Criterium du Dauphine 2019: Stage 2

Critérium du Dauphiné 2019 Race hub
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Stage 1 report: Boasson Hagen takes opener
Philippa York: Why the Critérium du Dauphiné matters

The peloton has just rolled out of the start in Mauriac. They tackle a 3.5km neutralised zone before hitting kilometre zero at midday local time.

Edvald Boasson Hagen (Dimension Data) wears the maillot jaune after his victory on Sunday's opening stage. The top of the general classification is as follows this morning:

1 Edvald Boasson Hagen (Nor) Dimension Data 3:24:23
2 Philippe Gilbert (Bel) Deceuninck-QuickStep 0:00:04
3 Wout Van Aert (Bel) Team Jumbo-Visma 0:00:06
4 Nils Politt (Ger) Katusha-Alpecin 0:00:10
5 Gregor Mühlberger (Aut) Bora-Hansgrohe
6 Sonny Colbrelli (Ita) Bahrain-Merida
7 Jonas Koch (Ger) CCC Team
8 Alexey Lutsenko (Kaz) Astana Pro Team
9 Benoit Cosnefroy (Fra) AG2R La Mondiale
10 Michal Kwiatkowski (Pol) Team Ineos

There are no fewer than eight classified climbs on today's route, including three category 2 ascents. The Côte de Moussages comes early on, while the Côte de la Barbatte and Côte de Saint-Victor-sur-Arlanc provide a springboard for attackers in the finale.

180km remaining from 180km

The flag has dropped and stage 2 of the 2019 Criterium du Dauphine is underway.

Wout van Aert is riding his first stage race of the season at the Dauphine and this morning, his Jumbo-Visma squad announced that he will line out in one more before turning his attention back to cyclo-cross. The Belgian has been named on Jumbo-Visma's Tour de France team, where Steven Kruijswijk will lead the GC challenge and Dylan Groenewegen will hunt sprint wins. George Bennett, Laurens De Plus and Tony Martin also feature but, as expected, there is no place for Primoz Roglic, who placed 4th at the Giro d'Italia. 

170km remaining from 180km

The peloton is on the day's opening climb, the category 2 Côte de Moussages (4km at 6.5%). A group of five riders has opened a small gap at the front: Mikael Chérel (AG2R-La Mondiale), Gregor Mühlberger (Bora-Hansgrohe), Lennard Hofstede (Jumbo-Visma), Julien Bernard (Trek-Segafredo) and Rémi Cavagna (Deceuninck-Quick Step).

A number of riders battle their way across to the leading quintet and all of a sudden, the day's early break has taken on a very different guise. Tom Dumoulin (Sunweb), Julian Alaphilippe (Deceuninck-QuickStep) and Michal Kwiatkowski (Ineos) are among the riders who have bridged across. 

165km remaining from 180km

Over the top of the Côte de Moussages, there are 14 riders clear of the peloton: Michal Kwiatkowski (Ineos), Jack Haig (Mitchelton-Scott), Benoit Cosnefroy (AG2R-La Mondiale), Julian Alaphilippe, Rémi Cavagna (Deceuninck-Quick Step), Emanuel Buchmann and Gregor Mühlberger (Bora-Hansgrohe), Gorka Izagirre (Astana), Ruben Fernandez (Movistar), David Gaudu (Groupama-FDJ), Sepp Kuss (Jumbo-Visma), Carl Fredrik Hagen (Lotto Soudal), Alessandro De Marchi (CCC) and Tom Dumoulin (Sunweb).

Julian Alaphilippe, incidentally, was first to the top of the climb, ahead of his teammate Cavagna, Fernandez and Kwiatkowski.

163km remaining from 180km

Kwiatkowski has since sat up and waited for the  peloton. The 13 remaining escapees have stretched their lead over the peloton out to 45 seconds.

160km remaining from 180km

The baker's dozen in front extend their lead to 55 seconds over the peloton.

Ineos have taken up the reins of pursuit in the peloton, and their work is keeping the break's lead at 55 seconds for the time being.

