Stage 1 of the Tour Poitou-Charentes covers 191.5 km from Saint-Claud to Dompierre-sur-Mer over entirely flat terrain, making a bunch sprint the near-certain outcome. The race carries a 2.1 classification, attracting a competitive mix of Pro and Continental teams, and the opening stage sets the tone for the overall classification.
★★★★
Top Favorite
Milan Fretin is the unanimous pick at the top of the board. His Sprint stat of 77 is unmatched in the field, and nine recent flat-profile races with two podiums and seven top-10s confirm he is in excellent form. The Epic Cofidis card represents the safest fantasy investment on Stage 1.
Cofidis
Cofidis
Milan Fretin leads the field with the highest Sprint stat (77) and backs it up with 9 recent flat-profile races, two podiums, and a best result of 2nd. The Epic-rarity Cofidis sprinter is the standout favorite for the bunch gallop into Dompierre-sur-Mer.
★★★
Strong Contenders
Jason Tesson and Anthony Turgis form a two-man chasing pack. Tesson's podium and four top-10s in five recent sprint races make him the most in-form alternative, while Turgis brings unmatched volume and consistency with 10 races and six top-10s. Either could take the win if Fretin is blocked.
TotalEnergies
TotalEnergies
Anthony Turgis (Sprint 73) is the most experienced sprinter in the field with 10 similar-profile races in recent form, six top-10s, and a best of 6th. His cobbles stat of 75 also helps if the finish gets chaotic.
TotalEnergies
TotalEnergies
Jason Tesson (Sprint 75) has been the most consistent performer in recent sprint-profile races, averaging 9.2 across five outings with one podium and four top-10s, including a best of 2nd. The TotalEnergies man is a genuine threat to Fretin.
★★
Dark Horses
Paul Penhoët, Tord Gudmestad, and Rasmus Søjberg Pedersen all possess sprint ratings in the 74-75 range with team backing from Groupama-FDJ and Decathlon CMA CGM. Penhoët has a best of 3rd in similar races, Gudmestad has the raw speed but inconsistent results, and Pedersen's well-rounded stats give him flexibility in different scenario outcomes.
Groupama-FDJ
Groupama-FDJ
Paul Penhoët carries a Sprint stat of 75 and has shown he can podium in bunch sprints (best of 3rd in similar races), though his average of 17.2 across six races reveals some inconsistency. Groupama-FDJ can provide a strong lead-out.
Decathlon CMA CGM
Decathlon CMA CGM
Rasmus Søjberg Pedersen (Sprint 74) brings solid all-round numbers including the highest TT stat (69) among the pure sprinters, suggesting he can handle a slightly selective finale. Decathlon CMA CGM fields multiple cards, giving him team support.
Decathlon CMA CGM
Decathlon CMA CGM
Tord Gudmestad (Sprint 76, Rare) is among the fastest on paper but his recent form average of 29.7 across six flat races suggests he struggles to translate raw speed into results consistently. A podium is within reach on a good day.
★
Ones to Watch
Paul Hennequin, Jérémy Lecroq, Maël Guégan, and Matteo Milan round out the watchlist. All four sit in the Sprint 71-73 band and could benefit from a chaotic sprint, breakaway survival, or disorganised lead-out trains. Milan's best result of 4th in a flat race is the most encouraging data point at this tier.
St Michel - Auber93
St Michel - Auber93
Jérémy Lecroq (Sprint 73) is an interesting outsider from St Michel - Auber93 with a competitive sprint rating, though limited recent form data makes him a speculative pick for fantasy rosters.
Groupama-FDJ
Groupama-FDJ
Matteo Milan (Sprint 71) has shown flashes in similar races with a best of 4th, and Groupama-FDJ's deep squad gives him the luxury of protected status or a lead-out role that could work in his favour.
CIC Pro Cycling
CIC Pro Cycling
Maël Guégan (Sprint 72, Hills 69, Climbing 67) is the most complete rider at his sprint level and could sneak into the top 10 if the finale fragments, though he lacks recent benchmark results.
Euskaltel-Euskadi
Euskaltel-Euskadi
Paul Hennequin (Sprint 73) matches Turgis on raw sprint power and could benefit from a messy finish, though he has no recent similar-profile race data to confirm current form.
Verdict
Milan Fretin is the clear top favorite, combining the field's highest Sprint stat with the best recent form record among all sprinters. Jason Tesson and Anthony Turgis are the most dangerous challengers, while Paul Penhoët and Tord Gudmestad add further firepower to what should be a fiercely contested bunch gallop.