Boucles de l'Aulne: Jon Barrenetxea blasts past Clément Venturini on uphill finish in Châteaulin for victory

Jon Barrenetxea of Movistar secured a commanding victory at the Boucles de l'Aulne in Châteaulin, outpacing Clément Venturini of Unibet Rose Rockets on a challenging uphill finish. The race featured four circuits in the final 33 kilometres, including a punchy climb that proved decisive. Barrenetxea, closely marked by Venturini and his teammate Lander Loockx, timed his sprint perfectly on the final stretch, accelerating wider and faster than his rivals to cross the line first. The race dynamics saw a breakaway group of nine riders contesting the finale, with key moves from Jefferson Cepeda (Movistar), Pierre Theirry (TotalEnergies), and Lucas Bénéteau (St Michel-Preference Home-Auber93). Mechanical issues forced Alex Molenaar (Caja Rural-Seguros) out of contention, while tactical attacks on the hill shaped the final sprint. Despite efforts from Venturini’s team to control the pace, Barrenetxea’s strength and timing proved decisive in the closing metres. Barrenetxea’s win marked a significant weekend for the young rider, as he also triumphed the previous day at the Tour du Finistère in Quimper. Venturini, who finished second, improved his standing in the FDJ United Series but remains behind Barrenetxea, who moved ahead of American Matthew Riccitello in the overall rankings. Maxime Vezie (CIC Pro Cycling Academy) and Lander Loockx rounded out the podium, with David Gaudu (Groupama-FDJ United) finishing just seconds behind. The Boucles de l'Aulne served as the ninth round of the FDJ United Series, with Venturini still leading the series by a 90-point margin despite Barrenetxea’s strong challenge. The outcome highlights the competitive nature of the series and sets up an intriguing battle for the remaining rounds. Both riders have demonstrated consistent form, suggesting the contest for the overall title will remain intense as the season progresses.