Critérium du Dauphiné

The first of the three crunch stages of this edition was also the shortest one of the week, just 127 kilometers from Valserhône to Combloux, but the presence of the Mont-Saxonnex, Domancy and Cry climbs promised to do some damage to the general classification led by Remco Evenepoel following his victory in the time trial.

The action kicked off more than 40 kilometers from the finish, on the steepest part of Mont-Saxonnex, where an injection of pace at the front of the peloton whittled it down to just ten riders, including the yellow jersey. In the valley, they were joined by others, and the group continued to travel at a high pace until the foot of Domancy, the short but gruelling ascent made famous by Bernard Hinault at the 1980 World Championships, when the Frenchman soloed to the rainbow jersey.

A separation was made there following an attack of Tadej Pogacar (UAE Team Emirates), who went on to take the victory, while Remco rode at his own pace in the scorching hot weather, without going into red, while trying to limit the losses as much as possible. Soudal Quick-Step’s 25-year-old concluded the stage in fifth place and is now fourth overall ahead of the race’s toughest stage, which has in store three classified climbs and more than 4000 vertical meters.

Photo credit: ©Dario Belingheri / Getty Images