Bicycle Racing News and Opinion,
Friday, June 9, 2023

Back to news and opinion index page for links to archived stories | Commentary | Our YouTube page
2022 Tour de France | 2022 Giro d'Italia

Peace is the virtue of civilization. War is its crime. - Victor Hugo

---

Les Woodland's book Tour of Flanders: The Inside Story - The rocky roads of the Ronde van Vlaanderen is available in print, Kindle eBook and audiobook versions. To get your copy, just click on the Amazon link on the right.

Current racing:

• June 4 - 11: Critérium du Dauphiné
• June 7 - 11: ZLM Tour

Upcoming racing:

• June 11 - 18: Tour de Suisse

Latest completed racing:

• June 4: Brussels Cycling Classic
• June 2: Giro dell'Appennino
• May 26 - 29: Tour of Norway
• May 6 - 29: Giro d'Italia
• May 16 - 21: 4 Jours du Dunkerque
• May 21: Rund um Köln
• May 20: Veenendaal - Veenendaal Classic
• May 7: Tro-Bro Léon
• May 6: GP du Morbihan
• May 1: Eschborn-Frankfurt

---

Critérium du Dauphiné stage five reports

We posted the race organizer's report with the results.

Here's the report from stage winner and new GC leader Jonas Vingegaard's Team Jumbo-Visma:

Jonas Vingegaard has won the fifth stage of the Critérium du Dauphiné. The Danish leader of Team Jumbo-Visma crossed the line solo in Salins-les-Bains. For Vingegaard, the victory was sufficient to clinch the yellow jersey.

Jonas Vingegaard is back in yellow. Sirotti photo.

With a long flat section leading up to a tricky final, the stage appeared suited for breakaways. But ultimately, the wait for the spectacle was quite long. It took until the final climb of the day, the Côte de Thésy, for the favourites to attack. Richard Carapaz escaped, and the Ecuadorian brought Vingegaard with him.

The two quickly established an advantage over the rest of the field. Once Vingegaard had taken the lead, Carapaz began to struggle harder and harder. The South American rider eventually had to let go. Without hesitating, Vingegaard rode to the front and down the hill to the finish line. There, the Dane’s advantage was more than a minute. It was Vingegaard's ninth victory of the season. It was also Team Jumbo-Visma's 33rd triumph of the year.

After his victory, Vingegaard's thoughts were diverted elsewhere in France. "On days like this, none of what occurs in the world of sports matters. My thoughts are with the victims of the tragic event in Annecy", a visibly moved Vingegaard said. A man with a knife earlier in the day attacked six people in an Annecy playground.

"The intention was not to do anything. The major aim was to stay out of trouble before the difficult days that lay ahead. I didn't hesitate for even a second when Richard accelerated. When I took the lead, he was unable to follow. Then the race to the finish was full throttle. Of course, I am happy with this triumph, but as I already stated, it stands in sharp contrast to the things that are truly important in this world. My heart goes out to the victims and their families. I didn't anticipate to be wearing the yellow jersey by this point before today. It changes the dynamics of the race. I am happy with my form, and the team's work has paid off today."

Here's the Dauphiné report from second-place Julian Alaphilippe's Team Soudal Quick-Step:

For the third time in history, the race ventured in the Jura department, after the 1970 and 1974 editions. On the menu, a 191.5km hilly stage from Cormoranche-sur-Saône to Salins-les-Bains, and three classified climbs, including the leg-sapping Côte de Thésy, whose steep and punishing gradients promised fireworks less than twenty kilometers from the line.

Soudal Quick-Step controlled the stage – which was raced at an insane speed in the opening hours – and the gap of the escapees the entire day with the likes of Rémi Cavagna and Florian Sénéchal, before Andrea Bagioli picked up at the base of the final ascent and increased the speed with Julian Alaphilippe on his wheel. When the first big moves came more than two kilometers from the top, the stage 2 winner responded with ease, but couldn’t follow later when the GC guys went on the attack.

The double World Champion remained calm, part of a strong chasing group which tried to reduce the gap of solo leader Jonas Vingegaard (Jumbo-Visma) on the descent, and even helped with the chase before bolting clear from the small peloton in the last 200 meters to take a solid runner-up place. The result catapulted Alaphilippe to an impressive third on the overall ranking ahead of the first uphill finish of the race.

