Caads are indeed race bikes---with race geometry. Short head tubes, which sort of dictates a long, low, stretched riding position.
Unquestionably some of the best Al-framed bikes ever made ... people who want to do crit racing at any level up to the highest would be well served by these bikes. But OP is looking at endurance-geometry bikes.
Some people are sufficiently flexible and have strong enough cores that they can ride a race-geometry bike in complete comfort for many hours. More, are not.
If the OP wants to look at Cannondale, the Synapse would be the model in the class he has been examining.
https://www.incycle.com/cannondale-2...sc-tiagra.html
https://www.rei.com/product/124789/c...-105-bike-2018
Again, he pays the decal premium and gets the same parts.
I am Biased .... I completely admit it. I just rode my Sportif last night and had a great ride, I really had fun---despite my chain breaking. (Anyone who didn't have a couple quick links and a chain tool ... would have been walking. I got lucky.) Bang for the buck ... Fuji wins. If you want to spend a little more .... Wait for a double or triple points weekend and get the 1.3. The 1.5 has slightly better brakes, but otherwise not a huge upgrade. The 1.3 has the mech/hydro HY/RD brakes and a 105 group. But even with triple points it will be $1000 ...