Stage 2 of the Tour Poitou-Charentes covers 199.5 km from Puilboreau to Lezay over flat terrain in western France, pointing strongly toward a bunch sprint finish. The 2.1-class race attracts a mix of professional and continental teams, with several dedicated sprinters targeting the stage win. Tactical positioning and team lead-out trains will be decisive in the finale.
★★★★
Topfavoriet
Milan Fretin is the dominant pick: a Sprint of 77 tops the entire startlist, he has raced nine similar flat stages recently, averaged 9.2 with two podiums, and his Epic rarity reflects his ceiling as a sprinter. Cofidis will organise around him and he should arrive at the line with every advantage.
Cofidis
Cofidis
Milan Fretin leads the field with the highest Sprint stat (77) and backs it up with nine flat-profile races in recent form, averaging 9.2 and collecting two podiums. The Epic-rarity Cofidis sprinter is the clear favourite to take the stage win in Lezay.
★★★
Sterke Kanshebbers
Jason Tesson and Paul Penhoët both rate 75 in Sprint and have genuine podium pedigree — Tesson with a best of 2nd and Penhoët a 3rd in comparable races. Either could beat Fretin on the right day, and both benefit from strong team setups at TotalEnergies and Groupama-FDJ respectively.
TotalEnergies
TotalEnergies
Jason Tesson matches Fretin's recent average position of 9.2 across five similar-profile races and has a best result of 2nd, showing he can genuinely challenge in sprint finishes. His Sprint stat of 75 places him firmly among the elite sprinters in this field.
Groupama-FDJ
Groupama-FDJ
Paul Penhoët carries a Sprint of 75 and has shown podium potential with a best of 3rd in similar flat races across five outings. His well-rounded profile and Groupama-FDJ team support make him a genuine threat in a bunch sprint.
★★
Dark Horses
Tord Gudmestad's raw Sprint of 76 makes him statistically the second-fastest sprinter in the race, while Anthony Turgis brings unmatched flat-race experience (10 comparable races). Rasmus Søjberg Pedersen adds depth with a Sprint of 74 and an excellent Cobbles score, rounding out a trio of credible dark horses.
TotalEnergies
TotalEnergies
Anthony Turgis has the most experience in similar-profile races of any contender (10 races, avg 10.6, best 6th), showing consistent top-10 presence even without a win. His Sprint of 73 and strong Hills/Cobbles scores suggest he can compete even if the finish isn't perfectly clean.
Decathlon CMA CGM
Decathlon CMA CGM
Rasmus Søjberg Pedersen brings a Sprint of 74 alongside the highest Cobbles score (74) among the top sprinters, suggesting he copes well with technical or slightly rough finishes. The Decathlon CMA CGM support structure could help him arrive fresh for the finale.
Decathlon CMA CGM
Decathlon CMA CGM
Tord Gudmestad holds a Sprint of 76 — second only to Fretin — and has a best result of 4th in flat races, though his recent average of 30.6 signals some inconsistency. On a pure sprinting day, his raw stat makes him a dark horse to watch.
★
Ones to Watch
Paul Hennequin and Jérémy Lecroq both rate 73 in Sprint with limited recent flat-race data, making them intriguing wildcards. Lorrenzo Manzin and Joes Oosterlinck carry Sprints of 72 and offer CycloDraft value at longer odds, particularly if the lead-out trains of the bigger teams neutralise each other.
Van Rysel Roubaix
Van Rysel Roubaix
Joes Oosterlinck carries a Sprint of 72 for Van Rysel Roubaix and has no recent comparable results on record, making him a pure wildcard. His Rare rarity card and decent stat floor justify an outsider mention on a flat 199 km stage.
St Michel - Auber93
St Michel - Auber93
Jérémy Lecroq shares a Sprint of 73 with Hennequin but races for St Michel - Auber93, a team likely to work for a collective result rather than individual glory. He could sneak into a top result if the sprint fragments.
TotalEnergies
TotalEnergies
Lorrenzo Manzin has a Sprint of 72 and one top-10 in four similar-profile races (avg 41.8), which tempers expectations, but TotalEnergies' strength in numbers could set him up for a late charge. A speculative pick for CycloDraft value hunters.
Euskaltel-Euskadi
Euskaltel-Euskadi
Paul Hennequin posts a Sprint of 73 and has no recent flat-race data to work from, making him an unknown quantity but one with the raw speed to upset the favourites. A surprise inclusion worth monitoring in CycloDraft.
Verdict
Milan Fretin is the standout favourite given the highest Sprint stat in the field (77) and a proven recent record of nine flat-race outings with two podiums. Jason Tesson and Paul Penhoët are the main threats, both capable of pushing Fretin all the way to the line.