Critérium du Dauphiné 2021: Padun again, Porte seals GC win

image: Cor VosMark Padun attacks from the breakaway on the early slopes of the Col de Joux Plane. The rider from Ukraine solos to his second victory in a row, while Richie Porte seals the overall victory. Alexey Lutsenko and Geraint Thomas round out the podium. (Slideshow route/profile)

Results 8th stage Critérium du Dauphiné 2021

1. Mark Padun (ukr)
2. Jonas Vingegaard (den) + 1.36
3. Patrick Konrad (aut) s.t.
4. Ben O’Connor (aus) + 1.57
5. David Gaudu (fra) + 2.10
6. Geraint Thomas (gbr) s.t.
7. Alexey Lutsenko (kaz) s.t.
8. Richie Porte (aus) s.t.
9. Jack Haig (aus) s.t.
10. Guillaume Martin (fra) s.t.

Final GC after stage 8
1. Richie Porte (aus)
2. Alexey Lutsenko (kaz) + 0.17
3. Geraint Thomas (gbr) + 0.29
4. Wilco Kelderman (nld) + 0.33
5. Jack Haig (aus) + 0.34
6. Miguel Ángel López (col) + 0.38
7. Ion Izagirre (spa) s.t.
8. Ben O’Connor (aus) + 0.47
9. David Gaudu (fra) + 1.12
10. Tao Geoghegan Hart (gbr) + 1.57

Race report
Julien Bernard and Franck Bonnamour are the first attackers on the Côte d’Esserts-Blay. But they are caught and Michael Schwarzmann is the first rider at the summit.

Schwarzmann forges on with Madouas, Martin (Guillaume), Vingegaard, Arcas, Erviti, Konrad, Politt, Godon, Barguil, Sweeny, Padun, Bernard, Elissonde, Rolland, Bonnamour and Armée. The peloton agrees with this move and Schwarzmann, who worked for Konrad to initiate the breakaway, is distanced on the Côte d’Héry-sur-Ugine. Padun is the first rider at the summit, while Valgren, Tusveld and Bakelants are chasing at 1 minute.

The trio joins the lead group on the Col des Aravis, although Bakelants drops back with 5 kilometres to climb to the summit. Again, Padun is the first rider to reach the summit.

Bakelants makes it back in the descent before the attackers enter the Col de la Colombière 4 minutes ahead of the GC group. Padun moves into the KOM lead as he summits the Colombière in first position to move into the polka dot jersey.

The leaders enter Col de Joux Plane almost 3 minutes ahead of the GC group. Padun heads out alone and secures the KOM victory at the summit of the Joux Plane with the first chasers, Vingegaard and Konrad, 1.30 minutes in arrears. The peloton reaches the summit 3 minutes behind Padun.

Thomas (Geraint) hits the deck in the descent, but he comes clawing back in the finish climb to Les Gets.

While Padun solos to his second consecutive stage, the GC action remains limited. Porte takes home the yellow jersey, and Lutsenko and Thomas round out the podium.

Another interesting read: route 8th stage 2021 Critérium du Dauphiné.