2017 Critérium du Dauphiné Stage 1 Results & Recap
Stage 1 of the 2017 Critérium du Dauphiné is in the books. The final results and standings are below, followed by our recap of how the race unfolded.
Race Recap
Thomas De Gendt storms to victory in Saint Etienne
Thomas De Gendt took his first Critérium du Dauphiné victory today on the opening 170.5 km stage after attacking on the final categorised climb and soloing 10 kilometers to the finish in Saint Etienne. Axel Domont (AG2R) came across the line in second, 44 seconds back and Diego Ulissi finished third at 57 seconds.
The Belgian adds the victory to his already impressive list of achievements that include a stage win at last year’s Tour de France and overall third at the 2012 Giro d’Italia.
“I didn’t win a stage in Dauphine yet and it’s really nice,” De Gendt said. “It’s a hard race with really nice climbs. I tried a few years ago to win a stage but today it was finally possible.”
“The start was really hard, so I knew if I went on the first climb, I’d have a good chance to be in the break,” De Gendt said. “At one point we had six minutes and I knew if we got to the circuits it would be difficult to get us back. I believed in my chances. I was going for the mountains jersey, but I had a really good feeling because this is was a stage that really suits me.”
The breakaway specialist was realistic about his chances to keep the jersey, telling reporters he hopes he can wear into Wednesday’s time trial and perhaps beyond.
“I have good chances to keep it after,” he said. “It’s good publicity for the team. After Mont du Chat I will probably lose it, but yellow for a few days is always nice.”
The riders are close to cresting the first climb of the Tour, Col du Pilon. It lasts 4.8 km at 5.1 percent of average elevation.
At the start of the 69th edition of the Dauphine, there were plenty of attacks but until the top of the first climb at Col du Pilon, a categorised 3 climb. De Gendt was the first rider at the top and instigated the break, which would eventually gain a max of six minutes on the sleepy peloton.
The escapees included: Domont, Gendt, Antonio Nibali (Bahrain-Merida), Romain Sicard (Direct Energie), Silvio Herklotz (BORA-Hansgrohe), Delio Fernández (Delko Marseille Provence KTM) and Ángel Madrazo (Delko Marseille Provence KTM).
At the 50-kilometre mark, the break already had a four minute and 40 second advantage. Like he did with all eight categorised climbs, De Gendt was first over the top of the second category 4 Côte de la Roche and then the Côte de Périgneux to pick up max points in his journey toward the polka dot jersey.
With 100 kilometres ridden, the seven leaders built up a lead of more than six minutes. Dimension Data was the first team to sense the danger of letting a rider like Thomas De Gendt get that much time and brought the advantage down slightly at the base of Côte de Saint-Romain-les-Atheux, the highest ranked climb of the day, a categorised 2 ascent.
Again, De Gendt’s cleared the summit first, securing the polka dot jersey at the end of the stage.
The gap went down to three minutes 30 seconds when the leaders made their way to the first of three 15-kilometre circuits around Saint Etienne. The gap remained the same with two laps to go, causing alarm in the peloton and prompting Orica-SCOTT to amass at the front.
De Gendt, the consummate breakaway specialist, consistently pushed the pace at the front, liking his chances to stay away. Only Domont could follow the Belgian’s acceleration on côte de Rochetaillée and the two worked to maintain their advantage of less than two minutes.
By the time they reached the final climb, Domont couldn’t compete with De Gendt’s speed and lost contact. From there, De Gendt continued to forge ahead to the win.
Tomorrow’s 171 kilometre stage from Saint-Chamond to Arlanc begins at noon local time. \n
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