Criterium du Dauphine: Alaphilippe reports back - Brenner again in the top 10
Thomas Goldmann
· 05.06.2023
Former world champion Julian Alaphilippe (Soudal - Quick Step) has returned to the top of the world rankings at the Criterium du Dauphine. The 30-year-old won the second section on Monday after 167.3 kilometres between Brassac-les-Mines and La Chaise-Dieu in the sprint of a large group ahead of Richard Carapaz (EF Education EasyPost) and Natnael Tesfatsion (Trek-Segafredo) through.
Alaphilippe ends dry spell
After a disappointing spring, it was Alaphilippe's first victory since the end of February, when he won the Faun-Ardeche Classic. "It was hard work to achieve this victory," said Alaphilippe at the finish.
"The last few months have been difficult, but we have worked hard to get to where we wanted to be. It's a relief. I was surprised to sprint because we were initially riding for Ethan Vernon. But in the end it was too hard for him, so we actually wanted to work for Florian Senechal. But one kilometre before the finish, Florian told me that he was already at the limit. I had good legs, so I gave it a go."
Criterium du Dauphine 2023: Brenner back at the front on stage 2
Pleasing news from a German perspective: Marco Brenner (Team DSM) made it into the top 10 on stage 2 in ninth place - just like the day before, when he finished tenth. The yellow jersey remains on the shoulders of stage one winner Christophe Laporte (Jumbo-Visma), who finished fourth on the day.
The top 10 of stage 2
- Julian Alaphilippe (Soudal - Quick Step) 3:54:53
- Richard Carapaz (EF Education EasyPost) +0:00
- Natnael Tesfatsion (Trek-Segafredo) +0:00
- Christophe Laporte (Jumbo-Visma) +0:00
- Maxim van Gils (Lotto-Dstny) +0:00
- Robert Stannard (Alpecin-Deceuninck) +0:00
- Fred Wright (Bahrain-Victorious) +0:00
- Oscar Onley (Team DSM) +0:00
- Marco Brenner (Team DSM) +0:00
- Clement Champoussin (Arkea-Samsic) +0:00
How the 2nd stage of the Criterium du Dauphine 2023 went
There was a crash in the peloton in the early stages of stage 2, forcing Steven Kruijswijk (Jumbo-Visma), Steff Cras (TotalEnergies) and Romain Combaud (Team DSM) to abandon the race.
The breakaway group of the day then formed. It initially consisted of four riders: Jonas Gregaard (Uno-X Pro Cycling Team), Andrea Piccolo (EF Education EasyPost), Victor Campenaerts (Lotto-Dstny) and Donavan Grondin (Arkea-Samsic). Later, Nans Peters (AG2R-Citroën Team), Pierre Latour (TotalEnergies) and Kenny Elissonde (Trek-Segafredo).
Grondin with problems
Grondin, the leader in the mountain classification, scored two points each on the two third-category climbs Col de Toutee and Col des Fourches, extended his lead in the mountain classification and then dropped back into the peloton. A little later he was seen at the side of the road, probably with cramps, but was able to finish the stage. The 22-year-old Frenchman finished last, 22:48 minutes behind Alaphilippe.
Attacks in the finale of stage 3 of the Criterium du Dauphine 2023
The six breakaway riders remaining at the front were kept on a tight leash by the peloton. Ten kilometres before the finish, their endeavour was over. Tobias Bayer (Alpecin-Deceuninck) launched a counter attack. Four kilometres from the finish, the Austrian was brought back by the peloton led by Soudal - Quick Step and Jumbo-Visma.
As soon as Bayer was caught, Harry Sweeny (Lotto-Dstny) tried his luck. But the Australian was also unable to create a decisive gap, so that after 167.3 kilometres there was a sprint by a large group. Tour de France winner Jonas Vingegaard himself prepared the sprint for Christophe Laporte, but this time he didn't make the same move as the day before.
Richard Carapaz opened the sprint with a strong attack around 300 metres before the finish, but was immediately countered by Alaphilippe. The Frenchman overtook him and stood up to celebrate just a few metres before the finish. His lead was big enough to secure his first victory since the end of February.
