The Bretagne Classic - CIC is a prestigious 1.UWT one-day race covering 228 km around Plouay, featuring a hilly profile that whittles the field down before a flat finish that can favour a fast puncher or a small-group sprint. The circuit's repeated climbs demand riders with strong Hills attributes, but the flat run-in means pure sprinters with enough punch to survive are always dangerous. Held in late August, it attracts top classics specialists using it as a key late-season benchmark.
★★★★
Top Favorite
Clément Venturini is the clear favourite, combining a Hills rating of 74 with the best average finishing position in recent hilly races (19.7) and a best result of 5th. He has raced more in this profile than almost anyone in the field and his consistency sets him apart. Unibet Rose will look to him as their primary card in Plouay.
Unibet Rose
Unibet Rose
Clément Venturini tops the form table with an average position of 19.7 across 12 similar-profile races and a best of 5th, making him the standout pick on hilly terrain. His Hills rating of 74 is solid and his consistency in punchy, hilly one-day races sets him apart from the field.
★★★
Strong Contenders
Jan Christen and Xabier Berasategi are the two riders best-placed to challenge Venturini. Christen's Hills rating of 78 — the highest in the field — and his sole win in similar-profile races make him a genuine podium contender, while Berasategi leads the form table in average position and has shown he can finish near the front consistently.
UAE Emirates
UAE Emirates
Jan Christen boasts the joint-highest Hills rating (78) in the field and is the only rider in the top form group to have posted a win in similar-profile races, with 2 podiums from 10 starts. His upcoming Il Lombardia schedule suggests he is building toward late-season peak form.
Euskaltel-Euskadi
Euskaltel-Euskadi
Xabier Berasategi leads the entire startlist in recent form with an average position of 18.2 over 10 hilly races and a best result of 5th, backed by a Hills score of 74. He may lack wins but his consistency makes him a genuine podium threat around the Plouay circuit.
★★
Dark Horses
Louis Barré brings a top Hills stat and multiple wins in similar conditions, though inconsistency holds him back from the top tier. Paul Magnier's lethal sprint (80) combined with his wins and podiums in hilly races makes him dangerous if he survives to the flat finish. Paul Lapeira is the reliable third option, benefiting from team backing at Decathlon CMA CGM.
Visma - Lease a Bike
Visma - Lease a Bike
Louis Barré shares the top Hills rating of 78 and has recorded 2 wins and 3 podiums in 17 hilly races recently, giving him one of the best win rates in the field. An average position of 31.4 reflects some inconsistency, but on a good day he is capable of going all the way.
Decathlon CMA CGM
Decathlon CMA CGM
Paul Lapeira carries a Hills score of 76 and 3 top-10s from 11 similar races, with a best of 5th, suggesting he performs reliably in this terrain. Racing for Decathlon CMA CGM alongside Benoot gives him team support and tactical flexibility.
Soudal Quick-Step
Soudal Quick-Step
Paul Magnier's Hills rating of 74 is complemented by a sensational sprint (80), making him a serious threat if a reduced group arrives at the flat Plouay finish. He has 3 wins, 5 podiums, and 5 top-10s in similar races recently, the most prolific record among all sprinter-punchers here.
★
Ones to Watch
Tiesj Benoot has the pedigree and the stat but his current form is a major concern. Gotzon Martín and Jasper Philipsen offer contrasting threats — one a consistent if unspectacular Basque climber, the other a pure sprinter who can occasionally defy hilly terrain. Matej Mohoric rounds out the outsiders as a wildcard capable of a surprise on the right day.
Euskaltel-Euskadi
Euskaltel-Euskadi
Gotzon Martín averages 27.2 across 10 hilly races with a best of 7th and a Hills rating of 73, making him one of Euskaltel-Euskadi's best bets on home-style terrain. He has not yet broken through for a podium but could animate the race.
Alpecin-Premier Tech
Alpecin-Premier Tech
Jasper Philipsen owns the highest sprint rating in the field (82) and has won 4 times and podiumed 6 times in recent similar races, including a win, suggesting he can survive the hills if the group stays together. His average position of 64.4 reflects the attrition these courses impose on pure sprinters.
Bahrain Victorious
Bahrain Victorious
Matej Mohoric brings a Hills rating of 75 and a strong all-round profile, but his recent hilly-race average of 67.5 over 15 starts with no top-10s points to below-par form heading into this race. He is included as a wildcard given his pedigree in fast-finishing classics.
Decathlon CMA CGM
Decathlon CMA CGM
Tiesj Benoot holds the joint-highest Hills rating (78) and is a known classics specialist, though his recent form in similar races is disappointing — an average position of 42.5 with no top-10s in 11 starts. He remains a threat on paper given his profile but current numbers are hard to ignore.
Verdict
Clément Venturini is the top favourite based on his outstanding recent form and consistency on hilly terrain, with Jan Christen and Xabier Berasategi the most dangerous challengers capable of matching him over the punishing Plouay roads.