Critérium du Dauphiné 2023: Laporte sprints to first leader's jersey

fotobureau Cor VosRune Herregodts is the first attacker of the day and he is caught in the last 50 metres. Christophe Laporte wins the sprint from a decimated peloton ahead of Matteo Trentin, while Herregodts finishes in third. Laporte is the first leader on GC. (Slideshow route/profile)

Results 1st stage 2023 Critérium du Dauphiné

1. Christophe Laporte (fra)
2. Matteo Trentin (ita) s.t.
3. Rune Herregodts (bel) s.t.
4. Axel Zingle (fra) s.t.
5. Maxim van Gils (bel) s.t.
6. Danny van Poppel (nld) s.t.
7. Andrea Bagioli (ita) s.t.
8. Fred Wright (gbr) s.t.
9. Robert Stannard (aus) s.t.
10. Marco Brenner (ger) s.t.

GC after stage 1
1. Christophe Laporte (fra)
2. Matteo Trentin (ita) + 0.04
3. Rune Herregodts (bel) + 0.06
4. Axel Zingle (fra) + 0.10
5. Maxim van Gils (bel) s.t.
6. Danny van Poppel (nld) s.t.
7. Andrea Bagioli (ita) s.t.
8. Fred Wright (gbr) s.t.
9. Robert Stannard (aus) s.t.
10. Marco Brenner (ger) s.t.

Race report
Attacks are flying from the gun, but it takes 10 kilometres for the breakaway to get clear. Rune Herregodts and Fabio Van den Bossche initiate it before Donavan Grondin, Dorian Godon and Brent Van Moer make it five at the front.

The peloton is hovering between 2 and 3 minutes for tens of kilometres. Nothing much happens, but then Ethan Hayter hits the deck twice and he leaves the race.

Grondin pockets most KOM points underway before he is dropped from the lead group with some 50 kilometres to go. Herregodts and Godon are almost reeled in at the summit of the last climb. Herregodts gives it another go to open up a 15 seconds gap.

The young Flemish rider is caught just before the line by the first two sprinters in the peloton. Laporte takes the stage win and leader's jersey, while Trentin finishes in second.

Another interesting read: route 1st stage 2023 Critérium du Dauphiné.