152km remaining from 180km

Dumoulin, Alaphilippe and the escapees are sticking to their task at the head of the race and their lead continues to hover around the one-minute mark.

The Critérium du Dauphiné is the essential pre-Tour de France dress rehearsal, but it is also much more than that, as 1990 winner Philippa York explains. "I think what most people forgot about the Critérium de Dauphiné is that it’s France’s second biggest stage race. It’s an important event and its reach and notoriety with the general public aren’t to be underestimated." Read the article here.

It's a chilly, overcast day on the Dauphine, with the temperature hovering around 11°C. The escapees, still with a minute in hand, are en route to the day's second ascent, the category 3 Côte de la Martel (2.4km at 5.7%).

149km remaining from 180km

A puncture for Chris Froome (Ineos) in the peloton on the approach to the Martel. Kwiatkowski stops to pace his leader back up to the bunch. The incident sees Ineos briefly knock off their pace and the break's lead stretches out slightly to 1:15.

143km remaining from 180km

Alaphilippe is first to the top of the Martel, ahead of Alessandro De Marchi. The escapees remain a little over a minute clear of the peloton.

138km remaining from 180km

The Dauphine was a late addition to Tom Dumoulin's race programme after he was forced out of the Giro d'Italia following his crash in Frascati on stage 4. The Dutchman is in the Alps this week looking to build form ahead of the Tour de France and has evidently decided that the best way to do so is by racing in front. 

A reminder of the men at the head of the race, with a lead of 1:00 over the peloton: Jack Haig (Mitchelton-Scott), Benoit Cosnefroy (AG2R-La Mondiale), Julian Alaphilippe, Rémi Cavagna (Deceuninck-Quick Step), Emanuel Buchmann and Gregor Mühlberger (Bora-Hansgrohe), Gorka Izagirre (Astana), Ruben Fernandez (Movistar), David Gaudu (Groupama-FDJ), Sepp Kuss (Jumbo-Visma), Carl Fredrik Hagen (Lotto Soudal), Alessandro De Marchi (CCC) and Tom Dumoulin (Sunweb).

134km remaining from 180km

The escapees are on the category 3 Côte de Cheylade with a lead of 1:30 over the main peloton.

132km remaining from 180km

Alaphilippe continues to mop up king of the mountains points. The Frenchman beats De Marchi to the top of the Côte de Cheylade, where the peloton now trails by 1:50.

It's a dreary day on the Dauphine, with rain now falling steadily over the race. Three of the day's eight classified climbs have been tackled, though the road rises and dips all day long. The next classified ascent will be the category 4 Côte de la Tourbière du Jolan.

122km remaining from 180km

Ineos continue to set the tempo in the peloton, 1:50 down on the 13 leaders.

117km remaining from 180km

Steve Cummings (Dimension Data) has abandoned the race a little over 60km into today's stage.

113km remaining from 180km

Alaphilippe, by the way, picked up another point atop the category 4 Côte de la Tourbière du Jolan. The break's lead, meanwhile, has been shaved back to 1:30.

Richie Porte (Trek-Segafredo) came home safely in the peloton on yesterday's opening stage, though he is mindful that bigger tests await later in the week. The Australian also welcomed the likely arrival of Vincenzo Nibali at his team in 2020. "I've always got along well with him and you've got to have respect for a guy with a palmares like that, and if he comes it's good for us and our team," Porte said. Read the full story here.

110km remaining from 180km

Five out of five for Julian Alaphilippe, who picks up the maximum two point atop the Côte de Chavanon. The break's lead has come down slightly, however, and now stands at 1:05.

105km remaining from 180km

This has been a brutally tough day on the Dauphine, and letour.fr reports some six further abandons, including Nacer Bouhanni and his Cofidis teammate Geoffrey Soupe. Tim Declercq (Deceuninck-Quick Step), Maarten Wynants (Jumbo-Visma), Feng Chun Kai (Bahrain-Merida) and Fabien Doubey (Wanty-Groupe Gobert) have also climbed off.

Meanwhile, the main peloton has split under Team Ineos' impetus. Philippe Gilbert (Deceuninck-QuickStep) is among those caught behind.

