64th Critérium Du Dauphiné: Wiggins Leads

Defending champion in the Criterium du Dauphine Bradley Wiggins now leads the Dauphine after stage 1 won by BMC’s Cadel Evans.

WIGGINS IN YELLOW AFTER FIRST STAGE

Australian Tour de France Champion Cadel Evans fired a warning shot to those looking to defeat him in this years Tour de France after a confidence boosting win on stage 1 of the Dauphine. While the victory was not enough to put him in yellow, he is now only a second down on the man who is, Britain’s Bradley Wiggins.

Evans (BMC) put his reputation as a cautious rider behind him by being part of the trio of riders that escaped on the descent into the finish in Saint-Valliers, holding on to the finish to win a lengthy sprint to the line. Jerome Coppel (Saur-Sojasun) and Andrey Kashechkin (Astana) were the other riders in the break. Realising what a danger Evans was, Team Sky lead the chase after the leading trio and at the finish line, the gap between Evans and the front of what was left of the peloton was only four seconds.

Another second more and Evans would have been in Yellow but it was Wiggins who was called onto the podium to don the leaders jersey.

Wiggins told the team Sky website afterwards “It’s hard to look too much into the results today. I knew Cadel would be good as the Tour de France is coming up and he’s always good at the Tour. There’s no surprise there. There’s still a long way to the Tour. That’s the race most guys are preparing for. I’m just trying to concentrate on my own race and I stayed safe today in the front and felt good. It’s hard not to compete in this race. I’d rather come to the bike race and go flat out. If I wasn’t doing that I’d have to go training.”

Evans: “The work out has been good”. While the stage victory was not his main objective of the day, Evans crossed the line in first position after he joined two other riders on the descent after the final obstacle of the stage, the third category Côte de la Sizeranne, 9km from the finish “Sometimes you see the opportunities and you have to try something and that’s what I did.”

Now ranked second in the overall ranking, one second behind the new race’s leader Bradley Wiggins (Sky Procycling), the defending Tour de France champion has a better idea about his current shape for his first race since Tour de Romandie ”That shows the work I have been doing has been good but I still have a lot of work to do and improve before we get to the Tour.”

Stage 1

1. Cadel Evans BMC Racing Team 04:36:21
2. J̩rome Coppel Saur РSojasun
3. Andrey Kashechkin Astana Pro Team
4. Nacer Bouhanni Equipe Cycliste FDJ – BigMat @ 4 secs
5. Tony Gallopin RadioShack – Nissan
6. Borut Bozic Astana Pro Team
7. Gerald Ciolek Omega Pharma – Quickstep
8. Julien Simon Saur – Sojasun
9. Daniele Ratto Liquigas – Cannondale
10. Edvald Boasson Hagen Sky Procycling

61. Bradley Wiggins Sky Procycling @ same time

OVERALL
1. Bradley Wiggins Sky Procycling 04:43:03
2. Cadel Evans BMC Racing Team 00:01
3. Andriy Grivko Astana Pro Team 00:02
4. Carlos Barredo Llamazales Rabobank Cycling Team
5. Tony Martin Omega Pharma – Quickstep 00:04
6. Paul Martens Rabobank Cycling Team
7. Sylvain Chavanel Omega Pharma – Quickstep 00:05
8. J̩rome Coppel Saur РSojasun 00:06
9. Andrey Amador Bakkazakova Movistar Team
10. Edvald Boasson Hagen Sky Procycling

More later…

PROLOGUE

Winner of the Circuit de la Sarthe this year, Australian Luke Durbridge won his first world Tour event after going fastest in the 5.7km prologue of the Dauphiné on a 5.7km course in Grenoble. The 21 year old Australian finished a second clear of defending champion Bradley Wiggins who has already put himself in the role of the hot favourite for the overall classification.

The Australian time trial champion finished ahead of his compatriots Cadel Evans (BMC) and Michael Rogers (SKY) while the rider who dissapointed was World champion Tony Martin (Quickstep) who was pretty satisfied himself with his time of 6.43, five seconds down on Durbridge.

Bradley Wiggins told the team Sky website afterwards admitted that he was happy to be back racing. “I’m happy enough to finish second but it’s about the whole week. I couldn’t have asked for better today,” he said. “It’s always the same with prologues. With riders going three hours apart there’s always different conditions. The wind changed massively today. Some guys had disadvantages on the course elsewhere at the start and also advantages. That changed and you can’t really compare rides. At the end of the day the result is the result and that’s just the pick of prologues.”

