2019 Critérium du Dauphiné Stage 1 Results & Recap
Stage 1 of the 2019 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
Edvald Boasson Hagen (Dimension Data) claimed his fifth stage win since 2010 as he outsprinted Belgians Philippe Gilbert (Deceuninck-Quick Step) and Wout van Aert (Jumbo-Visma) in Jussac
"I’m really happy to get this victory. I was suffering a lot in the last two climbs. But I got a good speed in the sprint. It’s been a long time since I last won. My form is starting to come and I hope there are more victories to arrive for me and for Dimension Data. It worked out well. It’s important for the team. I will try to hold on to the yellow jersey for as long as I can."
Boasson Hagen (Dimension Data) starts tomorrow’s hilly stage in yellow, and also leads the green points jersey competition, which will be worn by second place, Gilbert. Van Aert will wear the best young rider jersey for stage 2.
“It’s a real good start for me to be in the white jersey at the end of stage 1,” van Aert said to reporters after the stage. “The day went very well. I managed to keep some strength to be active in the finale and it went pretty well. I maybe could have done better. My sprint wasn’t perfect, especially because I slowed down a bit in the last curve when Alaphilippe was leading Gilbert out. Eventually, it’s a nice place. It confirms that I’m in good form and if there are other opportunities, I’ll try my luck again.”
Often called the “little brother” to the Tour de France, the Critérium du Dauphiné had its official start in Aurillac for stage 1. After several fruitless attacks, six riders made the separation successfully before the start of the first categorized category 1 climb. Oliver Naesen (AG2R-La Mondiale), Magnus Cort (Astana), Niklas Eg (Trek-Segafredo), Julien Vermote (Dimension Data), Fabien Doubey (Wanty-Groupe Gobert) and Casper Pedersen (Sunweb).
They held an advantage of around three minutes through the meat of the race as Bora-hansgrohe set the tempo in the peloton, keen to see their sprinter, Sean Bennett, in the results today. In the break, Pedersen was interested in collecting mountains points and crested the Puy Mary, Côte de Besse (cat. 4, km 68) and the Côte de St-Cernin first, giving him enough points to claim the jersey before stage 2. \nThe final time up the Côte de Roquenatou brought fireworks. The peloton wasn’t interested in allowing the winner to come from the breakaway and began increasing the pace quickly. Sensing an opportunity, Bjorg Lambrecht (Lotto-Soudal) attacked and bridged across to Cort and Naesen, who were the only two left in the break at that moment. The trio dangled out in front by 30 seconds as the kilometres to go went into single digits, however with 1000 metres remaining they were swallowed up and it was up to the fast men.
Mitchelton Scott was all over the front to set up Daryl Impey, however, it was Boasson Hagen who timed his acceleration perfectly to pick up a much-needed win and morale boost for his Dimension Data team.
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