With the Ruta America del Sur only just wrapped up the continental stage racing calender moves swiftly on with the Tour de Bretagne. This seven stage race suits riders of multiple capabilities, stages 1-3 look dead set for sprint finishes, whereas stages 4 - 7 look to favour the puncheurs and those late attackers. Stages 5 and 7 include cobbles, on stage 7 the cobbles could really have a significant impact, especially if the unforgiving Bretagne weather plays a part.

The Favourites:

		HILL	COB	SPRINT
	A.Kolobnev	76	54	63
	A.Passalacqua	76	52	62
	N.Haas	76	62	68
	S.Cioban	75	62	64
	M.Wyss	75	61	68
	V.Bugge	75	68	63
	R.Hollenstein	75	51	63
	T.Duggan	75	51	62
	A.Moinard	74	53	69
	B.Selander	74	63	69
	G.Bole	74	63	76

After some great results in the early season Grupo Nutresa will be hoping their Russian import, Kolobnev, has a good race and is there or thereabouts come the final standings. He is ably supported by, amongst others, Cesar Fonte, who had an excellent race here last year finishing second overall.

Risa - Ergon won the overall title here last year and bring the defending champion Michael Olsson. Olsson, however, may be on domestique duties this race as Risa - Ergon have two real contenders for the GC in the potent combination of Haas and Bugge. Bugge is the most competent puncheur on the cobbles, so he will be many peoples favourite, especially if the cobbles turn out to be really selective.

Team Vontobel are another team in a great position with two riders, Wyss and Hollenstein, who could really do something in the GC.

Team Nordeus' Grega Bole deserves a real mention, this is the type of race where he could score plenty of points with consistent finishes on all seven stages. Besides those names there are 15+ riders who could all figure in the hilly stages and could have a say in the GC battle.

The Sprinters:

		SPRINT	ACC.
	M.Vingerling	79	79
	T.Farrar	79	77
	J.Hochmann	79	80
	K.Peeters	79	77
	M.Vanderaerden	79	75
	B.Sinner	78	73
	A.Fonseca	78	77
	J.Jørgensen	78	73
	C.Sutton	77	77
	E.Teruel	77	73
	S.Caethoven	77	76
	M.Richeze	77	76
	N.Schinker	77	75

With at least 3 sprint finishes on the cards we have an able selection of sprinters on the startlist. There is no clear favourite for the sprints, however, Fonseca is the man on form entering the race after picking up two stage wins in South America.

Risa - Ergon are reall bringing a strong line up to this race, not only do they have multiple riders for the GC battle, but in Jørgensen and Sutton they have two candidates for stage wins in the sprints. Azteca - NBCSN have been putting up solid lead-outs all season long so far, if they can do the same again Farrar looks a good bet for a stage win.

The sprint stages we do have are really straight line flat affairs, which will favour the flat-out quick men. So Vingerling and Hochmann will start as the favourites, if anyone does.

The Cobblers:

		COB	HILL
	S.Joseph	75
	N.Østergaard	75
	J.Ringheim	73
	J.Paiani	73
	G.Lilholt	73
	G.De Winde	72
	T.Dupont	72
	T.Declerq	72	71
	R.Gavenda	72	68
	K.Lovassy	72
	E.Van Wyk	71
	T.Farrar	71

Few will be surprised that the two continental cobble powerhouses, Lierse SK - Pizza Ullo Cycling Team & Team Carlsberg - Danske Bank, bring the most noted cobblers to this race in Joseph and Østergaard. As most of the cobblers are not, by any means, specialists on the hills it remains to be seen if the pure cobblers have any impact on stages 5 & 7.

Team Puma - SAP, the only pro continental team in the race, look to set to profit most if the cobbles have more of an impact than suspected. In Tim Declerq they bring a rider who could be a dark horse for the GC, as he is the most all round proficient rider here arguably when it comes to hills and cobbles.

Wounded Warrior Racing are the only team with no, even remote, favourite for any of the stages. Luck will be shining bright on them if they leave Bretagne with a stage victory.

The Startlist:



Flashback: Tour de Bretagne 2013

Final Standings

1 Michael Olsson Risa - Ergon Cycling Team 29h06'30

2 Cesar Andre Fonte Team Privatbank + 12

3 Blaz Furdi Team Gazelle + 21

4 Manuele Mori Kappa-ENI + 32

5 Alexander Gingsjo Vattenfall Cycling + 57

6 Xavier Florencio FC Barcelona - Estrella Damm + 1'58

7 Evaldas Siskevicius Ekspla-Cision Cycling Team + 2'02

8 Matteo Carrara Allianz-BMW Cycling Team + 2'10

9 Christer Rake Risa - Ergon Cycling Team + 2'32

10 Filipe Cardoso Team Privatbank + 2'33

Barbari battles the conditions on his way to a stage victory with a margin of over 8'00.


Olsson storming up the final climb of the race to win the GC.