Stage 4 of the Tour Poitou-Charentes covers 185.5 km from Saint-Symphorien to Poitiers, finishing atop a hill in the heart of the Charentes region. The hilly profile suits puncheurs and all-rounders who can sustain efforts on repeated undulations before a punchy finale. At 2.1 level, the race draws a mix of French domestic squads and foreign professionals, creating an open and competitive environment.
★★★★
Topfavoriet
Axel van der Tuuk stands alone at the top based on the combination of a strong Hills stat (72), a 10-race hilly sample, one podium, and three top-10 finishes. No other rider in the field comes close to matching his blend of relevant stats and proven form in comparable races.
Euskaltel-Euskadi
Euskaltel-Euskadi
Axel van der Tuuk tops the form charts with an average position of 37.6 across 10 hilly races, including one podium and three top-10 finishes. His Hills stat of 72 and consistent results make him the standout pick for this hill-finish stage into Poitiers.
★★★
Sterke Kanshebbers
Clément Izquierdo and Killian Théot form a strong second tier. Izquierdo's joint-highest Hills rating (74) gives him the raw tools, while Théot's podium and best result of 2nd in hilly races show he can genuinely contend when the road rises to the finish line.
Cofidis
Cofidis
Clément Izquierdo matches the joint-highest Hills stat in the field at 74 and has shown capability in similar terrain with a best finish of 5th in hilly races. His average of 37.2 across four hilly races is encouraging heading into Stage 4.
Van Rysel Roubaix
Van Rysel Roubaix
Killian Théot has the best recent form among the realistic contenders with a podium and three top-10s in eight hilly races, including a best result of 2nd. His Hills score of 70 is solid and his race intelligence in this profile is clearly demonstrated.
★★
Dark Horses
Ion Izagirre, Txomin Juaristi, and Thomas Gachignard all carry Hills stats of 73 or above and have enough race experience to challenge. Izagirre's WorldTour class is a wildcard factor, Juaristi has the second-best hilly average in a large sample, and Gachignard is clearly earmarked by TotalEnergies for this type of finish.
Cofidis
Cofidis
Ion Izagirre carries the joint-highest Hills rating (74) in the field and brings WorldTour pedigree to a 2.1 race, which should give him a tactical edge. Recent form has been modest with an average of 53.4, but his quality over lumpy terrain cannot be ignored.
TotalEnergies
TotalEnergies
Thomas Gachignard posts a Hills stat of 73 — tied for second in the field — and has raced eight hilly events in recent form, recording a best finish of 10th. He brings valuable TotalEnergies team support and is clearly being targeted for this type of stage.
Euskaltel-Euskadi
Euskaltel-Euskadi
Txomin Juaristi has an impressive 11-race sample in hilly races with a best of 9th and Hills stat of 73, backed by solid Climbing (70). His average of 36.7 in similar-profile races is the second-best among riders with meaningful sample sizes.
★
Ones to Watch
Francisco Muñoz and Dario Igor Belletta both have the most encouraging average finishing positions in hilly races relative to their stats. Stefan de Bod's Epic card stats are compelling despite muted recent form, and Ronan Augé's race-winning record in similar terrain makes him a credible long-shot despite a lower Hills score.
Polti
Polti
Dario Igor Belletta averages 23.0 across five hilly races with a best of 9th, making him one of the better-performing riders by average position in comparable events. A Hills stat of 70 and Climbing of 65 are adequate for a hill finish of this nature.
Polti
Polti
Francisco Muñoz has the richest hilly-race sample in the form table with 11 races and a best result of 6th, averaging 23.9 — the second-best average among all riders listed. His Hills stat of 70 gives him the tools to feature in the finale.
Unibet Rose
Unibet Rose
Ronan Augé is the only rider in the form table with an actual win in a similar-profile race, also recording a podium and three top-10s across nine hilly events. His Hills stat of 69 is modest but his race-winning instinct in this terrain makes him a genuine wildcard.
Modern Adventure
Modern Adventure
Stefan de Bod boasts an Epic rarity card with Hills 73 and Climbing 70, giving him one of the strongest raw profiles in the field. His recent hilly-race average of 59.4 across five races is unimpressive, but his quality marks him as a potential sleeper pick.
Verdict
Axel van der Tuuk is the top favourite on the strength of his consistent form in hilly races and a podium finish in this profile, while Clément Izquierdo and Killian Théot represent the most dangerous challengers with elite stats and recent results to back them up.