2018 Critérium du Dauphiné Stage 7 Results & Recap
Stage 7 of the 2018 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 wins Criterium du Dauphine\nYates claims final stage
The last day of the Criterium du Dauphine was a perfect conclusion to a thrilling week of racing. With Geraint Thomas (Team Sky) safely in the leaders jersey, the stage win was still up for grabs and fought for ferociously by those left hungry for the elusive stage win. Out of the early breakaway, Dani Navarro battled with everything he had on the final climb to the line, however, it was Adam Yates who played his cards close to his chest and sped away with the last win of the 2018 edition.
Thomas crossed the line in fifth, 19 seconds down with a small smile, knowing he had done enough to claim the biggest win of his career.
“It’s amazing to win such a prestigious race,” Thomas said after the stage. “It’s incredible. I didn’t let myself thinking so far ahead. I was always thinking of the next day or the next day. Now I realize I’ve won a massive race. Punctures today didn’t really help. I had to chase back on. The guys rode really well for me. On the last climb, I just knew I had about 1’20’’ to lose on Yatesy. Each kilometre, I was more confident and happier. Finally, at 200 to go, when they started sprinting for the win, I was like relieved. I can rest a little bit and wait for July. This is a confidence booster for the Tour.”
Adam Yates won the final stage of the race by planning a late attack just metres before the finish, overtaking an exhausted solo leader Dani Navarro (Cofidis), who had to settle for second place.
“It’s been two back to back hard stages,” Yates said. “The past four days, I’ve always been kind of the one to initiate the attacks. So today I decided to wait. I just made that final move towards the end. I could take the stage win on the last corner. Romain Bardet was trying to overtake me in the GC. But every time I responded. The Tour de France has been my main goal for the whole season. We’re getting closer and closer. I’m happy to get confidence from this race. I look forward to the Tour now.”
Third place overall Romain Bardet attacked multiple times on the final two climbs to Mont Blanc, but couldn’t shake the top five GC contenders. Bardet ended up in third place on the day, nine seconds behind Yates.
“I’ve tried to race for winning today,” Bardet said. “I’ve been a bit generous and Adam Yates have been a bit shiftier than me. I’m a little bit disappointed because I always want more. I’m satisfied with having improved my cycling every day during the Dauphiné. Feelings are good. It’s positive. We also took our marks as a team. But Geraint Thomas showed that he’s one of the best riders in the world and he’s able to be the leader of Team Sky.”
Bardet’s teammate, Pierre Le Tour performed stupendously the entire week – showing he not only was a strong lieutenant for Bardet, but also a champion in his own right, winning the best young rider jersey on the final stage.
“The outcome is pretty good,” Le Tour said. “We’re reassured that we have come back on form from our altitude training camp in Sierra Nevada. It’s encouraging for what’s next. Today again we’ve showed that we’re strong as a team. We had nothing to lose, so we tried everything we could. Only last night when we realized that I was only nine seconds down on the white jersey, we started thinking about winning it. It’s great to win as well as working for Romain Bardet the whole week. Geraint Thomas also had a very strong team and he was the strongest of the field.”
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