“I’m just pleased it stayed dry really because it’s never nice riding a prologue in the rain. It was perfect. I stayed safe and I’m where I want to be at the moment and I’m just trying to enjoy it. We’re getting close now. It’s always nice when the goal is coming up. We’ve done all the work now and it’s been a long process. We’re four weeks away from the Tour now so there’s not much training to do. It’s nice that that’s all done and we can race now.”

First world Tour Win for Durbridge

Meanwhile, the winner  Luke Durbridge  said “I’m really, really happy. This is the most important win of my career. The team was fantastic today. They put no pressure on me. They never do. It’s been really great. They helped me to develop to a place where I could take this win today.”

The nearly flat 5.7 kilometer course in Grenoble featured minimal corners or other technical aspects. Durbridge covered the out-and-back in 6:38, one second faster than Wiggins. “I had ridden the course beforehand, and I knew the few corners well,” explained Durbridge. “I worked really hard during the week with my coach Simon Jones. We focused specifically on the start and gauging my effort. I normally go super hard from the start line, like a trackster, but today I brought it back a little at the start. The tactic paid dividends for me in the long run. I had good legs all the way to the finish.”

An early starter, Durbridge spent more than half the race in the virtual ‘hot seat’ as he waited for the other stage favorites to cross the line. “I didn’t worry about the riders that were to come too much,” said Durbridge. “I was just chilling out as I waited.I went to the car for to get my recovery drink. I put on warm clothes, sat around and waited some more. Finally, I went back to the bus with everyone, and we all watched the last couple of riders finish.”

“There were about ten of us together, and when Wiggins was out on the course, we worked out the time he would need to have to come through the final corner to unseat me,” continued Durbridge. “He came through at the time we had identified, so we knew it would be close. When he crossed the line one second down, the bus erupted. It was a really special moment.”

Durbridge is being realistic about the yellow jersey he earned today and knows he might have to let it go again tomorrow; however, he does have his eye on another objective this week. “There’s a mid-week individual time trial,” he said. “I want to go well there, too.”

