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.
Shane Jones
Roar Guru
Yep. Good to see an Orica rider contending for overall honours.
Scott Pryde
Expert
Awesome ride by Yates. He looks good for a top 10 at the Tour.
Scott Pryde
Expert
That would be Eurosport... Have been doing it all race.
Shane Jones
Roar Guru
Full report in a second.
Shane Jones
Roar Guru
Other jersey winners - Green - Nacer Bouhanni Team - Team Movistar King of the mountain - Daniel Teklehaimanot Young Rider - Simon Yates
Shane Jones
Roar Guru
Top 5 overall - 1. Chris Froome 2. Tejay van Garderen, at 0.10 3. Rui Costa, at 1.16 4. Benat Intxausti, at 1.21 5. Simon Yates, at 1.33
Shane Jones
Roar Guru
And the coverage suddenly ends.. Nice work Eurosport.
Shane Jones
Roar Guru
It is a 2nd Criterium du Dauphine for Chris Froome. He took out the 2013 title on his way to the Tour de France in the same year.
Shane Jones
Roar Guru
He won by around 19 seconds over van Garderen in the stage. He also gained a 10 second bonus as the American finished 4th behind Simon Yates and Rui Costa.
Shane Jones
Roar Guru
Stage finish - Chris Froome wins Stage 8 and takes out the Criterium du Dauphine. What a finish.
Shane Jones
Roar Guru
250m to go - Froome is going to win the stage.
Shane Jones
Roar Guru
1km to go - van Garderen is about to be caught for 2nd and 3rd. This is going to help Froome.
Shane Jones
Roar Guru
1.1km to go - Froome has his 14 seconds. He needs to maintain it to win.
Shane Jones
Roar Guru
1.4km to go - If positions stay the same then Froome needs 14 seconds to win. He has 12.
Shane Jones
Roar Guru
1.5km to go - van Garderen is coming under attack from riders behind him. He needs to stay in second for the time bonus.
Shane Jones
Roar Guru
1.7km to go - van Garderen is in pain and the gap increases significantly now. It is around 8 seconds now.
Shane Jones
Roar Guru
1.9km to go - Time gap - by the officials - is 3 seconds.
Shane Jones
Roar Guru
2km to go - van Garderen is holding on but Froome is slowly building a margin. I'd say it is around 5 seconds.
Shane Jones
Roar Guru
2.2km to go - Apologies that will be around 15 seconds. van Garderen will also get time for finishing in 2nd.
Shane Jones
Roar Guru
2.4km to go - Froome overtakes Cummings and gets the lead. He gets a 10 second bonus if he wins the stage. He needs another 10 after that to win the Dauphine.