The GP de Fourmies is a classic 200-kilometre one-day race starting and finishing in Fourmies in the Avesnois region of northern France. The profile is hilly throughout but concludes with a flat finishing straight, rewarding riders who can survive punchy climbs and then unleash a sprint from a reduced group. The 1.Pro classification attracts a strong mid-tier professional field aiming for late-season victories before the campaign winds down.
★★★★
Top Favorite
Paul Magnier stands alone as the favourite. Three wins in similar-profile races — stage 5 of the Deutschland Tour, stage 1 of the Cyclassics Hamburg, and stage 1 of the Muur Classic Geraardsbergen — show he is in exceptional form on exactly this type of hilly, sprint-finish terrain. His combination of hills strength and a sharp sprint is unmatched in this startlist.
Soudal Quick-Step
Soudal Quick-Step
Paul Magnier is the standout favorite: he has won three times recently in similar-profile races, including stage 5 of the Deutschland Tour, stage 1 of the Cyclassics Hamburg, and stage 1 of the Muur Classic Geraardsbergen — a remarkable streak of results on hilly finishes suited to a punchy sprinter. Among the strongest hills riders in the field with a superior sprint, he is tailor-made for this Fourmies profile.
★★★
Strong Contenders
Hugo Page and Giovanni Lonardi are the principal threats. Page won stage 1 of La Polynormande and has been a consistent top-5 performer recently, while Lonardi's victory in stage 2 of the Tour of Istanbul confirms he can convert in similar conditions. Both have the profile to survive Fourmies' punchy climbs and compete in the finale.
Polti
Polti
Giovanni Lonardi won stage 2 of the Tour of Istanbul recently in similar conditions and has added two more top-5s in like-for-like races, confirming he is in sharp form heading into Fourmies. His sprint is strong and his team Polti will have motivation to animate the finale.
Cofidis
Cofidis
Hugo Page took a win in stage 1 of La Polynormande and has three top-5 finishes in similar-profile races recently, showing consistent form on hilly courses with bunch finishes. His hills ability is among the best in this field and he has the sprint to contest a tough finish.
★★
Dark Horses
Milan Fretin, Cees Bol, and Luca Mozzato form a credible second tier. Fretin's win in stage 4 of Tour Poitou-Charentes is the freshest evidence of form, Bol won stage 4 of the Tour of Britain on a similar profile, and Mozzato has delivered multiple top-5s without yet winning. Any of the three could steal a result if the favourites cancel each other out.
Decathlon CMA CGM
Decathlon CMA CGM
Cees Bol won stage 4 of the Tour of Britain recently in a race with a comparable profile, and his hills ability is among the better marks in this field for a sprinter his size. He is capable of surviving the punchy finale and has the pure sprint to punish a small group.
Tudor Pro Cycling
Tudor Pro Cycling
Luca Mozzato has posted two top-5 finishes in similar-profile races recently without yet winning, showing he is consistently present at the sharp end of hilly bunch finishes. His hills and cobbles credentials are credible for this Fourmies parcours.
Cofidis
Cofidis
Milan Fretin claimed victory in stage 4 of Tour Poitou-Charentes in similar-profile conditions and has two top-10 finishes to back it up, signaling real current form. His sprint is well above average and he can handle the lumpy finale.
★
Ones to Watch
Søren Wærenskjold, Pavel Bittner, Sam Bennett, and Matteo Moschetti are the ones to watch. Wærenskjold and Bittner have demonstrated consistent top-10 presence in comparable races, while Bennett and Moschetti bring elite sprint firepower that becomes relevant if the hills fail to produce a decisive selection. Each carries a specific risk — hills survivability for the pure sprinters, lack of a winning conversion for Wærenskjold — but all are capable of a surprise top finish.
Pinarello-Q36.5
Pinarello-Q36.5
Matteo Moschetti has a top-3 and a top-10 in similar-profile races recently and carries one of the strongest sprints in this field. He is an outsider because his hills ability is modest compared to the favourites, but he can surprise if the finale comes together.
Picnic PostNL
Picnic PostNL
Pavel Bittner has two top-10 results in similar-profile races and boasts one of the sharpest sprints in this entire startlist, which matters if the race comes together for a reduced bunch gallop. His hills rating keeps him alive over the lumpy terrain.
Pinarello-Q36.5
Pinarello-Q36.5
Sam Bennett has a top-5 and two top-10s in similar-profile races recently and remains one of the most dangerous pure finishers when he survives the selection. If the final hills do not shatter the group entirely, his sprint is devastating.
Uno-X Mobility
Uno-X Mobility
Søren Wærenskjold has five top-10 finishes in similar-profile races recently, demonstrating reliable presence without yet converting into a win. His time trial legs and sprint make him a threat if a slightly larger group arrives at Fourmies together.
Verdict
Paul Magnier is the clear top favourite on the back of three wins in similar conditions including at Cyclassics Hamburg and Muur Classic Geraardsbergen, with Hugo Page and Giovanni Lonardi as the most dangerous challengers given their own recent victories on comparable terrain.