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Australia’s Rohan Dennis has retained the yellow jersey after Stage 4 of the Criterium du Dauphine, which was taken out by Nacer Bouhanni.
In a bunch sprint, after a breakaway which lasted over 200 kilometres, the Australian finished ahead of Tejay Van Garderen to keep the yellow jersey for a second day.
Bouhanni took his second win for the event. With 300 metres to go the Frenchman powered away from the field to maintain his lead in the green jersey classification.
Earlier, a two-man breakaway led by almost seevn minutes at one part of the stage.
With 30 kilometres to go that lead was five minutes, but the peloton started to attack the lead as Bouhanni’s Team Cofidis came to the front.
At the final climb of the day the leading two were caught by the peloton, and attacks came. Fortunately for the sprinters, and Dennis, each attack was nullified by the peloton.
Tomorrow the race changes completely as the mountain stages start.
Can Dennis hold on? Find out as The Roar covers Stage 5 live tomorrow night.
Australia’s Rohan Dennis will look to keep hold of the yellow jersey when Stage 4 of the Criterium du Dauphine is run and won tonight in France. Join The Roar for all the action from 12 midnight (AEST).
For the second time in three years, Adelaide-born Dennis is in yellow at the lead-in event to the Tour de France.
In 2013 he rode a superb time trial to take the lead after Stage 4 of the event. Last night his BMC team won the team time trial and secured the South Australian his second yellow jersey.
Tonight, with the longest stage in the Criterium, he will try to defend it.
The 228 km stage from Anneyron – Porte de DromArdeche to Sisteron, with two category 4 climbs and one category 3 climb, should be a stage for the sprinters or the breakaway.
In the last 15 kilometres, the field has to climb the Cote de la Marquise, a category 4 with a peak of 572m. If the sprinters can clear that without losing time to the peloton, then they should fight it out for the win.
If they don’t, and there are plenty of attacks, then it could be a stage for good climbers who can sprint at the end – such as Simon Gerrans.
Rain is expected towards the second half of the stage, which could create trouble in the peloton and allow a breakaway to get away.
It’s a perfect stage for Dennis to hold on to his lead. He should hold on in the final climb and keep the gap he has over the rest of the field.
If it comes down to a bunch sprint, Nacer Bouhanni is the favourite. He won Stage 2 and looks to be the best sprinter in the field at the event.
From the Aussie contingent, Gerrans looks to be the best hope if the sprinters are eliminated on the final climb.
It should be a cracking stage in the Criterium as an Aussie protects the yellow jersey. Join us for all the action from 12 midnight (AEST).
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