Derek Gee (Israel-Premier Tech) took an impressive win in today’s stage 3 of the Critérium du Dauphiné, earning the Canadian rider his first WorldTour victory atop the summit finish to Les Estables.
Gee attacked with 500 meters to go, distancing Romain Grégoire (Groupama-FDJ) with a final surge to seize the stage honors by three seconds ahead of his French rival, while Lukas Nerurkar (EF Education-EasyPost) rounded out the podium.
As a result, Gee wrested the leader’s jersey from Magnus Cort (Uno-X Mobility), who now trails at three seconds back.
Meanwhile, despite a crash early in the day, Primož Roglič (Bora-Hansgrohe) finished tenth on the stage ahead of tomorrow’s 34.4km time trial.
Gee and his teammate Krists Neilands, along with Grégoire, had been out front for most of the day, holding their lead until the final climb to the finish.
Neilands attacked during the final kilometer, a move that was quickly countered by Grégoire. But, Gee was keen to mark Grégoire’s aggressions, ultimately passing the Frenchman with a last acceleration to take the win.
Race Hightlights
Harry Sweeny (EF Education-EasyPost), Nicolas Prodhomme (Decathlon AG2R La Mondiale) and Rémy Rochas (Groupama-FDJ) marked th eday’s first breakaway effort, but the trio was kept in check by the Uno-X and Ineos Grenadiers led peloton.
From there, the escapee’s advantage rarely rose above the two minute margin as they took on each of the five categorized climbs on offer.
With 32 kilometers left to go, Jayco-AIUla’s Christopher Juul Jensen attacked from the peloton and managed to bridge across to the leaders. Groupama-FDJ’s Valentin Madouas attempted to follow but was unable to make his counter move stick. Rochas dropped away from the break as the riders hurtled towards the final kick to the finish.
Juul Jensen, Prodhomme and Sweeny had 48 seconds on the peloton with 14 kilometres left to race. Nils Politt (UAE Team Emirates) and Josh Tarling (Ineos Grenadiers) put the hammer down on the front of the main field which ensured that the trio’s advantage continued to rapidly tumble.
With just under three kilometers remaining the lead trio were swept up by the peloton. Ineos Grenadiers were prominent at the front of the group looking to set up Carlos Rodríguez.
As the riders sailed under the kilometer to go marker, Neilands was the first rider to jump which ignited the action as the finish line appeared. Grégoire attacked with Gee on his wheel.
The duo passed Neilands with ease before Gee opened up his sprint to take his first ever victory.
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