Stage 6 of the 2013 Criterium du Dauphine sees the peloton covering 143km from La Lechere-les-Bains to Grenoble in a stage that is far from flat, and will favour the opportunists after yesterday’s stage made for the GC contenders. Live updates will begin from 9.00pm AEST.
Stage 5 of the Criterium du Dauphine saw the leader’s jersey pass from the shoulders of Australia’s Rohan Dennis to race favourite Chris Froome, who put together a calculating and dominant performance on the day’s final climb to Valmorel.
In contrast with that Hors Categorie summit finish, the final 45km of today’s stage are without categorized climb.
Don’t expect the genuine GC contenders to do too much early; it’s looks to be too far for any one of them to stay away from the top of the day’s hard climbs to the finish in Grenoble, though many opportunists should be eyeing today off as a big chance to take a breakaway stage victory.
The day’s intermediate sprint point comes only 22km into the stage, in the middle of a flat and relatively unremarkable opening 60km.
Don’t be surprised if a large group of escapees forms thereafter, though, and is allowed to build a significant margin before the hills start. There are four categorized climbs in the day’s racing:
– The Cat 4 Cote d’Arvillard (2.2km @ 5.3%), summiting 60km in, and moving straight into;
– The Cat 1 Col du Barioz (7.1km @ 7.3%), 80km in;
– The Cat 2 Col des Ayes (3.8km @ 8.1%), starting immediately after a short descent, and finally;
– The Cat 4 Col des Mouilles (2.0km @ 6.1%), topping out 45km from the stage finish
So it’s probably not a stage expected to shake up the General Classification – led by Chris Froome, with teammate Richie Porte in second – but it will definitely still be a tester for the legs, and anyone who beats the peloton over the climbs will have earned their place on the road.
Surviving the next 45km alone though? That’s another question…
Join us as we pick up the action from 9.00pm AEST.
Damien Chamley
Roar Guru
As always, thanks for joining, and good night.
Damien Chamley
Roar Guru
That just about wraps things up here. Be sure to join us tomorrow as the peloton attacks the seventh stage of the Criterium du Dauphine. The 187km stage from Le Pont-de-Claix to Superdevoluy comprises five categorized climbs, including a summit finish and a traverse of l'Alpe d'Huez. It will be a decisive day in this race, but perhaps also our best indication of form yet in the lead-up to the 100th Tour de France.
Damien Chamley
Roar Guru
So, a day without significant movement in any of the race classifications in the end, but one full of action. Often, a breakaway will survive because it is allowed to do so by the peloton. They're the hollow days. Today, by contrast, brought a real struggle between the breakaway of four strong riders and a hard-chasing peloton. In the battle of attrition, the breakaway prevailed, and the spoils went to Thomas Voeckler, who was strong on the climbs, composed on the approach, and most importantly, had the legs in the final sprint.
Damien Chamley
Roar Guru
Finally, in the Young Riders' classification, Rohan Dennis still leads by 1'04 over Kwiatkowski, and 2'47 over Geniez.
Damien Chamley
Roar Guru
In the KOM, Damuseau still leads the charge, with a 25 point lead. After today's effort, though, Seeldrayers has moved up into joint second. Could Damuseau's illness be enough to keep him from the breakaway tomorrow?
Damien Chamley
Roar Guru
Meersman remains in green after today's stage, extending his lead over Chris Froome to 13. With a couple of big mountain stages remaining, though, I'd expect Froome to take a lot of points and probably surpass Meersman by the end of the race.
Damien Chamley
Roar Guru
Riders are still coming across the line, a long way adrift for a short stage without much climbing in the final 50km.
Damien Chamley
Roar Guru
So, there was no movement at the pointy end of the General Classification today, with Froome and Porte keeping things under control for Sky.
Damien Chamley
Roar Guru
Sillin and Seeldrayers really had nothing to give in that final sprint!
Damien Chamley
Roar Guru
Correction: Herrada took second in the stage! He was very late to respond to the final sprint, and not seeing him cross the line, I'd assumed he wasn't there, though the head-on camera shot has shown him flying past the two Astana riders in the final three or four seconds. My apologies there.
Damien Chamley
Roar Guru
We didn't see much of Christopher Froome today, which is only a good thing for him on a stage like this, and Sky was a constant in second place in the peloton.
Damien Chamley
Roar Guru
Omega-Pharma were looking the goods for some time, but when Chavanel and Martin dropped with the gap still at over a minute, it was game over.
Damien Chamley
Roar Guru
He seemed to be the catalyst for the break in the lead group as well. He'd spent several miles looking like he was trying to bring just enough disorder and frustration into the group of eight that it motivated the two Astana riders to attack and split it up. With the legs to make the junction, he'd halved the group and then just had to hope the peloton didn't catch them.
Damien Chamley
Roar Guru
That was clinical was Thomas Voeckler. Despite Astana having him beaten in the numbers game, he proved to be by far the strongest sprinter, and seemed to know it, looking very confident through the final five kilometers. He marked every move with composure, and when Seeldrayers launched the final sprint, he was on his wheel in an instant and breezed past him.
Damien Chamley
Roar Guru
Herrada could do nothing but watch as Voeckler took the stage easily - he was able to gap the two Astana riders by five or more lengths in the end. It looks like Hushovd managed to take fifth in the end after being challenged by Meersman.
Damien Chamley
Roar Guru
Victory for Thomas Voeckler, followed by Seeldrayers and Sillin!
Damien Chamley
Roar Guru
Seeldrayers opened it up, before Voeckler launches
Damien Chamley
Roar Guru
Voeckler's staying on second wheel, while Herrada watches from the back. Dark horse?
Damien Chamley
Roar Guru
Sillin gives a half-hearted attack under the 1km banner, and Seeldrayers is next to bork.
Damien Chamley
Roar Guru
Sillin and Seeldrayers are bookending the group with 1km to go.