While the Giro rolls on in Bulgaria, there's still plenty of action kicking off in France this weekend

While the whole cycling world gears up for the first Grand Tour of the year, which gets underway this weekend, racing continues in France too — at the Grand Prix du Morbihan and the Tro-Bro Léon. Visma | Lease a Bike bring Matthew Brennan and UAE Team Emirates-XRG bring Benoît Cosnefroy, among others, to the start lines. IDL Pro Cycling looks ahead.

The Grand Prix du Morbihan is part of the FDJ United Series, formerly known as the Coupe de France. The one-day race covers 190 kilometres in and around Plumelec, finishing on the Côte de Cadoudal (1.4 km at 5.6%) — a climb the peloton will tackle no fewer than 13 (!) times. It is up and down all day, though steep gradients are never on the menu.

One of the biggest names on the start list is Benoît Cosnefroy. The UAE Team Emirates-XRG Frenchman twice finished third and once fourth in the Walloon Classics and handles a hilly course like this extremely well. Visma | Lease a Bike will count on Axel Zingle, while Decathlon CMA CGM have one of the race's favourites in Paul Lapeira.

Despite the team's attention being primarily focused on their Giro d'Italia debut, Unibet Rose Rockets are also making the trip to France. They are hoping Clément Venturini can make an impression, with Lander Loockx as a backup option. Keep an eye on Brady Gilmore (NSN) and Thibaud Gruel (Groupama-FDJ United) as well.

A day after the hillier classic, the riders in France will be doing their best impression of the gravel World Championships. The Tro-Bro Léon features no fewer than 29 gravel sections — known locally as ribinoù — 19 of which fall in the final 70 kilometres. Heavy rain is forecast for the day before, meaning those sections will be thoroughly wet. Rain is also possible on race day itself. It promises to be a true war of attrition.

At Visma | Lease a Bike, Matthew Brennan — returning to racing after Paris-Roubaix — will relish a muddy day. The Briton had some health issues during the spring, but heads to the Tro-Bro Léon as one of the top favourites. Axel Zingle is Visma | Lease a Bike's backup option here too.

Competition may well come from riders who also raced at Morbihan the day before — Benoît Cosnefroy (UAE Team Emirates-XRG) and Paul Lapeira (Decathlon CMA CGM). Decathlon CMA CGM also have Pierre Gautherat in their ranks — the man who finished second in this race last year, letting his then-teammate Bastien Tronchon take the win. Tronchon is back at the Tro-Bro Léon this year too, but now in the colours of Groupama-FDJ United.

NSN can play multiple cards with Hugo Hofstetter and Brady Gilmore, while Unibet Rose Rockets are once again hoping for a big result from Clément Venturini. Also worth watching: the Pinarello-Q36.5 duo of Aimé De Gendt and Fred Wright, Thibaud Gruel (Groupama-FDJ United) and Matys Grisel (Lotto-Intermarché).

Both races are broadcast on HBO Max — the Grand Prix du Morbihan from 14:30 CET, and the Tro-Bro Léon from 15:15 CET. (Note: broadcast details for other regions may differ.)