OPENINGThe 36th Grand Prix du Morbihan ran 190 km from Plumelec to Plumelec across the rolling Breton interior, the early part of a Brittany week of one-dayers that builds toward the Tro-Bro Léon and the bigger French spring races. As is traditional on this parcours, an early break went up the road on the approach to the first passages of the Côte de Cadoudal, the short, sharp climb that the finishing circuit laps repeatedly. With clear favourites in the field — most obviously serial Plumelec winner Benoît Cosnefroy — the move was kept on a short leash by the bigger squads.

UNFOLDSOn the hilly local laps around Plumelec the repeated ascent of Cadoudal steadily wore down the escapees' advantage. UAE Team Emirates and Decathlon CMA CGM took charge of the chase, with Groupama - FDJ United also contributing to the tempo on the climbs, and the breakaway was reeled in before the final circuits. From there a succession of counter-attacks tried to go clear over the top of Cadoudal, but with two of the strongest teams committed to a finish, no late move was allowed a decisive gap.

DECIDEDThe race was always pointing toward the uphill sprint on the Côte de Cadoudal, and the final two ascents thinned the lead group to roughly 30 riders. UAE switched fully into control mode to deliver Cosnefroy, while Decathlon CMA CGM rode aggressively to play their numbers — Noa Isidore and Paul Lapeira both up front — testing the group on the penultimate climb to try to soften the favourite and create a tactical edge for the finale.

FINALEOn the final ramp into Plumelec the sprint opened up early, but Cosnefroy timed his effort to perfection, coming off the wheels in the last hundred metres to take the uphill dash. Isidore held on for second and Lapeira completed the Decathlon CMA CGM near-sweep in third, both credited with the same time as the winner, with Thibaud Gruel (Groupama - FDJ United) and Clément Venturini rounding out the top five — all in the same front group on Cosnefroy's 4h 35m 17s. It was Cosnefroy's fourth victory at the Grand Prix du Morbihan.