99km remaining from 180km

Into the final 100 kilometres. The front part of the  peloton is 55 seconds behind the escapees, while the third group on the road is a further 20 seconds back.

It's been a wickedly fast stage thus far. After two hours of racing, the average speed is 44.8kph, while the leading group covered some 47.5km in the second hour of racing.

92km remaining from 180km

The 13 leaders still have 56 seconds in hand on the front of the peloton, which includes yellow jersey Boasson Hagen. The second part of the peloton is now 1:25 behind.

87km remaining from 180km

The unity of the break is beginning to fragment as the peloton draws a little closer. Remi Cavagna attacks from the break at the feed. Cosnefroy, Alaphilippe, Hagen and De Marchi set out in pursuit.

Cavagna continues his solo effort, with his teammate Alaphilippe sitting comfortably in the chasing group of four behind him. The pace has abated slightly in the main peloton, which has reformed after its earlier split.

83km remaining from 180km

Cavagna has been joined on the front by Alaphilippe, Hagen, De Marchi and Cosnefoy. This quintet has a lead of 25 seconds over the rest of the break and 1:35 over a reformed peloton.

80km remaining from 180km

An overview of the situation with 50 miles to race:

The five men out in front are: Benoit Cosnefroy (AG2R-La Mondiale), Julian Alaphilippe, Rémi Cavagna (Deceuninck-QuickStep), Carl Fredrik Hagen (Lotto Soudal) and Alessandro De Marchi (CCC).

Jack Haig (Mitchelton-Scott), Emanuel Buchmann and Gregor Mühlberger (Bora-hansgrohe), Gorka Izagirre (Astana), Ruben Fernandez (Movistar), David Gaudu (Groupama-FDJ), Sepp Kuss (Jumbo-Visma) and Tom Dumoulin (Sunweb) are 25 seconds back.

The peloton is at 1:35.

75km remaining from 180km

Team Ineos continue to lead the main peloton, 1:35 down on the escapees. The leaders are approaching Brioude, hometown of one Romain Bardet.

Gaudu, Haig, Dumoulin, Izagirre, Fernandez, Muhlberger, Buchmann and Kuss aren't giving up the ghost. The chasers are just 18 seconds down on Alaphilippe et al.

Away from the Dauphine, Sunweb have confirmed that Dumoulin's teammate Wilco Kelderman will return to racing at the Tour de Suisse next week. Kelderman sustained a broken collarbone and fractured vertebra in a crash at the Volta a Catalunya in March.

63km remaining from 180km

The front two groups have reunited, leaving 13 riders at the head of the race once again. Benoit Cosnefroy (AG2R-La Mondiale), Julian Alaphilippe, Rémi Cavagna (Deceuninck-QuickStep), Carl Fredrik Hagen (Lotto Soudal), Alessandro De Marchi (CCC), Jack Haig (Mitchelton-Scott), Emanuel Buchmann and Gregor Mühlberger (Bora-hansgrohe), Gorka Izagirre (Astana), Ruben Fernandez (Movistar), David Gaudu (Groupama-FDJ), Sepp Kuss (Jumbo-Visma) and Tom Dumoulin (Sunweb) have 1:35 in hand on the peloton.

The two groups reunited on the fast approach to the category 3 Côte de la Baraque but the break might well fragment once again on its slopes (3.9km at 5.3%) as Tom Dumoulin hits the front and begins to turn the screw.

53km remaining from 180km

Dumoulin, Gaudu, Izagirre and Buchmann have forged clear of their fellow escapees on the Côte de la Baraque.

This quartet of strongmen looks to be opening a decisive gap over Alaphilippe and company. Dumoulin, Gaudu, Izagirre and Buchmann have almost a minute in hand on the rest of the break as they approach the summit of the climb.

51km remaining from 180km

Izagirre leads Gaudu, Dumoulin and Buchmann over the top of the climb. They have over a minute in hand on the rest of the escapees, who are on the point of being swept up by the peloton.

