Critérium du Dauphiné 2020: Uphill sprint win Van Aert

The opener of the Critérium du Dauphiné boils down to an uphill sprint finish. Wout Van Aert outguns Daryl Impey at the end of a long and tough day in the middle mountains. Egan Bernal finishes in third. (Slideshow route/profile)

Results 1st stage Critérium du Dauphiné 2020

1. Wout Van Aert (bel)
2. Daryl Impey (rsa) s.t.
3. Egan Bernal (col) s.t.
4. Alejandro Valverde (spa) s.t.
5. Tadej Pogacar (slo) s.t.
6. Alexey Lutsenko (kaz) s.t.
7. Sergio Higuita (col) s.t.
8. Benoît Cosnefroy (fra) s.t.
9. Primoz Roglic (slo) s.t.
10. Guillaume Martin (fra) s.t.

GC after stage 1
1. Wout Van Aert (bel)
2. Daryl Impey (rsa) + 0.04
3. Egan Bernal (col) + 0.06
4. Alejandro Valverde (spa) + 0.10
5. Tadej Pogacar (slo) s.t.
6. Alexey Lutsenko (kaz) s.t.
7. Sergio Higuita (col) s.t.
8. Benoît Cosnefroy (fra) s.t.
9. Primoz Roglic (slo) s.t.
10. Guillaume Martin (fra) s.t.

Race report
Brent Van Moer, Niccolò Bonifazio, Michael Schär, Quinten Hermans and Tom-Jelte Slagter jump clear after almost 10 kilometres. The five extend their lead to a maximum of 5.30 minutes.

With more than 100 kilometres remaining the lead group is down to two. Bonifazio withdraws from the race with back pain, while Hermans and Van Moer abandon after a crash. And Slagter has enough of pulling just before entering the final kilometres, so Schär is the only remaining attacker.

Rémi Cavagna, Quentin Pacher and Søren Kragh Andersen go after the lone leader just before entering the final lap of 35 kilometres.

Pacher leaves the other two behind to track down Schär in a 10 kilometres chase, just to go down a little later. The two other chasers rejoin the Swiss attacker.

Cavagna goes solo with 17 kilometres remaining, but he is brought back before the 11 kilometres uphill to the line.

Uran attacks inside the last 2 kilometres, but he is brought back. Same story with Benoot after the flamme rouge.

Van Aert finishes off his teammate’s efforts and he sprints to victory ahead of Daryl Impey. Egan Bernal finishes in third, which is also their position in the GC.

Another interesting read: route 1st stage 2020 Critérium du Dauphiné.