RESULT

1 Luke Durbridge Orica – GreenEDGE 00:06:39
2 Bradley Wiggins Sky Procycling 00:01
3 Andriy Grivko Astana Pro Team 00:03
4 Carlos Barredo Llamazales Rabobank Cycling Team @ same time
5 Tony Martin Omega Pharma – Quickstep 00:05
6 Simon Gerrans Orica – GreenEDGE @ same time
7 Paul Martens Rabobank Cycling Team @ same time
8 Sylvain Chavanel Omega Pharma – Quickstep 00:06
9 Cadel Evans BMC Racing Team @ same time
10 Andrey Amador Bakkazakova Movistar Team 00:07
11 Edvald Boasson Hagen Sky Procycling @ same time
12 Lieuwe Westra Vacansoleil – DCM Pro Cycling Team @ same time
13 Richie Porte Sky Procycling 00:08
14 Rob Ruijgh Vacansoleil – DCM Pro Cycling Team 00:09
15 Anthony Roux Equipe Cycliste FDJ – BigMat @ same time
16 Gerald Ciolek Omega Pharma – Quickstep @ same time
17 Markel Irizar Aranburu RadioShack – Nissan @ same time
18 David Millar Garmin – Barracuda 00:10
19 Luis Leon Sanchez Gil Rabobank Cycling Team @ same time
20 Cyril Lemoine Saur – Sojasun @ same time
21 Bram Tankink Rabobank Cycling Team @ same time
22 Vincenzo Nibali Liquigas – Cannondale @ same time
23 Adam Leigh Howard Orica – GreenEDGE @ same time
24 Michael Rogers Sky Procycling @ same time
25 J̩rome Coppel Saur РSojasun 00:11
26 Vasil Kiryienka Movistar Team @ same time
27 Jurgen Van Den Broeck Lotto – Belisol Team @ same time
28 Ruben Plaza Molina Movistar Team @ same time
29 Blel Kadri Ag2R – La Mondiale 00:12
30 Arnaud Gerard Equipe Cycliste FDJ – BigMat @ same time
31 Tejay Van Garderen BMC Racing Team @ same time
32 Roger Kluge Argos-Shimano @ same time
33 John Degenkolb Argos-Shimano @ same time
34 Pieter Weening Orica – GreenEDGE @ same time
35 Daniel Teklehaymanot Orica – GreenEDGE 00:13
36 Nicki Sørensen Team Saxo Bank @ same time
37 Tony Gallopin RadioShack – Nissan @ same time
38 Philippe Gilbert BMC Racing Team @ same time
39 Steve Morabito BMC Racing Team 00:14
40 Kristjan Koren Liquigas – Cannondale @ same time
41 Egor Silin Astana Pro Team @ same time
42 Sebastien Rosseler Garmin – Barracuda @ same time
43 Michael Matthews Rabobank Cycling Team @ same time
44 Denis Menchov Katusha Team @ same time
45 Janez Brajkovic Astana Pro Team 00:15
46 George Hincapie BMC Racing Team @ same time
47 Rein Taaramäe Cofidis – Le Credit En Ligne 00:16
48 Christopher Froome Sky Procycling @ same time
49 Alexandre Geniez Argos-Shimano @ same time
50 Pierrick Fedrigo Equipe Cycliste FDJ – BigMat 00:17
51 Thomas Voeckler Europcar @ same time
52 Sylvain Georges Ag2R – La Mondiale @ same time
53 Bruno Manuel Silva Pires Team Saxo Bank @ same time
54 Danny Pate Sky Procycling 00:18
55 Rinaldo Nocentini Ag2R – La Mondiale @ same time
56 Alexander Rojas @ same time
57 Jos Van Emden Rabobank Cycling Team @ same time
58 Gorka Verdugo Marcotegui Euskaltel – Euskadi @ same time
59 Tiago Machado RadioShack – Nissan @ same time
60 Juan Jose Haedo Team Saxo Bank @ same time
61 Alexandre Vinokourov Astana Pro Team 00:19
62 Christophe Kern Europcar @ same time
63 Daniel Navarro Garcia Team Saxo Bank 00:20
64 Stijn Devolder Vacansoleil – DCM Pro Cycling Team @ same time
65 Bert Grabsch Omega Pharma – Quickstep @ same time
66 Matthieu Ladagnous Equipe Cycliste FDJ – BigMat 00:21
67 Wilco Kelderman Rabobank Cycling Team @ same time
68 Christophe Riblon Ag2R – La Mondiale @ same time
69 Maxim Iglinskiy Astana Pro Team 00:22
70 Amaël Moinard BMC Racing Team @ same time
71 Haimar Zubeldia Agirre RadioShack – Nissan @ same time
72 Hayden Roulston RadioShack – Nissan @ same time
73 R̩mi Pauriol Equipe Cycliste FDJ РBigMat @ same time
74 Thierry Hupond Argos-Shimano 00:23
75 Jelle Vanendert Lotto – Belisol Team @ same time
76 Julien Simon Saur – Sojasun @ same time
77 Christian Knees Sky Procycling @ same time
78 Maxim Belkov Katusha Team 00:24
79 Koldo Fernández De Larrea Garmin – Barracuda @ same time
80 Andrey Kashechkin Astana Pro Team @ same time
81 Nacer Bouhanni Equipe Cycliste FDJ – BigMat @ same time
82 Davide Cimolai Lampre – ISD @ same time
83 J̩rome Pineau Omega Pharma РQuickstep 00:25
84 Nicolas Vogondy Cofidis – Le Credit En Ligne @ same time
85 Yuriy Krivtsov Lampre – ISD @ same time
86 Maarten Tjallingii Rabobank Cycling Team @ same time
87 Jean-christophe Peraud Ag2R – La Mondiale 00:26
88 Stijn Vandenbergh Omega Pharma – Quickstep @ same time
89 Matthieu Sprick Argos-Shimano 00:27