49km remaining from 180km

With the exception of De Marchi, who continues to chase alone, the rest of the break has been caught by the peloton, which is 1:23 behind Dumoulin, Buchmann, Gaudu and Izagirre.

46km remaining from 180km

EF Education First have joined Ineos at the head of the peloton, 1:10 down on the four leaders. De Marchi, meanwhile, is chasing grimly, and is only 10 seconds or so behind Dumoulin, Buchmann, Izagirre and Gaudu.

45km remaining from 180km

De Marchi has caught the leaders, leaving five riders at the head of the race with an advantage of 1:16 over the peloton.

42km remaining from 180km

The peloton has been whittled down considerably on this most attritional day at the Criterium du Dauphine. They are on the category 2 Côte de la Barbatte, 50 seconds down on the five leaders.

De Marchi has been dropped from the break on the Barbatte, where Buchmann sets the tempo at the front.

42km remaining from 180km

Gorka Izagirre (Astana) leads over the Côte de la Barbatte. Together with Tom Dumoulin (Sunweb), Emanuel Buchmann (Bora-Hansgrohe) and David Gaudu (Groupama-FDJ), he has 45 seconds in hand on a peloton that is being led by Michal Kwiatkowski (Ineos).

40km remaining from 180km

The break's lead is coming down gradually and now stands at 26 seconds over an Ineos-led peloton.

There is scarcely a metre of flat remaining on today's route but there is just one classified climb still on the agenda, the category 2 Côte de Saint-Victor-sur-Arlanc. The climb average 9.4% over its 3.1km and the summit comes just 18km from the finish in Craponne-sur-Arzon.

36km remaining from 180km

It's a severely reduced peloton of 50 or so riders that is closing to within touching distance of the four leaders. 16 seconds the gap for Dumoulin et al.

35km remaining from 180km

The adventure ends for Dumoulin, Gaudu, Buchmann and Izagirre as they are caught by the bunch.

Serge Pauwels (CCC) is immediately on the attack as soon as the break is caught, and the Belgian has brought a group of five riders with him, with more trying to bridge across.

Petr Vakoc (Deceuninck-QuickStep), Darwin Atampuma (Cofidis), Dylan Teuns (Bahrain-Merida) and Alexey Lutsenko (Astana) are among the riders off the front but they have only a marginal gap over the peloton.

32km remaining from 180km

Ten riders in front with a lead of 18 seconds over the peloton: Darwin Atapuma (Cofidis), Rudy Molard (Groupama-FDJ), Guillaume Martin (Wanty-Groupe Gobert), Robert Power (Sunweb), Dylan Teuns (Bahrain-Merida), Mickael Cherel (AG2R La Mondiale), Petr Vakoc (Deceuninck-QuickStep), Alexey Lutsenko (Astana), Pawel Bernas, Serge Pauwels (CCC).

The escapees are through the intermediate sprint at La Chaise Dieu amid low cloud and mist. Philippe Gilbert (Deceunink-QuickStep) and Nils Politt (Katusha-Alpecin) have managed to bridge across to swell the front group to 12 riders.

29km remaining from 180km

The twelve leaders have stretched their buffer out to 25 seconds over the main peloton. Lutsenko, incidentally, won the intermediate sprint at La Chaise-Dieu.

25km remaining from 180km

Pert Vakoc sets the pace on the long descent from the sprint at La Chaise-Dieu, and the Czech has forced a small split in the front group. Gilbert, Cherel, Martin, Pauwels, Power and Teuns are all at the front.

22km remaining from 180km

Gilbert puts in a long, long turn at the head of the break. Kwiatkowski sets the pace at the front of the peloton, which is now 54 seconds down on the leaders.

21km remaining from 180km

Vakoc, Gilbert, Power, Pauwels, Martin, Teuns and Cherel hit the base of the day's final classified climb, the Côte de Saint-Victor-sur-Arlanc. They have a handful of seconds in hand on the rest of the break and 48 in hand on the peloton.

Serge Pauwels forces the pace with Gilbert and Teuns on his wheel. Vakoc, Cherel, Martin and Lutsenko are also at the head of the race, 40 seconds clear of the peloton.

