ORICA-BikeExchange will have multiple cards to play to cover all scenarios at this weekend’s one-day French race, the Bretagne Classic Ouest-France - previously known as GP de Plouay.
The 2016 edition of the race sees a dramatic change to the original race route as the riders now complete one large lap of 233kilometres before returning to Plouay for one finishing lap of 13.9kilometres.
“With the new course it will probably be a bit more aggressive earlier on,” explained sport director Matt White. “It’s usually quite a predictable race when it’s been on the circuits, I expect it will be a really hard aggressive race this year.”
“In the past a move usually goes on the final climb but usually gets brought back in the final few seconds. There’s not been too many times were a move has stayed away to the line and I still think the race will be decided in the final 20minutes.”
The Australian outfit bring in a versatile eight-man line up lead by Tour de France stage winner Michael Matthews.
Paris-Roubaix winner Mathew Hayman brings firepower to the team along with Luke Durbridge, Daryl Impey and Michael Albasini, with experienced climbers Ruben Plaza and Carlos Verona balancing out the strong ORICA-BikeExchange squad.
“We will have multiple options in the final," said White. "If it gets aggressive in the last hour we have guys like Impey, Albasini and Durbridge to go in to moves and if it comes down to the final circuit we have fast men like Matthews and Luka Mezgec.”
The new larger lap passes through le Morbihan, les Côtes-d’Armor and le Finistère and features seven main climbs with a total ascent of 3348metres and with many of the big name riders on the start list it is set to be a challenging one-day race.
“There will certainly be a strong field,"continued White. "All the good guys who aren’t racing at La Vuelta will be here, a lot of good climbers and guys starting their build up for the final part of the season.
"I expect it will be a really hard race, and definitely the best field Plouay has ever had.”
The 247kilometre WorldTour race takes place on Sunday 28th August one day after the Women’s event.
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