The Tokyo Olympic champion, the Ecuadorian Richard Carapaz (EF Education-EasyPost), fought until the last meters of the second stage of the Critérium du Dauphiné held this Monday, in which he was only surpassed by the Frenchman Julian Alaphilippe at the finish line in La Chaise -Dieu.
The group of favorites arrived compactly on the last ascent, Sean Quinn (EF) jumped out of the group and opened space for Carapaz, who with 200 meters to go went into a sprint, but the reaction and good final shot from Alaphilippe (Soudal-Quick Step) left the Ecuadorian in the second box.
The Frenchman, former world champion, recorded 3 hours 54 minutes 53 seconds, the same time as Carapaz in second place and Eritrean Natnael Tesfatsion (Trek-Segafredo) third, leaders of a batch of 69 runners who set the same time.
This fraction was run from Brassac-les-Mines, with 167.3 kilometers to the finish line. The escape of the day passed under the control of the peloton, which 10 kilometers from the end absorbed the Frenchman Kenny Elissonde (Trek) and the Belgian Victor Campenaerts (Lotto Dstny), the ones who showed the most resistance.
The day was not exempt from mishaps, one in the final stretch that forced Steff Cras (TotalEnergies), Romain Combaud (DSM) and the Dutchman Steven Kruijswijk (Jumbo-Visma) to leave the race, forcing their team to Change plans to seek the title with the Danish Jonas Vingegaard, the main option to win the French round.
For Alaphilippe, this Monday’s victory was his second this season after taking the title at the Faun-Ardeche Classic in February. “These last few months were long for me, but I was able to keep my patience. It’s a great relief. I surprised myself”, said the Frenchman, who will be in the Tour de France this year.
With the second day there were no movements in the leadership of the general classification, which keeps the Frenchman Cristhophe Laporte (Jumbo) at the top, but his escorts did change, now with Alaphilippe and Carapaz in second and third place, respectively. The one from Soudal with the same time and the Ecuadorian at 4 seconds.
The French race continues this Tuesday with the third stage, on a 194.1-kilometre route that will link Monistrol-sur-Loire and Le Coteau, a day with three intermediate prizes, with a second category mountain pass, one of fourth and a flying target (D)