20km remaining from 180km

There are only 30 riders or so left in the yellow jersey group on this stiff climb. Out in front, Lutsenko sets the pace with Teuns, Gilbert, Vakoc, Cherel, Pauwels and Guillaume Martin on his wheel.

EF Education First are setting the tempo in the yellow jersey group, with Alberto Bettiol forcing the pace on behalf of Michael Woods.

19km remaining from 180km

Guillaume Martin accelerates out of the front group and only Dylan Teuns can follow him. They have opened a small gap over their fellow escapees, but the yellow jersey group is just 19 seconds behind.

Edvald Boasson Hagen has been distanced from the severely reduced peloton, and the Norwegian risks losing his yellow jersey.

Guillaume Martin and Teuns have a lead of 150 metres or so over Lutsenko and Cherel, with the reduced group of favourites only 30 seconds or so behind.

18km remaining from 180km

Guillaume Martin and Dylan Teuns lead over the Côte de Saint-Victor-sur-Arlanc with a buffer of 15 seconds or so over Lutsenko and Cherel.

Thibaut Pinot has attacked over the climb with Michael Woods on his wheel. Chris Froome leads a very reduced chasing group just a little behnd them.

Thibaut Pinot has attacked over the climb with Michael Woods on his wheel. Chris Froome leads a very reduced chasing group just a little behnd them.

Thibaut Pinot has attacked over the climb with Michael Woods on his wheel. Chris Froome leads a very reduced chasing group just a little behnd them.

Thibaut Pinot has attacked over the climb with Michael Woods on his wheel. Chris Froome leads a very reduced chasing group just a little behnd them.

Thibaut Pinot has attacked over the climb with Michael Woods on his wheel. Chris Froome leads a very reduced chasing group just a little behnd them.

Thibaut Pinot has attacked over the climb with Michael Woods on his wheel. Chris Froome leads a very reduced chasing group just a little behnd them.

Thibaut Pinot has attacked over the climb with Michael Woods on his wheel. Chris Froome leads a very reduced chasing group just a little behnd them.

14km remaining from 180km

The television pictures missed the action in the group of favourites on the final climb. Pinot, Woods, Froome, Fuglsang and Quintana have a gap over Dan Martin and Romain Bardet, who have just been caught by a small group featuring Richie Porte, Tejay van Garderen and Steven Kruijswijk.

14km remaining from 180km

The television pictures missed the action in the group of favourites on the final climb. Pinot, Woods, Froome, Fuglsang and Quintana have a gap over Dan Martin and Romain Bardet, who have just been caught by a small group featuring Richie Porte, Tejay van Garderen and Steven Kruijswijk.

14km remaining from 180km

The television pictures missed the action in the group of favourites on the final climb. Pinot, Woods, Froome, Fuglsang and Quintana have a gap over Dan Martin and Romain Bardet, who have just been caught by a small group featuring Richie Porte, Tejay van Garderen and Steven Kruijswijk.

14km remaining from 180km

The television pictures missed the action in the group of favourites on the final climb. Pinot, Woods, Froome, Fuglsang and Quintana have a gap over Dan Martin and Romain Bardet, who have just been caught by a small group featuring Richie Porte, Tejay van Garderen and Steven Kruijswijk.

10km remaining from 180km

Guillaume Martin and Dylan Teuns have 17 seconds on the Chris Froome-Thibaut Pinot group, while Romain Bardet, Dan Martin and Richie Porte are 41 seconds back. Yellow jersey Edvald Boasson Hagen is more than a minute back and destined to lose his overall lead.

8km remaining from 180km

Fuglsang, Froome, Pinot, Quintana, Lutsensko, Adam Yates, Wout Poels and Michael Woods are in the second group on the road, 17 seconds behind the leaders Guillaume Martin and Dylan Teuns.

7km remaining from 180km

Guillaume Martin and Teuns grind their way along a tough false flat with a lead of 19 seconds over the Froome group. Bardet, Dan Martin, Richie Porte et al are at 43 seconds.

