Critérium du Dauphiné 2021: Solo triumph and leaders jersey for Pöstlberger

Critérium du Dauphiné 2021: Solo triumph and leader’s jersey for Pöstlberger

image: Cor VosLukas Pöstlberger initiates the breakaway on the second day of the Critérium du Dauphiné. The Austrian goes solo with 18 kilometres remaining and holds off the chasing pack. Not only does he take the stage win, he also moves into the leader's jersey. Sonny Colbrelli outsprints Alejandro Valverde for second place. (Slideshow route/profile)

Results 2nd stage Critérium du Dauphiné 2021

1. Lukas Pöstlberger (aut)
2. Sonny Colbrelli (ita) + 0.11
3. Alejandro Valverde (spa) s.t.
4. Kasper Asgreen (den) s.t.
5. Sven Erik Bystrøm (nor) s.t.
6. Patrick Konrad (aut) s.t.
7. Ilan Van Wilder (bel) s.t.
8. Greg Van Avermaet (bel) s.t.
9. Alex Aranburu (spa) s.t.
10. David Gaudu (fra) s.t.

GC after stage 2
1. Lukas Pöstlberger (aut)
2. Sonny Colbrelli (ita) + 0.12
3. Alejandro Valverde (spa) + 0.20
4. Kasper Asgreen (den) + 0.24
5. Alex Aranburu (spa) s.t.
6. Patrick Konrad (aut) s.t.
7. Michael Valgren (den) s.t.
8. Guillaume Martin (fra) s.t.
9. Geraint Thomas (gbr) s.t.
10. Ilan Van Wilder (bel) s.t.

Race report
Lukas Pöstlberger, Anthony Delaplace, Matthew Holmes, Shane Archbold and Robert Power jump off the front of the peloton after 10 kilometers of hard racing. The five put more than 5 minutes into the peloton.

Holmes is the first rider over the Col de Peyra Taillade, Côte de la Vachellerie and Côte d’Auvers. Meanwhile, Power has been dropped – not only from the lead group, but he also drops out of the Dauphiné.

Pöstlberger and Archbold head out together with 35 kilometres remaining before the Austrian goes alone inside the last 18 kilometres. He enters the Côte de la Forêt de Pourcheresse almost 3 minutes ahead of the peloton, while his lead has fallen below 1 minute at the summit. Leader Brent Van Moer can’t follow the pace in the main group.

Ben O’Connor tries to hunt down Pöstlberger, who crests Côte de Masset 20 seconds earlier. The main group is also close behind and gobbles up the lone chaser.

But not the lone attacker. Pöstlberger stays 11 seconds ahead of the chasing peloton and moves into the overall race lead.

Overnight leader Van Moer finishes more than 3 minutes later.

Another interesting read: route 2nd stage 2021 Critérium du Dauphiné.