignières), Nicolas Guillemin (in 2015 in Pontchâteau) and Antoine Huby (in 2017 in Lanarvily) were crowned among the cadets. A category where Glenn Le Quéau, Pierre-Henry Basset and Soen Le Pann won silver in 2005, 2020 and 2024. Axel Laurance, for his part, went for bronze in 2017.
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Women: gold, silver and bronze
Crowned among the seniors, in 2021, in Pontchâteau, 3rd in 2022, 2nd in 2024, Amandine Fouquenet also won the junior title (the 2nd in history) in Loire-Atlantique. She also won the junior title in 2019, five years after another Breton, Emeline Gaultier.
In 2022, the women brought back a new title, that of Bretilienne Manon Briand (US Vern), crowned in Liévin among the juniors. Anaïs Grimault, for her part, took 2nd place in the first French championship in the category in 2012 while Maïna Galand also obtained silver in 2017.
No title yet for a Breton among the cadets but a silver medal for Marie Le Net in 2015 and for Maëva Squiban in 2018 and a bronze medal for Marie Le Net in 2016, for Louise Moullec in 2017, for Maurène Trégouët in 2020 and for Lison Desprez in 2023.
France
