Slovenian cyclist Primoz Roglic (Bora-hansgrohe) emerged victorious in the 76th edition of the Criterium du Dauphine, maintaining a narrow lead over American Matteo Jorgenson (Visma Lease a Bike) in the final stages. The decisive moments of the race unfolded during the Sunday stage, which featured a challenging climb to Plateau des Glieres. Roglic, finishing sixth, managed to hold on to an eight-second lead over Jorgenson, securing his win in the prestigious event.
A Grueling Final Stage
The final stage was a true test of endurance and strategy, packed with four significant climbs, three of which were of the first category. Early on, a breakaway group set a fierce pace, but the real battle began in the closing kilometers. Spanish rider Carlos Rodriguez launched a decisive attack, joined by Laurens De Plus and Matteo Jorgenson, with Derek Gee and Santiago Buitrago also in the mix. Roglic faced a critical moment, falling behind the leading group by 45 seconds.
Historic Moments in Cycling
The dramatic second set of the match between Turkey and Germany in the Volleyball Nations League earlier this week, which lasted 47 minutes and set a record for the longest set in VNL history, mirrored the tension in the Dauphine. Rodriguez eventually claimed the stage victory, with Jorgenson and Gee completing the podium. Despite the pressure, Roglic’s sixth-place finish was enough to secure the overall victory, emphasizing his resilience and tactical acumen.
Final Results and Implications
The final standings saw Roglic at the top, followed by Jorgenson and Gee. Michał Kwiatkowski (Ineos Grenadiers) finished the stage in 46th place and dropped to 32nd in the general classification. The Criterium du Dauphine, an eight-stage race in France, serves as a crucial precursor to the Tour de France, which begins on June 29. The event tested the cyclists’ readiness and set the stage for the upcoming Grand Tour.
Results of the 8th Stage: Thones – Plateau des Glieres (160.6 km)
- Carlos Rodriguez (Spain/Ineos Grenadiers) – 4:18:02
- Matteo Jorgenson (USA/Visma Lease a Bike) – same time
- Derek Gee (Canada/Israel-Premier Tech) – +15s
- Laurens De Plus (Belgium/Ineos Grenadiers) – +35s
- Santiago Buitrago (Colombia/Bahrain Victorious)
- Primoz Roglic (Slovenia/Bora-hansgrohe) – +48s
General Classification:
- Primoz Roglic (Slovenia/Bora-hansgrohe) – 25:35:40
- Matteo Jorgenson (USA/Visma Lease a Bike) – +8s
- Derek Gee (Canada/Israel-Premier Tech) – +36s
- Carlos Rodriguez (Spain/Ineos Grenadiers) – +1:00
- Laurens De Plus (Belgium/Ineos Grenadiers) – +2:04
- Aleksander Vlasov (Russia/Bora-hansgrohe) – +2:06
- Remco Evenepoel (Belgium/Soudal Quick-Step) – +2:25
