Faun Drome Classic 2026
01.03
The 2026 Faun Drôme Classic will be held on the 1st of March 2026 in the Drôme region of southeastern France. Taking place the day after the Faun Ardèche Classic, it will once again form a challenging weekend of back to back hilly racing. Who will succeed Juan Ayuso?
How to watch?
Curious about how to watch the 2026 Faun Drome Classic? Discover it in our complete how to watch guide, featuring a full overview of all broadcasters and streaming options.
Route
The Faun Drome Classic is 189km from Étoile sur Rhône and is noticeably less mountainous than Ardèche, with just over 2,000 metres of elevation. The day is still selective, but the main pressure tends to build in the final third. The Col de Tartaiguille is a steady 4.3km at 4.4 percent, ideal for teams to raise the speed and remove pure sprinters.
The Côte des Roberts is sharper at 1.6km and 7.7 percent and is often the launchpad for a race deciding move. The finish is not flat either, rising at about 5.1 percent for just over a kilometre, which suits puncheurs and strong finishers from a reduced group.
Read our full preview here.
Favourites
Because the terrain points to a reduced bunch finish, riders with a sprint after hard climbing stand out. Christian Scaroni is a top pick again because he can win from multiple scenarios, either attacking or finishing fast from a small group. Dorian Godon profiles well for a hard finale and a punchy sprint, while Alex Aranburu is dangerous if the race stays tactical and a group arrives together.
Axel Laurence is another name for an uphill finish where positioning matters. Quinn Simmons can thrive if the race becomes aggressive and fragmented, especially with late attacks over the final climbs. Andrea Bagioli and Marc Hirschi add proven winning pedigree here and are obvious threats if they reach the final kilometre in contention.
Read our preview here and explore the start list via this link.
