Critérium du Dauphiné 2021: Uphill sprint win Valverde, Lutsenko new leader

fotobureau Cor VosAlejandro Valverde sprints to victory in the first mountain stage of the Critérium du Dauphiné. Tao Geoghehan Hart finishes in second, Patrick Konrad in third. Alexey Lutsenko moves into the yellow jersey. (Slideshow route/profile)

Results 6th stage Critérium du Dauphiné 2021

1. Alejandro Valverde (spa)
2. Tao Geoghegan Hart (gbr) s.t.
3. Patrick Konrad (aut) s.t.
4. Wilco Kelderman (nld) s.t.
5. Enric Mas (spa) s.t.
6. Sepp Kuss (usa) s.t.
7. Alexey Lutsenko (kaz) s.t.
8. Jack Haig (aus) s.t.
9. Ben Hermans (bel) s.t.
10. Steven Kruijswijk (nld) s.t.

GC after stage 6
1. Alexey Lutsenko (kaz)
2. Ion Izagirre (spa) + 0.08
3. Wilco Kelderman (nld) + 0.12
4. Geraint Thomas (gbr) + 0.13
5. Ilan Van Wilder (bel) s.t.
6. Richie Porte (aus) + 0.15
7. Patrick Konrad (aut) + 0.27
8. Jack Haig (aus) + 0.34
9. Steven Kruijswijk (nld) + 0.39
10. Miguel Ángel López (col) + 0.42

Race report
Strong tailwind and high pace, so it takes awhile for the break to form. After an hour Craddock, Le Gac, Perez, Van Avermaet, Goldstein, Pichon, Holmes, Bystrom, Cerny, Bernard, Howson, Salmon, Bonnamour and Bakelants break clear. The fourteen put 3 minutes into the peloton.

Bernard heads out alone on the Col de Porte before Holmes, Bakelants, Craddock and Bonnamour track him down. Meanwhile, yellow jersey Pöstlberger loses contact in the peloton.

Craddock goes solo to reach the summit with a lead of 30 seconds. The peloton is 2 minutes in arrears.

The gap has fallen to 15 seconds on the Côte de la Frette before the Texan is caught with 3 kilometres remaining.

Despite several attacks in the last kilometres the race boils down to a sprint. Tao Geoghegan Hart opens with 250 metres to go, but Alejandro Valverde times his sprint to perfection and overhauls the Giro winner of 2020 in the final metres.

Alexey Lutsenko crosses the line in eight position to move into the overall race lead.

Another interesting read: route 6th stage 2021 Critérium du Dauphiné.