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Team Sky’s Chris Froome has won the 2015 Criterium du Dauphine after taking out the final stage of the event on Sunday.
After attacking on the final climb, with just under three kilometres to go, Froome gained enough seconds over Tejay van Garderen to steal the jersey from the American.
It was a painful end for the American, who had done nothing wrong for the whole event. He just ran out of legs in the final kilometre when he needed to hold on.
In the end he lost by 10 seconds, which was the bonus Froome got for winning the stage.
The British rider has now won his second Dauphine and looks to be in good form heading into this year’s Tour de France – he won here in 2013 on his way to the Tour win a month later.
Early on, the stage was dominated by Tony Martin, who led in a breakaway for over 100 kilometres.
When he was caught, at the second to last climb of the day, another rider immediately broke away from the field.
Steven Cummings (MTN-Qhubeka) gained a minute lead before the final climb of the day, which was a category 1.
He held on until Froome attacked and struggled to keep up as the British rider rode away. Van Garderen also tried to hold on but was overtaken by Rui Costa and Simon Yates at the finish.
Those two taking the final time bonuses, and the loss of five seconds in the final 500 metres, cost the American dearly.
All eyes now focus on the Tour de France which starts in around three weeks’ time.
The Roar will have live coverage of every stage.
Anyone of up to five riders could win the Criterium du Dauphine as the field heads into the final stage tonight. Join The Roar for a live blog of the final stage from 11:45pm AEST.
After last night’s stage, and a win to Chris Froome from Team Sky, less than two minutes separate the top seven in the field.
With the final climb tonight a category 1 climb to the finish, it is still anyone’s race.
One rider who is out of it, is Vincenzo Nibali, the leader heading into last night’s stage.
He lost four minutes to Froome last night and is over three minutes behind the leader – Tejay van Garderen – heading into tonight.
That looks to be a tough task to bring back.
Van Garderen – from team BMC – took back the yellow jersey after finishing second in yesterday’s stage. He now needs to hold on for one more day to become the second American in two years to claim the title.
The stage itself is another mountain filled stage. Two category 2, two category 3, and a category 4 climb, are all ahead of the riders in the first 142 kilometres.
In the last ten kilometres, they have a category 1 climb, to the finish at Modane Valfrejus. This stage is primed for Chris Froome.
He will look to use his team to put the other riders into discomfort, and then attack on the last climb of the day. He showed yesterday, and on Stage 5, how influential his team can be and he will be looking to do it again.
I predict him to win and he is the favourite to win the Dauphine from here. Van Garderen will look to stay with Froome, and if he does, he can win the event.
Others to look out for include Simon Yates and Alejandro Valverde. They are within sight of the lead and could try something to win.
It promises to be a frantic final stage as riders chase overall honours.
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