2021 Critérium du Dauphiné Stage 7 Results & Recap
Stage 7 of the 2021 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
Padun wins stage 7
Mark Padun won stage 7 of the Criterium du Dauphine today atop La Plagne after attacking on the final climb and dropping American Sepp Kuss, who finished second aftre
"It's incredible. An incredible moment for me," Padun said after the race. "It's my first WorldTour victory in one of the hardest stages of the Critérium du Dauphiné. Also honestly the last six stages I felt so bad it was incredible. Every day I was thinking it was maybe impossible to finish the race. When I crossed the finish line I had the feeling that I'd wake up in my bed, but it's not a dream and thank Jesus for this fact! I never thought I would be riding in the top 10. I thought maybe I'd arrive in the first 20 guys When Richie Porte attacked I tried to close the gap because my leader Jack Haig was in the group. When I saw we were four in front with a small gap, I thought 'why not do something and maybe they'd show me on TV for my mother'.
"And then Sepp Kuss attacked and I just decided to go. For me it was really unexpected when he dropped and then I just went full gas and hoped nobody would catch me anymore. After the last year I was thinking that maybe cycling is not my sport. It's incredible. I want to thank Jesus and thank my team who believed in me and who didn't tell me stop and wait for Jack. They just let me go for the victory and I'm thankful for them for this."
Richie Porte (Ineos Grenadiers) moved into the race lead after attacking the GC group on the final climb in much the same way Padun did. The 36 year old now leads the Dauphine 17 seconds ahead of Lutsenko and 29 seconds ahead of Thomas with one mountain stage left at Les Gets.
"When Movistar set that pace then they didn’t really have many guys left, Geraint said ‘off you go’, that was the plan this morning, that I attack, so we had the numbers and Tao was with with G," Porte said. "It’s great to have numbers, great to be back in this team and I’m enjoying riding my bike. The Joux Plane is a climb to have nightmares about, it’s one of the most solid climbs in world cycling. Whatever happens tomorrow we’ll give it our all and I’m motivated to try and bring this jersey home. I’ve been here before on the penultimate stage and having the yellow jersey, but I’m under no illusions, it’s not going to be easy tomorrow. I’m over the moon to be in the yellow jersey, but the Dauphine is always won on the last day. It's going to be a big battle tomorrow and I'd love to finish it off."\n
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