The Slovenian Primoz Roglic narrowly won his second Critérium du Dauphiné after a big scare during the eighth and final stage won on Sunday by Carlos Rodriguez on the Glières plateau.
Already winner in 2022, the leader of Bora-Hansgrohe got stuck on the last ascent of this 76e edition, but managed to keep 8 seconds ahead of the American Matteo Jorgenson in the final general classification of this great dress rehearsal for the Tour de France.
In a thrilling final, Jorgenson, winner of Paris-Nice in March, dropped Roglic in the company of the Canadian Derek Gee, who completed the podium, and the Spaniard Carlos Rodriguez during the climb to the Glières plateau.
PHOTO THOMAS SAMSON, AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE
Derek Gee (in blue) behind Matteo Jorgenson
But the Slovenian managed to limit the damage by crossing the line with a delay of 48 seconds, enough to win the 21e stage race of his career.
” I did not expect that. It was tense, but I managed to preserve my advantage,” he commented, visibly relieved.
Winner of two stages, Roglic dominated the other headliner of this 76e edition, the Belgian Remco Evenepoel, who finished seventh overall at 2:25, three weeks before the start of the Tour de France (June 29–July 21).