Tour du Finistère: Jon Barrenetxea edges out Alex Molenaar on high-speed uphill finish in Quimper

Jon Barrenetxea of Movistar secured his first victory of the season at the Tour du Finistère Pays de Quimper, narrowly beating Alex Molenaar from Caja Rural-Seguros RGA in a high-speed uphill sprint finish. Clément Venturini of Unibet Rose Rockets completed the podium after launching a late acceleration with over 500 metres remaining, while his teammate Lander Loockx finished just behind in fourth place. The race concluded with a dramatic bunch sprint following a series of breakaway attempts throughout the day. The 156.3km route through Brittany was characterised by a relentless sequence of climbs, although none were officially categorised, making for a challenging and tactical race. Early on, a six-rider breakaway formed within the first five kilometres, including riders such as Clément Davy and Leandre Huck, who later dropped to two riders before being reeled in by the peloton. The race featured multiple intermediate sprints and a demanding circuit repeated six times, which gradually wore down the breakaway and set the stage for a fast finish. As the race approached its climax, the peloton increased the pace on the final circuit, catching the remaining breakaway riders with 7.5km to go. The last two kilometres featured a steep uphill section into Quimper, where teams like Unibet Rose Rockets, Van Rysel Roubaix, Cofidis, and TotalEnergies jostled for position. Bryan Coquard of Cofidis attempted to launch a late attack, but it was Barrenetxea who timed his effort perfectly to surge past his rivals and claim the win. The victory marks an important milestone for Barrenetxea, signalling his return to form and potential for further success this season. The race also highlighted the depth of talent in the peloton, with multiple teams contributing to the dynamic and aggressive racing throughout the day. Looking ahead, the Tour du Finistère once again demonstrated its status as a key fixture in the French one-day racing calendar, offering a stern test for riders targeting the spring and early summer campaigns.