Julian Alaphilippe (on left) finishes second in stage five. Sirotti photo

“We raced à bloc today from the beginning. The team did a great job again, we had a plan, but in the end the climb was a bit too hard for me. When the first attack came, I managed it quite well, but when Vingegaard went it wasn’t possible for me to follow. I am a bit disappointed because I couldn’t repay the squad for their amazing job with a win, but I don’t have any regrets, because I did my best, and second in these conditions is still a good result. We will continue to take it day by day and see what we can do in the remaining stages”, Julian said after his seventh podium at the race.

Here’s the Dauphiné report from fifth-place Max Poole’s Team DSM:

Continuing his strong performances this year, Max Poole showed his power and endurance on Thursday as he powered to a great 5th place in stage 5 of Critérium du Dauphiné after Jonas Vingegaard took a solo win.

After a tough individual TT on Wednesday, the peloton today faced some challenging hills leading them to Salins-les-Bains. The day started off with the battle for a spot in the breakaway as several riders attacked. Then after approximately five kilometres a strong group went clear, including Leon Heinschke for Team DSM. The German almost managed to stay away for the whole day but was eventually caught on the final climb with only 17 kilometres to go. On the Côte de Thésy, Vingegaard attacked and quickly took a small gap on the peloton. Max Poole managed to keep up in a small chasing group behind him, but the Danish rider would eventually stay away.

The peloton zooming across the French countryside. Sirotti photo

Pushing it all the way to the line, Poole sprinted to a big fifth place in Salins-les-Bains. With an average speed of more than 47 kilometres per hour it would be the fastest stage of Critérium du Dauphiné ever.

After the race, Poole stated: “It was a long hot stage today with the action packed towards the back end. Leon did a great ride up in the strong break, which unfortunately got brought back when the GC action kicked off. It was a super tough climb in the end and I just tried to follow as best as I could. I then focused on trying to do a good sprint, which in the end got me a solid 5th position after yesterday’s disappointing TT.”

Team DSM coach Phil West added: “The goal for today was to go for the stage. It was an interesting day where the break could potentially make it, if it was the right combination. Leon did a great job by making it to that breakaway – which was a strong group. He played it really smart to come with an attack as late as possible on the final climb with one other guy, but on the bottom of that climb the peloton started riding after which he was caught. Max and Oscar were there after good work from the guys who kept them safe throughout the day. When the pace went up again, Max was able to chase Vingegaard in the group behind and he did a good job in the final. In summary, today was a good effort with nice teamwork and we’re looking forward to another hilly day tomorrow.”

And here’s the report from sixth-place Jai Hindley’s Team Bora-hansgrohe:

Day five of the Critérium du Dauphiné took the race from Cormoranche-sur-Saôone to Salins-les-Bains and covered a distance of 191km. A mostly flat first section was followed by an undulating second stretch with three 2nd and 3rd category climbs.  Nils Politt was part of a strong six-rider breakaway for 170km, which was caught 17km from the finish line. In the final climb, Jonas Vingegaard went clear from the peloton to take a solo stage win. Jai Hindley was part of the first chase group and finished 31s behind the stage winner in 6th. With three stages remaining, Hindley moves up to 6th overall.

The peloton races through the finish town of Salins-les-Bains. Sirotti photo

“The finale was super hard and it was a tricky run-in to the finish line, so I already expected some GC moves on the last climb. It was really good to have Nils Politt in the breakaway today and I also have to thank the guys for looking after me very well all day. Vingegaard was on another level in the final climb and just took off solo. Behind him we battled it out for the remaining places - I’m happy with how the legs are at the moment, there are still a few weeks to the Tour.“ Jai Hindley

“It was the plan to have Nils Politt in the breakaway today and of course we hoped they would make it to the line. In any event, Nils put in a really strong ride today, so chapeau! A day that looked to be tailor made for a breakaway can easily turn into a GC-day, that’s modern cycling. With Jai in 6th overall we’re really happy and look forward to the upcoming stages here.“ Bernhard Eisel, Sports Director

Back to news and opinion index page for links to archived stories | Commentary