Buoyed by a recent podium for Nathan Cusack on the final day of the Circuit des Ardennes, the team is feeling optimistic about this year’s edition of Bretagne, which runs from April 25 to May 1.

Gavin Hlady was part of the Bretagne roster in 2025 and helped teammate Noah Hobbs to three memorable stage wins. While Noah has since graduated to the WorldTour team, Gavin has set his sights on another French triumph as he returns for a second consecutive year.

“In my eyes, the race falls into its own category. It’s a 2.2, but it’s the most prestigious 2.2 on the calendar in the way that it’s run, the organization, the strong media presence, TV exposure, and of course, the fact that almost every top-tier development team is there. It feels really legit, and it’s definitely one of my favorite races,” says Gavin.

“The terrain is another reason I love the race. There are no huge hills, but almost every day ends with a tough circuit, usually with a climb on it, and it lends itself to splits, groups, attacks, and really dynamic racing. The attacks can make a big difference, and there are no extreme features that instantly blow the race apart. It’s a lot of fun to race,” he adds.

Gavin has divided his season between EF Education-Aevolo and EF Education-EasyPost this year, earning several call-ups to the WorldTour team. He’s been a solid domestique for the elite squad, racing in the Tour de la Provence and Settimana Internazionale Coppi e Bartali.

Returning to the development for this race team gives Gavin the chance to race more for his own ambitions, with the US U23 national road champion targeting stage wins alongside his teammates.

“I’m pretty confident we’ll have opportunities to fight for stage wins. I’m hoping we can get one, and Magnus Carstensen has been super strong, and Linus Larsson is there as our sprinter; he’s improved a lot this year. With the team we’re bringing, we feel optimistic. We’ve had some standout rides already this season. We’re still waiting for our first victory, but the confidence is high,” Gavin said.

Every stage at Le Tour de Bretagne Cycliste has the potential to shape the GC, with breakaways a constant threat. The rolling hills of northern France provide the perfect landscape for the aggressive racing that Gavin and the team thrive on.

“Last year, the GC was pretty much decided on one day. There was one climb, and it wasn’t even that long, but if you made it into the front 15, that was it. We’ll likely have multiple riders in that mix, and when we hit the decisive moment, we can take it from there. The focus will be on stages, and then the GC will unfold from there,” Gavin says.

We can’t wait to see the team return to Le Tour de Bretagne Cycliste this weekend.

EF Education-Aevolo for Le Tour de Bretagne Cycliste: Gavin Hlady, Magnus Carstensen, Linus Larsson, Peyton Burkel, Miguel Ángel Marín, and Noah Streif.