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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…
Today's 18th stage is sure to be a make-or-break moment for the General Classification contenders in this year's Giro d'Italia as they take on…
In a 16th stage punctuated by a constant stream of late attacks, it was Benat Intxausti who eventually stood victorious yesterday, winning a sprint…
Controlled Chaos. That's how I would summarise today's Stage 16 of the Giro d'Italia. An unexpected sunny day roused the peloton to a day…
Two days ago, it was Giovanni Visconti who conquered hellish conditions on the Col du Galibier to claim his maiden Giro stage victory. Today,…
Stage 11 was always going to be one for the breakaway riders, but don't expect the same today as the sprinters' teams look to…
After yesterday’s first foray into the high mountains of this year’s Giro - a day which saw a major shake-up of the General Classification…
For months we have waited to see what the Giro’s main contenders would bring to the table once they hit the high Italian mountain…
Returning from its first rest day, the Giro peloton today tackles the first of this year's high mountain stages; the 167km stage 10 from…
The exhausted figure of Fabian Cancellara being helped from the grass of the Roubaix velodrome – broken yet triumphant – is perhaps the image…
It’s Seeldrayers, Sillin, Geniez and Voeckler (who was first to respond to the attack) who now lead the way.
Criterium du Dauphine 2013: Stage 6 – live cycling updates, blog
ATTACK – Three of the escapees have finally lost patience with certain riders in the breakaway shirking responsibility (Tommy, we’re looking at you), and have gone off the front. The breakaway’s in pieces!
Criterium du Dauphine 2013: Stage 6 – live cycling updates, blog
32km – 1’25 the advantage. It’s always interesting to watch Thomas Voeckler, especially when he’s in a breakaway. With the rest of the escapees sitting in a paceline, you can always rely on him to be all over the road, bouncing between the team car and the front.
Criterium du Dauphine 2013: Stage 6 – live cycling updates, blog
In the young riders’ classification, it’s the young Australian, Rohan Dennis, who leads the way. He’s having an outstanding race, having already held the yellow jersey on yesterday’s stage after a brilliant time trial.
He’s got a minute over Michal Kwiatkowski. Meanwhile, Thomas Damuseau will still lead the KOM classification after today’s stage, unless I’m mistaken, despite Seeldrayers mopping up just about all points on offer today.
Criterium du Dauphine 2013: Stage 6 – live cycling updates, blog
35km – The breakaway’s lead isn’t large, and it’s consistently falling, though they look to be working well together, and there’s certainly a bit of strength left in that group.
Criterium du Dauphine 2013: Stage 6 – live cycling updates, blog
In the points classification, it’s Gianni Meersman (Omega-Pharma) who leads the charge on 34 pts. He’s the reason they’re on the front of the peloton at the moment, and eating away the breakaway’s advantage. Now, with the climbs gone, they’ll be looking to make this a big sprint finish to keep some points from the likes of Chris Froome, who sits second in the points (3 points adrfit). Elia Viviani is holding third, on 21pts.
Criterium du Dauphine 2013: Stage 6 – live cycling updates, blog
38km – The lead has continued to come down – now 1’53 – as Omega-Pharma continues to set the pace on the front of the peloton.
Criterium du Dauphine 2013: Stage 6 – live cycling updates, blog
39km – Tim Wellens has again rejoined the breakaway group now. He’s having to work for it, but with the climbs behind him, he’ll be feeling a lot better now!
Criterium du Dauphine 2013: Stage 6 – live cycling updates, blog
Within one minute of Rodgers are all the big names, and with a couple of big stages remaining, expect a lot of shuffling in that order. It will be minutes, and not seconds, separating them by the end of the race.
Criterium du Dauphine 2013: Stage 6 – live cycling updates, blog
When was the last time three Australians were placed in the top four of a major stage race like this?!
Criterium du Dauphine 2013: Stage 6 – live cycling updates, blog
In the GC, it’s Chris Froome (Sky) who leads in yellow, holding a ’52 advantage over his Australian teammate, Richie Porte. Rohan Dennis is a further two seconds adrift in 3rd, and Michael Rodgers (Saxo-Tinkoff) holds onto fourth place, another 43 seconds back.
Criterium du Dauphine 2013: Stage 6 – live cycling updates, blog
44km – As the peloton gradually makes its way to the top of the Cat 4 Col des Mouilles, let’s remind ourselves of the standings after five stages.
Criterium du Dauphine 2013: Stage 6 – live cycling updates, blog
Kevin Seeldrayers has just taken the points again – that’s maximum points on the last three climbs now – 28 in total.
Criterium du Dauphine 2013: Stage 6 – live cycling updates, blog
45.6km – Sylvain Chavanel has come to the front of the peloton for Omega-Pharma, and there’s been an immediate effect on the advantage of the leaders. Their gap is now down to 2’18 with 500m to go until this Cat 4 summit.
Criterium du Dauphine 2013: Stage 6 – live cycling updates, blog
It’s the second or third time Wellens has been dropped on a climb today. He’s been working very hard by comparison to maintain contact with the other seven escapees.
Criterium du Dauphine 2013: Stage 6 – live cycling updates, blog
Voeckler’s been sitting off the back of the breakaway group talking to his team car and dousing himself in water, but as soon as the pace quickened and Wellens dropped off the pace, Voeckler bridged the gap with ease. He’s looking pretty good today.
Criterium du Dauphine 2013: Stage 6 – live cycling updates, blog
Atop the Cat 2 Col des Ayes, it was again Kevin Seeldrayers who took the 10 KOM points, to back up the 15 he took on the day’s previous climb. Behind him were De Gendt and Sillin again.
Criterium du Dauphine 2013: Stage 6 – live cycling updates, blog
50km – The breakaway’s advantage has been building steadily in recent miles, and now sits at 2’50.
Criterium du Dauphine 2013: Stage 6 – live cycling updates, blog
Apologies for the delays here, guys. The computer decided that would be the perfect time to shut itself down…
Criterium du Dauphine 2013: Stage 6 – live cycling updates, blog
He was followed over by De Gendt, Silliness, and Nieve. In the earlier Cat 4 climb, Juan Antonio Flecha took the 3 points, followed by Bazayev and Huzarski
Criterium du Dauphine 2013: Stage 6 – live cycling updates, blog
It was Kevin Seeldrayers who took the 15 KOM points at the top of the Cat 1 Col du Barioz.
Criterium du Dauphine 2013: Stage 6 – live cycling updates, blog
55km – That group has a 1’52 lead over the peloton at the moment.
Criterium du Dauphine 2013: Stage 6 – live cycling updates, blog
That breakaway is onto the start of the third climb of the day, the Col des Ayes. Among them are: Thomas Voeckler (Europcar), Alexandre Geniez (FDJ), Kevin Seeldrayers (Astana), Egor Silin (Astana), José Herrada (Movistar), Thomas De Gendt (Vacansoleil), Mikel Nieve (Euskaltel) and Tim Wellens (LTB).
Criterium du Dauphine 2013: Stage 6 – live cycling updates, blog
We’re picking up the race with about 60km to go, and as it stands, there’s a breakaway group of eight.
Criterium du Dauphine 2013: Stage 6 – live cycling updates, blog
27km – It’s still Chavanel at the front of the peloton for Omega-Pharma, single-handedly bringing the advantage down – now 1’19.
Criterium du Dauphine 2013: Stage 6 – live cycling updates, blog