The Frenchman from the Jumbo-Visma team won the first stage of the Critérium du Dauphiné on Sunday in Chambon-sur-Lac.
Article written by
Published
Update
Reading time : 1 min.
/2023/06/04/647ca6d421652_000-33gx8xc.jpg)
The first winner of the Critérium du Dauphiné 2023 is French. After a thrilling final, Christophe Laporte won the first stage in a sprint on Sunday June 4 at Chambon-sur-Lac, ahead of the Italian Matteo Trentin (UAE Team Emirates) and the Belgian Rune Herregodts (Intermarché-Circus- Wanty). The latter, survivor of the morning breakaway, failed to create a surprise before being only caught on the finish line. Thanks to his 29th career victory, Christophe Laporte endorses the first yellow jersey of the Dauphiné.
“It was really limited with the rain, a difficult day, nervous, the whole team went all out, even Jonas made the ‘leadout’ (the train to prepare for the sprint) up to 300 m. I will try to honor the yellow jersey”reacted the Var after his victory.
Already winner this season of Gand-Wevelgem and A Travers La Flandre, the 30-year-old rider raised his arms for the first time on the Critérium du Dauphiné. He brought his team’s offensive tactics to life. After a first outburst from the Soudal-Quick Step, the Jumbo-Visma formation set a hellish pace to outrun pure sprinters such as Sam Bennett (Bora-hansgrohe) or Dylan Groenewegen (Jayco-AlUla) one by one. .
A tough step for organizations
Only Rune Herregodts nearly derailed the Dutch strategy. Member of the morning break with Dorian Godon (AG2R-Citroën), Brent Van Moer (Lotto-Dstny), Fabio Van Den Bossche (Alpecin-Deceuninck) and Donavan Grondin (Arkéa-Samsic), the Belgian kept the peloton in check for the last eight kilometres. He was finally caught cruelly just before crossing the line.
The first stage of the Dauphiné will, in any case, have worn out the organisms. First by the approximately 2,860 m of elevation gain on the program, but also by the rain that sprayed the runners throughout the day. For the sprinters, the next two stages will certainly represent the last two opportunities to shine before the time trial, scheduled for Wednesday, which will launch hostilities for the favorites to the final victory. Some of them have already lost time in the general classification, like Enric Mas (Movistar, + 15”) or Mikel Landa (Bahrain-Victorious, + 22”).
View comments