Critérium du Dauphiné 2014: Stage 7 - Westra wins, Contador takes yellow

Lieuwe Westra won the 7th stage of the Criterium du Dauphine, fighting back after being dropped earlier on the last climb of the day. Alberto Contador attacked from the group of favourites and Froome either couldn't follow, or made his decision too late. The Spaniard took 20 seconds and moves into the leader's jersey. (Slideshow route/profile)

Critérium du Dauphiné 2014: Results 7th stage

1. Lieuwe Westra (Nld)
2. Joeri Trofimov (rus) + 0.07
3. Egor Silin (rus) + 0.16
4. Alberto Contador (spa) + 1.33
5. Andrew Talansky (USA) + 1.51
6. Ryder Hesjedal (can) + 1.53
7. Chris Froome (gbr) s.t.
8. Vincenzo Nibali (ita) + 2.11
9. Roman Bardet (fra) + 2.6
10. Sebastian Reichenbach (Swi) + 2.19

12. Wilco Kelderman (Nld) + 2.32

GC after 7th stage
1. Alberto Contador (spa)
2. Chris Froome (gbr) + 0.08
3. Andew Talansky (USA) + 0.39
4. Wilco Kelderman (Nld) + 0.59
5. Jurgen van den Broek (bel) + 1.14
6. Vincenzo Nibali (ita) + 1.16
7. Roman Bardet (fra) + 2.11
8. Sebastian Reichenbach (Swi) + 2.14
9. Leopold König (Cze) + 3.00
10. Lieuwe Westra (Nld) + 4.00

Race report
Just like yesterday Lieuwe Westra is the one to initiate the break away. He is accompanied by Gallopin, Silin, Trofimov, Alaphilippe, Hesjedal, Boom, Van Avermaet, Visconti, Kadri, Gautier, Brändle, Schorn and De Marchi. The latter with a keen eye on the mountain points that are to be distributed along the way. De Marchi is the first one to crest several cols and seals his ‘Mountain Kingdom’ in the Dauphiné 2014.

At the penultimate Col de la Forclaz climb Trofimov attacks and only Gallopin, Hesjedal, Silin and Westra are able to follow. After another attack by the Russian he is to crest the top solo, and in the descent his teammate joins him. together they take on the steep closing climb with 0’35″ gain over Gallopin, Hesjedal and Westra and 5’20″ over the bunch.

Sky keeps a steady pace to neutralise any attacks, while higer up the mountain Lieuwe Westra creeps up to the two Katusha riders centimetre by centimetre. with 2 kilometres left the gap is around 100 metres.

Contador breaks free from the GC riders and powers away. Froome and his teammates are slow to react, seemingly relying on the machine-like Sky reeling-in tactics: slowly but surely.

In the last 200 metres Westra creeps up to Silin and Trofimov and takes them by surprise. Exhausted he cycles to victory in the Dauphiné’s Queen Stage.

Contador crowns his attacks and takes the leader’s jersey. Froome is 0’21″ down on the Spaniard and is now 0’09″ behind in the GC.

Talansky and Kelderman swap GC places 3 and 4.