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Heartbreak for intrepid Belgian fugitive in Critérium du Dauphiné’s first stage

Christophe Laporte pips Rune Herregodts at the line

Poor Rune Herregodts (Belgium/Intermarché-Circus-Wanty) came inches of winning Sunday’s first stage of the 75th Critérium du Dauphiné after spending all day in the breakaway, but was swamped at the last second and placed third to Christophe Laporte, who’ll wear the first yellow jersey.

The Course

The first stage offered five Cat. 4 climbs over 158 km in a route around Chambon-sur-Lac. At the 86-km mark the riders would enter the first of three 23-km circuits, each with a Cat. 4; even though a 6-km climb led to it, only 1-km, 6.1 percent Côte du Rocher de l’Aigle was categorized. After the final ascent of Côte du Rocher de l’Aigle, the riders would descend into Chambon-sur-Lac for the finish.

The first day of a prestigious stage race wasn’t likely to coax a large breakaway to set a course for adventure, and sure enough, only a quintet bothered. Frenchman Donavan Grondin of Arkéa Samsic took the KOM lead on the road by tipping over Côte du Mont-Dore and Côte de la Stele first. Ineos’ Ethan Hayter was the first rider to abandon after two crashes. The five escapees entered the circuits with a 2:30 lead.

Grondin took his third KOM point in a row, ensuring a mountains jersey on Monday. The rain showed up with intent.

The rain fell hard enough to create a mist on the hardtop

The second lap saw Grondin and another fugitive drop back. Jumbo-Visma, Jayco-AlUla and Bora-Hansgrohe powered the peloton. Sprinters were getting dropped. Soudal-Quick Step grabbed the reins. All the fugitives except Rune Herregodts submitted to Jumbo’s will. The Belgian dropped like a stone on the wet roads, with the peloton a little more cautious behind him. It looked like he had pulled off the coup, but his hopes were dashed just before the line.

Of the pre-race favourites, only Enric Mas and Mikel Landa lost time on Sunday.

Monday is another hilly route, with an uncategorized climb to the finish in La Chaise-Dieu.

75th Critérium du Dauphiné Stage 1
1) Christophe Laporte (France/Jumbo-Visma) 3:43:30
2) Matteo Trentin (Italy/UAE Team Emirates) s.t.
3) Rune Herregodts (Belgium/Intermarché-Circus-Wanty) s.t