Stage 1 of the Criterium du Dauphine will be one for the punchers, with three climbs inside the final 35 kilometres of racing sure to put the pure sprinters under pressure. Join the Roar’s live coverage of the first stage of the Criterium du Dauphine from 9:45pm AEST.
The Dauphine is the main lead up race to the Tour de France, and with a stacked field lining up; it should be an exciting race for the full eight stages of the event.
The opening stage consists of eight climbs over the 170 kilometre route which starts and finishes in the French city of Saint Etienne.
The climbing starts early, with the Col du Pilon starting after just 7 kilometres. The climb is a signal of what is to come for the riders, with the category three climb being 4.8 kilometres at 5.1 percent.
The riders then have some respite after the initial uphill start until 55 kilometres into the stage, with two category four climbs of the Côte de la Roche (2.2 km at 6 per cent) and the Côte de Périgneux (1.4 km at 5.8 per cent) greeting the riders a third of the way through the stage.
Rolling roads after the third climb of the day continue the up and down nature on the stage, before the riders attend to the longest climb on the days proceedings, the category two climb of the Côte de Saint-Romain-les-Atheux, which is 6.8 kilometres long at 5.2 percent.
Not long after the summit of the 2nd category climb, the riders will be onto the category four climb of the Côte de Tarentaise, which is 2.4 kilometres at 5.8 percent.
After the climb if completed, the route descends until we hit the first of three loops around the finish town of Saint Etienne.
The 15 kilometre circuits have one major obstacle, with the category three climb of the Côte de Rochetaillée, which is 3.4 kilometres in length and averages out at 5.4 percent. The climb is completed with 36, 21 and 6 kilometres to go, making it a decisive part of the race route.
Even the punchy sprinters may struggle to stay in contact today.
Join The Roar’s live coverage of Stage 1 of the Criterium du Dauphine from 9:45pm AEST.
Brendon Vella
Roar Guru
That it from me for the coverage of Stage 1 of the Criterium du Dauphine. The sprinters should get their chance, but after De Gendt's heroics today, you can never be to sure.
Scott Pryde
Expert
Well, De Gendt wasn't the one I was expecting to win tonight. Thanks for the call Brendon.
Brendon Vella
Roar Guru
Brendon Vella
Roar Guru
De Gendt takes advantage of a pretty uninterested peloton, with only Orica Scott and Dimension Data bothering to attempt to chase the leaders.
Brendon Vella
Roar Guru
Brendon Vella
Roar Guru
Ulissi takes third, around 50 seconds back, with the peloton close behind.
Brendon Vella
Roar Guru
De Gendt wins as Domont takes second place half a minute behind.
Brendon Vella
Roar Guru
De Gendt gives a fist pump to the team car as he knows he has the win. Inot the last kilometre.
Brendon Vella
Roar Guru
A group of three is chasing infront of the peloton, including Pierre Latour and Diego Ulissi.
Brendon Vella
Roar Guru
3 kilometres to go.
Brendon Vella
Roar Guru
Under 5 kilometres to go, with De Gendt leading by over a minute.
Brendon Vella
Roar Guru
Nicholas Roche on the front as there are a few attacks going off the front, including Diego Ulissi.
Brendon Vella
Roar Guru
De Gendt wraps up the KOM jersey for the opening day, and looks certain to take yellow.
Brendon Vella
Roar Guru
Brendon Vella
Roar Guru
Gap down to a minute 20, but you have to think that De Gendt is going to take this with a sizeable lead.
Brendon Vella
Roar Guru
Brendon Vella
Roar Guru
De Gendt attacks and get a gap quickly. Superb ride. His to lose now.
Brendon Vella
Roar Guru
Porte shadowing Froome's every move,
Brendon Vella
Roar Guru
Kreuzinger on the front. This now purely a GC stage.
Brendon Vella
Roar Guru