Critérium du Dauphiné 2017: Démare sprints to victory, De Gendt holds on to yellow

The hilly 2nd stage in the Critérium du Dauphiné takes in a three stage ascent halfway to run to a false flat arrival in Arlance. Arnaud Démare powers to victory, bike lengths ahead of Kristoff and Bouhanni. Thomas De Gendt retains in the yellow jersey. (Slideshow route/profile)

Results 2nd stage 2017 Critérium du Dauphiné

1. Arnaud Démare (fra)
2. Alexander Kristoff (nor) s.t.
3. Nacer Bouhanni (fra) s.t.
4. Sonny Colbrelli (ita) s.t.
5. Phil Bauhaus (ger) s.t.
6. Edvald Boasson Hagen (nor) s.t.
7. Ben Swift (gbr) s.t.
8. Pascal Ackermann (ger) s.t.
9. Alberto Bettiol (ita) s.t.
10. Bryan Coquard (fra) s.t.

GC after 2nd stage
1. Thomas De Gendt (bel)
2. Axel Domont (fra) + 0.48
3. Diego Ulissi (ita) + 1.03
4. Pierre Latour (fra) + 1.07
5. Emanuel Buchmann (ger) s.t.
6. Sonny Colbrelli (ita) + 1.09
7. Ben Swift (gbr) s.t.
8. Alberto Bettiol (ita) s.t.
9. Tony Gallopin (fra) s.t.
10. Julien Simon (fra) s.t.

12. Alejandro Valverde (spa) s.t.
13. Chris Froome (gbr) s.t.
17. Esteban Chaves (col) s.t.
19. Andrew Talansky (usa) s.t.
20. Fabio Aru (ita) s.t.
22. Michal Kwiatkowski (pol) s.t.
27. Richie Porte (aus) s.t.
32. Daniel Martin (irl) s.t.
35. Romain Bardet (fra) s.t.
48. Alberto Contador (spa) s.t.
41. Simon Yates (gbr) s.t.
111. Warren Barguil (fra) + 8.17

Race report
Once the flag is dropped Koen Bouwman, Mickaël Delage, Nathan Brown and Romain Combaud jump clear. Atop Côte de la Croix Blanche, crested after 5 kilometres, they are almost 4 minutes adrift. Then the peloton takes them on a leash, while Delage is reeled in after one hour of racing.

On the Col de Verrières-en-Forez and Col-de-Baracuchet Bouwman takes most KOM points. When the lead falls below 1 minute Alexey Lutsenko crosses over before the gap widens again. Once again Bouwman is first to crest on the last climb.

Lutsenko heads out on his own with some 30 kms left and he is reeled in with 3 kms to go. The race comes down to a bunch sprint with Arnaud Démare outperforming Alexander Kristoff and Nacer Bouhanni

De Gendt finishes safely in the peloton to hold on to the yellow jersey.