(Montreal) The breakaway’s lead was more than 4 minutes when Mason Hollyman and Hugo Houle helped orchestrate the peloton’s comeback in the second stage of the Critérium du Dauphiné. The two runners from the Israel – Premier Tech team thus allowed their teammate Dylan Teuns to fight for victory in the sprint at the top of the Col de la Loge.
Representatives of the Israel – Premier Tech, BORA hansgrohe and Groupama-FDJ teams led the charge for several kilometers on Monday to the Côte de Saint-Georges-en-Couzan, around 20 kilometers from the finish.
“We were a little surprised to see that few teams wanted to ride and the gap increased quickly with the breakaway. I had to put a lot of effort into catching her. With the help of other riders, we took matters into our own hands,” Hugo Houle told Sportcom.
The work continued on the Col de la Croix Ladret, the penultimate climb of this 142 kilometer route. There were less than 9 kilometers left to go and Frenchman Bruno Armirail (Decathlon AG2R La Mondiale) was trying to hold on in a final effort.
The last survivor of the breakaway of five riders, formed as soon as the start was given, Armirail was caught just 200 meters from the finish. At the same time, the Dane Magnus Cort (Uno-X Mobility) emerged from the mist in full acceleration. He beat the Slovenian Primoz Roglic (BORA – hansgrohe) and the American Matteo Jorgenson (Visma | Lease a Bike) at the finish line.
As Houle and Hollyman wanted, their teammate Dylan Teuns was able to take part in the final sprint, finishing sixth in this second stage. Canadian Derek Gee, also a member of Israel – Premier Tech, ranked 20e at the same time as the winner.
“We wanted to regain the breakaway, which worked, but unfortunately, we did not manage to get the result we hoped for at the very end,” mentioned Houle, 142e of the day, satisfied with his effort and who reached the finish line almost 15 minutes late.
“I felt very good, I had a lot of power and it’s satisfying at the start of Dauphiné,” continued the man who wishes to confirm his selection for a sixth Tour de France in a row.
A list of twelve cyclists will be reduced to eight at Israel – Premier Tech at the end of the Critérium du Dauphiné and the Tour de Suisse which will begin this Sunday.
“It’s always a key moment of the season. Every year it’s the same story. The two races serve as a bit of a final selection for the team and it’s a very good preparation,” explained Hugo Houle. He expects some trying times over the next few days.
“I stay focused and do the work asked by the team, like today. Often, this is a good way to be rewarded! It shows that the form is there and that I am capable of having an impact on the race. »
Thanks to this victory, Magnus Cort now occupies the lead in the provisional general classification ahead of Roglic (+4 seconds) and Jorgensen (+6 seconds). Derek Gee ranks sixth (+10 seconds) and is the highest ranked in the Israel – Premier Tech team.
The third stage of 76e Critérium du Dauphiné will be contested over 181.7 kilometers on Tuesday, between Celles-sur-Durolle and Les Estables.