6km remaining from 180km

The Froome group is within sight of the two leaders, but the gap remains at 23 seconds. Froome, Quintana et al are finding coming cause for the time being as they seek to gain ground on Bardet, Dan Martin, Porte and Kruijswijk.

5km remaining from 180km

Into the final 5km for Guillaume Martin and Teuns, who have 22 seconds in hand on the chasers. Pinot attacks from the chasing group with Lutsenko on his wheel.

4km remaining from 180km

Michael Woods bridges across to Pinot and Lutsenko. This trio is 20 seconds down on Martin and Teuns, with Froome, Quintana, Adam Yates, Fuglsang, Petr Vakoc and Wout Poels just behind.

3km remaining from 180km

Bardet, Porte and Dan Martin, meanwhile, are conceding further ground. They are now 50 seconds behind the leaders and 30 down on the Froome group.

2km remaining from 180km

Pinot, Lutsenko and Woods are brought back by the Froome group. The Frnechman has another dig but nobody can snap the elastic. Guillaume Martin and Teuns, meanwhile, remain 18 seconds clear of their pursuers.

1km remaining from 180km

Into the final kilometre for Guillaume Martin and Dylan Teuns. Unless they indulge in a game of cat and mouse, one of this duo will take the stage honours.

Dylan Teuns leads into the finishing straight but Guillaume Martin opens his sprint from distance...

Dylan Teuns (Bahrain-Merida) wins stage 2 of Criterium du Dauphine.

Guillaume Martin (Wanty-Groupe Gobert) is pipped to the spoils and has to settle for second place.

Jakob Fuglsang (Astana) wins the sprint for third ahead of Thibaut Pinot (Groupama-FDJ), 12 seconds down on Teuns. Froome, Quintana and Adam Yates also finished in the same time.

Philippe Gilbert leads home the Dan Martin, Romain Bardet and Richie Porte group, 46 seconds down on Teuns.

Edvald Boasson Hagen comes home 1:48 down on Teuns. The Norwegian loses his maillot jaune to Teuns.

Dylan Teuns speaks: "This is a special one. I had to wait long, almost 24 months to get the victory again. It’s also like a really nice victory. I’m super happy with it. From the gun some big names went in a breakaway. Ineos did a really hard pace to control this breakaway and bring it back. I saw they were a bit tired. There were guys going and I just followed. There was a possibility for a new breakaway. On the last climb it was just about making the difference. [Guillame Martin] was a good companion in the break. We were the strongest on the steep climb and in the end it was a man on man sprint and I’m super happy I could finish it off. It’s a dream come true to have the yellow jersey of the Dauphiné and to win my first lion."

Result:

1 Dylan Teuns (Bel) Bahrain-Merida 4:12:41
2 Guillaume Martin (Fra) Wanty-Gobert
3 Jakob Fuglsang (Den) Astana Pro Team 0:00:13
4 Thibaut Pinot (Fra) Groupama-FDJ
5 Michael Woods (Can) EF Education First
6 Alexey Lutsenko (Kaz) Astana Pro Team
7 Petr Vakoc (Cze) Deceuninck-QuickStep
8 Nairo Quintana (Col) Movistar Team
9 Wout Poels (Ned) Team Ineos
10 Adam Yates (GBr) Mitchelton-Scott

General classification:

1 Dylan Teuns (Bel) Bahrain-Merida 7:37:03
2 Guillaume Martin (Fra) Wanty-Gobert 0:00:03
3 Jakob Fuglsang (Den) Astana Pro Team 0:00:20
4 Alexey Lutsenko (Kaz) Astana Pro Team 0:00:21
5 Nairo Quintana (Col) Movistar Team 0:00:24
6 Michael Woods (Can) EF Education First
7 Wout Poels (Ned) Team Ineos
8 Chris Froome (GBr) Team Ineos
9 Thibaut Pinot (Fra) Groupama-FDJ
10 Adam Yates (GBr) Mitchelton-Scott

Thanks for following our live coverage this afternoon on Cyclingnews. We'll be back with more tomorrow. In the meantime, you can read a full report, results and pictures from today's stage here.