Although overshadowed by the Amstel Gold Race being run on the same day, “Le Petit Paris-Roubaix” is the focus for many classics riders on teams that don’t get invites to World Tour events.

The course:

Taking place in Brittany, this race features 25 sectors of dirt (ribins) along with sections of gravel and cobblestones to make up 30 of 204 kilometers through northwestern France. Although there isn’t expected to be rain like last year, winds predicted to be from 20-30 mph (32-48 kph) will make positioning that much more vital when the roads get rough.

The contenders:

Including the local World Tour teams and some strong Pro Continental squads, there will be a showdown between some of the best 2nd-tier cobbled classics riders.

Defending winner Adrien Petit hasn’t had a very successful season up to this point riding in mostly .HC and World Tour races, his best finish being 17th in a stage at Driedaagse van West-Vlaanderen, but with guys like Gert Jõeäär (4th in 2013), Christophe Laporte (3rd at Le Samyn, 9th overall at Driedaagse van West-Vlaanderen), and Kenneth Vanbilsen (2nd at Grand Prix Cycliste la Marseillaise), the Cofidis rider could repeat with improved form against weaker competition.

rider could repeat with improved form against weaker competition. AG2R La Mondiale ‘s Samuel Dumoulin has not only gotten a win at La Drome Classic and 5th in both a World Tour stage at the Tour Down Under and the GP de Denain Porte du Hainaut earlier this week, but he is also a 2-time winner of this event. Despite having a short-handed team at only 5 men, Alexis Gougeard (winner of Classic Loire Atlantique, 5th overall at Driedaagse van West-Vlaanderen, 26th at Paris-Roubaix) and Gediminas Bagdonas should be plenty of help for the French sprinter.

‘s Samuel Dumoulin has not only gotten a win at La Drome Classic and 5th in both a World Tour stage at the Tour Down Under and the GP de Denain Porte du Hainaut earlier this week, but he is also a 2-time winner of this event. Despite having a short-handed team at only 5 men, Alexis Gougeard (winner of Classic Loire Atlantique, 5th overall at Driedaagse van West-Vlaanderen, 26th at Paris-Roubaix) and Gediminas Bagdonas should be plenty of help for the French sprinter. Sprinter for Bretagne-Séché Environment , Yauheni Hutarovich has been on a tear this season, getting 3 stage wins at La Tropicale Amissa Bongo and 3rd at Scheldeprijs. Having Pierre-Luc Perichon (top-10 in 2013, 2014) and Florian Vachon (top-10 2009, 2010, 2013) with him should help the Belarian get a good result.

, Yauheni Hutarovich has been on a tear this season, getting 3 stage wins at La Tropicale Amissa Bongo and 3rd at Scheldeprijs. Having Pierre-Luc Perichon (top-10 in 2013, 2014) and Florian Vachon (top-10 2009, 2010, 2013) with him should help the Belarian get a good result. FDJ has multiple riders they could go to if needed, such as Francis Mourey (winner in 2013), Johan Le Bon (2nd in 2013), Matthieu Ladagnous (7th in 2011), and Cedric Pineau (3rd in 2014).

has multiple riders they could go to if needed, such as Francis Mourey (winner in 2013), Johan Le Bon (2nd in 2013), Matthieu Ladagnous (7th in 2011), and Cedric Pineau (3rd in 2014). Vincent Jerome has a good history here for Europcar , winning in 2011 and getting 8th last year. Supporting Jerome will be former top-15 finishers Yohann Gene and Jimmy Engoulvent.

, winning in 2011 and getting 8th last year. Supporting Jerome will be former top-15 finishers Yohann Gene and Jimmy Engoulvent. Roompot , the most successful non-French team at Tro-Bro Léon, will be bringing riders such as Raymond Kreder (4th at GP de Denain Porte du Hainaut, 9th at K-B-K), Andre Looij (4th at the Handzame Classic), and Jesper Asselman (4th at Ronde van Drenthe).

, the most successful non-French team at Tro-Bro Léon, will be bringing riders such as Raymond Kreder (4th at GP de Denain Porte du Hainaut, 9th at K-B-K), Andre Looij (4th at the Handzame Classic), and Jesper Asselman (4th at Ronde van Drenthe). The Belgian squad Wanty-Groupe Gobert has both Frederik Backaert (25th at Paris-Roubaix) and Tom Devriendt (21st at Scheldeprijs) traveling to Brittany this weekend.

has both Frederik Backaert (25th at Paris-Roubaix) and Tom Devriendt (21st at Scheldeprijs) traveling to Brittany this weekend. The all-diabetic team Novo Nordisk will be riding for former cyclocross champion Charles Planet. Main support will come from another former cyclocross champion in David Lozano.

will be riding for former cyclocross champion Charles Planet. Main support will come from another former cyclocross champion in David Lozano. Top contenders coming from Continental teams include: Auber 93‘s Flavien Dassonville (2nd in 2014), Maxime Renault (6th at Paris-Camembert, Classic Loire Atlantique), and Steven Tronet (6th in 2009); Equipe Cycliste Armeé de Terre‘s Alexis Bodiot (6th at GP de Denain Porte du Hainaut) and Beniot Sinner (9th in 2006, 2008); Roubaix Lille Métropole‘s Rudy Barbier (3rd in GP de Denain Porte du Hainaut), Timothy Dupont (3rd at Route Adélie de Vitré), and Baptiste Planckaert (3rd in Cholet-Pays De Loire); Marseille 13 KTM‘s Alexandre Blain (9th in 2011), Ignatas Konovalovas (5th in Cholet-Pays De Loire), and Benjamin Giraud (5th at Route Adélie de Vitré); Wallonie-Bruxelles‘s Kevyn Ista (15th at K-B-K), Antoine Demoitie (2nd at Handzame Classic), and Sebastien Delfosse (3rd in La Drome Classic); Murias Taldea‘s Jon Ander Insausti (2nd in Cholet-Pays De Loire).

My Top Ten:

Yauheni Hutarovich – Bretagne Samuel Dumoulin – AG2R Johan Le Bon – FDJ Adrien Petit – Cofidis Raymond Kreder – Roompot Gert Jõeäär – Cofidis Frederik Backaert – Wanty-Groupe Gobert Florian Vachon – Bretagne Rudy Barbier – Roubaix Alexandre Blain – Marseille