The Tour Poitou-Charentes General Classification is a 2.1-rated stage race held in the Nouvelle-Aquitaine region of France, featuring a mountain profile that will reward pure climbers and all-round GC riders. With no flat sprinter opportunities dominating the parcours, the race is expected to be decided on the climbs, placing a premium on high climbing and hills scores. The field is composed primarily of Pro and Continental teams, making this an open but competitive affair.
★★★★
Top Favorite
Jon Agirre is the undisputed favorite. His climbing score of 73 is tied for the highest in the field, and he backs it up with six mountain-profile races in recent form, two top-10 finishes, and a best result of 7th. No other rider in the startlist combines his raw stat with that volume of relevant recent racing.
Euskaltel-Euskadi
Euskaltel-Euskadi
Jon Agirre leads the startlist with a climbing stat of 73 and has the best recent form among active climbers, averaging 21.7 across six mountain-profile races with two top-10 finishes and a best result of 7th. His consistency over multiple outings makes him the standout favorite for the Tour Poitou-Charentes GC.
★★★
Strong Contenders
Ion Izagirre and Stefan de Bod form a strong second tier. Izagirre leads all riders in mountain-race appearances with nine outings, a podium, and a best of 3rd, while de Bod's Epic-rarity card and 70 climbing score are backed by a 10th-place best result. Both have the pedigree and the numbers to win if Agirre falters.
Cofidis
Cofidis
Ion Izagirre tops the climbing rankings at 73 and boasts the deepest mountain-race sample in the field — nine races, one podium, and two top-10s — with a best result of 3rd. Despite a higher average position, his peak performances and experience give him genuine GC potential.
Modern Adventure
Modern Adventure
Stefan de Bod carries an Epic rarity card and a climbing score of 70 paired with strong hill and TT numbers, and his four-race mountain sample yields a best finish of 10th and an average of 23.5. His well-rounded profile and upcoming calendar suggest he arrives in top shape.
★★
Dark Horses
Maxime Decomble, Victor Guernalec, and Sam Maisonobe are the dark horses. All three carry climbing scores of 72–73 and have well-rounded secondary stats in hills and TT. Limited recent data prevents a higher ranking, but their raw ability means any of them could emerge as a surprise podium finisher over a multi-day GC.
Groupama-FDJ
Groupama-FDJ
Maxime Decomble matches Izagirre and Agirre at 73 climbing and also carries a solid TT score of 72, a useful asset on a mountain GC where time bonuses or individual efforts can decide the outcome. Without a deep recent-form sample, he is a dark horse with the raw stats to challenge the top two.
Cofidis
Cofidis
Sam Maisonobe sits at 72 climbing with an impressive hills score of 74 — the highest in the field — and his three-race mountain sample includes an 11th-place finish. His Cofidis team infrastructure and all-round numbers make him a genuine dark horse for a top-five result.
CIC Pro Cycling
CIC Pro Cycling
Victor Guernalec holds a Rare card with 72 climbing and a balanced 67 sprint and TT, making him a threat on punchy finishes within a mountain stage race. His limited recent sample (one race) keeps him in the dark-horse tier, but his numbers suggest he belongs near the front.
★
Ones to Watch
Eivind Fougner, Jean-Loup Fayolle, Txomin Juaristi, and Thomas Gachignard round out the selections as outsiders to watch. Fougner and Juaristi bring volume and experience in mountain races, while Fayolle and Gachignard offer intriguing stat profiles that could translate into a strong GC performance if the race breaks in their favor.
Unibet Rose
Unibet Rose
Eivind Fougner registers 72 climbing across six mountain races with a best of 17th and a consistent average near 30, showing he belongs in this company even if a podium has eluded him. His volume of experience at this profile earns him a place among the outsiders to watch.
CIC Pro Cycling
CIC Pro Cycling
Jean-Loup Fayolle carries a 71 climbing rating and Rare card, with three mountain-profile races yielding an average of 29.3 and a best of 28th — modest results, but his raw stat places him firmly in contention if stronger riders have a bad day.
TotalEnergies
TotalEnergies
Thomas Gachignard posts a 67 climbing score but stands out with the highest Gachignard hills rating in the broader field at 73 and a TT of 72, plus Rare rarity, making him a versatile wild card. His single mountain-race data point (20th) is insufficient to rank higher, but his stats warrant attention.
Euskaltel-Euskadi
Euskaltel-Euskadi
Txomin Juaristi scores 70 on climbing with a hills score of 73 and a TT of 71, giving him an all-terrain profile well-suited to a mountain GC. Five races in similar conditions average 48.2, but his best of 11th hints at a ceiling higher than his form suggests.
Verdict
Jon Agirre is the clear top favorite, combining the joint-highest climbing stat in the field with the best recent mountain-race form across six outings. Ion Izagirre and Stefan de Bod are the principal threats, each bringing proven top-10 mountain results and the all-round ability to challenge for the podium.