90 Michel Kreder Garmin – Barracuda @ same time
91 Pierre Rolland Europcar @ same time
92 Manuel Quinziato BMC Racing Team @ same time
93 Juan Jose Cobo Acebo Movistar Team @ same time
94 Dmitriy Fofonov Astana Pro Team 00:28
95 Kanstantsin Siutsou Sky Procycling @ same time
96 Imanol Erviti Ollo Movistar Team @ same time
97 Michael Schar BMC Racing Team @ same time
98 Pello Bilbao Lopez De Armienta Euskaltel – Euskadi @ same time
99 Alberto Losada Alguacil Katusha Team @ same time
100 Maxime Bouet Ag2R – La Mondiale @ same time
101 Daniel Moreno Fernandéz Katusha Team @ same time
102 Andy Schleck RadioShack – Nissan 00:29
103 Marco Marzano Lampre – ISD @ same time
104 Jose Cayetano Sarmiento Tunarrosa Liquigas – Cannondale @ same time
105 Bert-jan Lindeman Vacansoleil – DCM Pro Cycling Team @ same time
106 Murilo Antonio Fischer Garmin – Barracuda @ same time
107 David Moncouti̩ Cofidis РLe Credit En Ligne @ same time
108 Egoi Martinez De Esteban Euskaltel – Euskadi 00:30
109 Gert Dockx Lotto – Belisol Team @ same time
110 Jorge Azanza Soto Euskaltel – Euskadi @ same time
111 Yoann Bagot Cofidis – Le Credit En Ligne @ same time
112 Guillaume Levarlet Saur – Sojasun @ same time
113 Simone Stortoni Lampre – ISD @ same time
114 Anthony Delaplace Saur – Sojasun @ same time
115 Kenny Dehaes Lotto – Belisol Team @ same time
116 Frederik Veuchelen Vacansoleil – DCM Pro Cycling Team @ same time
117 Samuel Sanchez Gonzalez Euskaltel – Euskadi @ same time
118 Sep Vanmarcke Garmin – Barracuda 00:31
119 David Tanner Team Saxo Bank @ same time
120 Leonardo Fabio Duque Cofidis – Le Credit En Ligne @ same time
121 Brice Feillu Saur – Sojasun @ same time
122 Alan Lezaun Perez Euskaltel – Euskadi 00:32
123 Simon Geschke Argos-Shimano @ same time
124 Maarten Neyens Lotto – Belisol Team @ same time
125 Pim Ligthart Vacansoleil – DCM Pro Cycling Team @ same time
126 Stefan Denifl Vacansoleil – DCM Pro Cycling Team 00:33
127 Cyril Gautier Europcar @ same time
128 Dominik Nerz Liquigas – Cannondale @ same time
129 Eduard Vorganov Katusha Team @ same time
130 Nicolas Edet Cofidis – Le Credit En Ligne @ same time
131 Daniel Martin Garmin – Barracuda @ same time
132 Yuri Trofimov Katusha Team @ same time
133 Kasper Larsen Klostergaard Team Saxo Bank 00:34
134 Travis Meyer Orica – GreenEDGE @ same time
135 David Lopez Garcia Movistar Team @ same time
136 Maxime Mederel Saur – Sojasun @ same time
137 Petr Ignatenko Katusha Team @ same time
138 Yaroslav Popovych RadioShack – Nissan 00:35
139 Arnold Jeannesson Equipe Cycliste FDJ – BigMat @ same time
140 Kevin De Weert Omega Pharma – Quickstep @ same time
141 Giovanni Bernaudeau Europcar @ same time
142 Daniele Ratto Liquigas – Cannondale @ same time
143 Davide Malacarne Europcar @ same time
144 Maciej Paterski Liquigas – Cannondale 00:36
145 Anthony Charteau Europcar @ same time
146 Frederik Willems Lotto – Belisol Team 00:37
147 Borut Bozic Astana Pro Team @ same time
148 Luis Angel Mate Mardones Cofidis – Le Credit En Ligne @ same time
149 Ricardo Garcia Ambroa Euskaltel – Euskadi @ same time
150 Jurgen Van De Walle Lotto – Belisol Team 00:38
151 Kevin Reza Europcar @ same time
152 Yukihiro Doi Argos-Shimano @ same time
153 Simon Clarke Orica – GreenEDGE 00:39
154 Daniele Pietropolli Lampre – ISD @ same time
155 Oleksandr Kvachuk Lampre – ISD @ same time
156 Christophe Le Mevel Garmin – Barracuda 00:40
157 Jesús Hernández Blazquez Team Saxo Bank @ same time
158 Matteo Carrara Vacansoleil – DCM Pro Cycling Team @ same time
159 Fabrice Jeandesboz Saur – Sojasun 00:41
160 R̩my Di Gregorio Cofidis РLe Credit En Ligne 00:42
161 Tosh Van Der Sande Lotto – Belisol Team @ same time
162 Arthur Vichot Equipe Cycliste FDJ – BigMat @ same time
163 Jonathan Cantwell Team Saxo Bank 00:44
164 Wesley Sulzberger Orica – GreenEDGE 00:45
165 Federico Canuti Liquigas – Cannondale @ same time
166 Denys Kostyuk Lampre – ISD @ same time
167 Matthew Lloyd Lampre – ISD 00:47
168 Xavier Florencio Katusha Team @ same time
169 Mikel Landa Meana Euskaltel – Euskadi 00:48
170 David Arroyo Duran Movistar Team 00:49
171 S̩bastien Hinault Ag2R РLa Mondiale 00:52
172 Mickael Cherel Ag2R – La Mondiale @ same time
173 Alessandro Vanotti Liquigas – Cannondale 00:54
174 Johannes Frohlinger Argos-Shimano @ same time
175 Dries Devenyns Omega Pharma – Quickstep 01:14