Critérium du Dauphiné (st. 2)

Colombian from Movistar Team 8th in Craponne-sur-Arzon inside much-reduced GC group, sits now 24" behind day's winner and GC leader Teuns (TBM); Spaniard into luxury break -including Dumoulin, Alaphilippe, Gorka Izagirre- for more than 100km.

A well-designed, mid-mountain route and good attitude from some of the biggest names in the sport offered a nice spectacle on the way towards Craponne-sur-Arzon, end of stage two in the 2019 Critérium du Dauphiné, over 180km, eight rated ascents and rain + cold which made for an even more thrilling day.

Dylan Teuns (TBM) bested Guillaume Martin (WGG) at the finishing sprint, the duo ahead of a GC group full of big names including a solid Nairo Quintana (Movistar Team). The Colombian, well covered by his team-mates before the last two climbs -Oliveira and Verona as last pieces of support-, took turns at the lead of an echelon with only nine riders consolidated after the last climb, Saint-Victor-sur-Arlanc (Cat-2). Before that, and quite far from flinching under the bad weather, Rubén Fernández profited from the early climbs to join a select, 13-man breakaway which spent half the day’s route ahead of the main field.

The effort and suffering from Quintana helped him climbing up to fifth overall, 24″ behind Teuns, before a crucial ITT in Roanne on Wednesday 26th) and the three mountain stages in the weekend. Before that, the sprinters will take charge of the fireworks en route to Riom on Tuesday’s stage three (177km).

Cover picture (c): BettiniPhoto