The seventh and penultimate stage of the Critérium du Dauphiné was a losing day for the Jumbo-Visma team on Saturday. Wout Van Aert is no longer at the top of the general classification, except that it is his teammate Primoz Roglic who has taken over as the new holder of the yellow jersey. On this high mountain day that he dreaded, James Piccoli (Israel – Premier Tech) did very well by winning the 27e rank (+3 minutes 40 seconds).
Posted at 3:12 p.m.
The Montrealer remained in the first group of favorites in the second big difficulty of the day, the Col de la Croix de Fer, with about thirty kilometers to go where we saw him cling to Wout Van Aert. A few moments later, 1.5 kilometers from the summit, the yellow jersey was ejected from the group, while the Quebecer clung to it with all his might to stay there in order to rock with the group on the descent.
” I’m a bit tired. It was a demanding day, but a great day! admitted Piccoli, adding that he was able to climb at his own pace so as not to fall into the red. “I would have thought he [Van Aert] would pass the collar, because it seemed comfortable, so that surprised me. But hey, he’s still a great champion who has already won two stages [depuis le début du Critérium] and it is still quite impressive! »
“I managed to start the last climb with the peloton, but then I lacked a bit to be with the best. But hey, it’s a good sign for tomorrow and the next races, ”continues the 30-year-old cyclist, recalling that he had been bothered by a cold at the start of the Tour.
I’m not far from the best.
James Piccoli
The outcome of the race was decided in the last ascent, the Vaujany climb, where the eventual winner, the Spaniard Carlos Verona (Movistar), broke away from the Frenchman Kenny Ellisonde (Trek Segafredo). Behind, in the group of favorites, the Dane Jonas Vingegaard (Jumbo-Visma) put the gas to clean up for just under 2 kilometers, which allowed Primoz Roglic to go solo in pursuit of the Spaniard alone in the lead whose advance melted like snow in the sun.
Verona was still able to resist the formidable comeback of the Slovenian to claim his first victory in the professional ranks.
The Quebecer saw his teammate and four-time Tour de France winner, Briton Chris Froome, not start the stage due to health problems.
“Chris is a leader and a guy with a lot of experience. He wasn’t feeling great, so for his health and the races that are coming up, it was better for him not to push too much,” analyzed Piccoli, adding that his teammates Omer Goldstein and Simon Clarke crashed during the race, but that they were able to reach the finish.
“That’s cycling: it’s not always an easy sport. It is sure that this year, we had our fare share of problems…”
In the general classification, Roglic holds a lead of 44 seconds over his teammate Vingegaard. As for Piccoli, his good performance allows him to go from 111e at the 79e up (+27 minutes 17 seconds).
The final stage will take place on Sunday. Another high mountain course awaits the peloton between Saint-Alban-Leysse and the Plateau de Salaison. The arrival of this 139 kilometer route will take place at the top of a non-category pass.
No change at the ZLM Tour
The Dutchman and holder of the leader’s jersey Olav Kooij (Jumbo-Visma) was once again in the game in the final sprint of the fourth stage of the Tour ZLM (2. Pro) on Saturday. Kooij finished second behind Belgium’s Timothy Dupont (Bingoal Pauwels Sauces WB) at the conclusion of the 196 kilometer flat course between Sint Willebrord and Mierlo in the Netherlands.
Quebecer Nickolas Zukowsky (Human Powered Health) finished in the same group, in 60e square.
Another sprint finish is expected at the conclusion of the Tour on Sunday.