Having recently finished third in the Vattenfall Cyclassics, Simon Gerrans chases a second victory in the GP Plouay on Sunday. The Australian leads Orica-GreenEDGE in the hilly race that suits him down to the ground.

Australian champion Simon Gerrans will lead ORICA-GreenEDGE at the GP Ouest France – Plouay this Sunday.

Gerrans, who won the event in 2009, comes into the popular French one-day race with proven form following a third place at the Vattenfall Cyclassics last weekend.

The seven riders for the GP Ouest France – Plouay are: Damien Howson, Jens Keukeleire, Jens Mouris, Luke Durbridge, Michael Hepburn, Simon Gerrans and Svein Tuft.

Sport director Matt White said the team would ultimately be looking to set Gerrans up in the final lap.

“It’s a race Simon has won before, it’s a race that definitely suits his characteristics and as we saw last weekend he is in very good shape at the moment,” White said.

“It’s quite a predictable style of racing, there is usually an early break and depending on how big it is, it is often reeled in at some stage during the day. Then another set of attacks go in the final hour of racing. 

“In the end it usually comes down to the final climb in the last five kilometres.  The top of the last climb is between two and three kilometres to go and that is the crucial moment there.”

Held at the same location as the 2000 UCI Road Cycling World Championships, White expected the race to unfold much like a championship event.

“It’s one of very few races we do that the whole course is on a circuit,” White said.

“The circuit we use currently is an extension of the 2000 championship circuit so it is very much raced like a world championship.

“Sometimes the breakaway does stick on that last climb and sometimes it comes back.

“We could have a sprint of five riders or 100 riders so positioning is crucial, being present in moves is crucial and most importantly having someone to finish off the job is crucial.”