Breakaway member Pöstlberger (BOH), sprinter Colbrelli (TBV) only ones able to beat 'Bala' as he now sits third overall in France, showing great legs in the final series of climbs on Monday.
It was a bittersweet taste for the Movistar Team at the end of Monday’s racing as they came close to a win on stage two of the Critérium du Dauphiné (UCI WorldTour) with the everlasting Alejandro Valverde, 3rd at the finish of Saugues after a demanding 169km route, with five rated ascents, where ‘Bala’ continued to show his great form already seen at the 2021 spring campaign.
Lukas Pöstlberger (BOH), the only ‘survivor’ from a five-man morning breakaway, reached the line with barely 11″ over a 40-rider group containing the Telefónica-backed squad’s three main references: Mas, López and ‘Bala’, well supported until the decisive climb of Pourcheresse (Cat-2) by some good work from Erviti, Arcas, Rojas and Carlos Verona.
Alejandro responded well to the accelerations from Team Bahrain Victorious -whose sprinter, Sonny Colbrelli, led the bunch home for 2nd- in the last few climbs, yet the group he was part of couldn’t bring back the escapee nor picked up the pace to further skirmish the group. The Spaniard was still content, though, as he improves to 3rd overall in France.
The Dauphiné will witness a first duel between the sprinters in Saint-Haon on Tuesday (stage 3, 172.5km) before the crucial ITT, in Roche-la-Molière (16km), on Wednesday, where the first GC gaps will be seen.
Cover picture (c): BettiniPhoto