Jonas Vingegaard moves into second at Critérium du Dauphiné after runner-up spot in chrono

Tour de France title holder Jonas Vingegaard grabbed the Critérium du Dauphiné by the scruff of the neck, posting the best result of the GC men at Wednesday’s time trial to move into second overall. Another Danish rider Mikkel Bjerg, claimed the day’s flowers and the yellow jersey with a dominant ride, rolling 31.1 decidedly-non-flat kilometres at 49.804 kph.

The Course

There wasn’t a flat kilometre among the 31.1 km of Wednesday’s affair. Immediately after the start in Cours, the riders climbed 2.2-km, 4.7-percent Col de Croix. After its descent, there was a rolling middle section before a 11.6-km gradual climb to the finish in Belmont-de-la-Loirein. The intermediate times were taken at the 10.5 and 19.5 km points. Jonas Vingegaard was expected to stamp his authority on the race in this chrono.

The King of the Mountains jersey holder Donovan Grondin was the first down the start ramp, but he was overtaken by several fellows. Early in the game, Ineos’ Jonathan Castroviejo was on the hotseat with 38:33. Soon Rémi Cavagna was ensconced on the throne with 37:55.

Great ride and time from @remicav, who goes into the #Dauphine hot seat having stopped the clock in 37:55, more than 30 seconds better than the previous holder of the best result.

Photo: @GettySport pic.twitter.com/6aD6JeRoij

— Soudal Quick-Step Pro Cycling Team (@soudalquickstep) June 7, 2023

Once Vingegaard got rolling, the Dane cracked the Frenchman’s best time at the first intermediate mark. Other GC hopefuls Dani Martinez, Ben O’Connor and Adam Yates were also on fine rides. Jumbo-Visma’s Tour de France champion fell a second behind Cavagna at Time Check 2.

It was another Dane, Mikkel Bjerg of UAE-Emirates, who usurped Cavagna’s spot after posting 37:28. His compatriot slotted into second with 37:40. Those 12 seconds separate the two countrymen at the top of the GC.

Thursday’s route positions three categorized climbs in its latter half, with a Cat. 2 peaking 14 km from the finish line.

75th Critérium du Dauphiné Stage 4
1) Mikkel Bjerg (Denmark/UAE-Emirates) 37:28
2) Jonas Vingegaard (Denmark/Jumbo-Visma) +0:12
3) Rémi Cavagna (France/Soudal-Quick Step) +0:27

75th Critérium du Dauphiné GC
1) Mikkel Bjerg (Denmark/UAE-Emirates) 12:59:19
2) Jonas Vingegaard (Denmark/Jumbo-Visma) +0:12
3) Fred Wright (Great Britain/Bahrain-Victorious) +0:34