Britain’s defending champion Chris Froome of Sky Pro Cycling made it two wins in two days when he won Monday’s second stage of the Criterium du Dauphine ahead of Spanish archrival Alberto Contador of Tinkoff-Saxo.
After victory in Sunday’s opening time trial, Froome ensured himself of the race leader’s maillot jaune on the 156km second stage that ended with a grueling 13.6km climb of the Col du Beal.
“It’s the first time this year that we’ve both battled,” Froome said of his “duel” with Contador. “I gave it everything. It was block to block. I tried several times to attack, but he [Contador] is very strong. It was really tough between us.”
Photo: AFP
A breakaway by Alessandro de Marchi was eventually reeled in with 7.5km to go, despite a 2 minute, 40 second lead the Italian had going into the final ascent.
Froome was followed home by Contador, with Dutch rider Wilco Kelderman of Belkin Pro Cycling in third, 4 seconds adrift.
The Kenyan-born Briton, the reigning Tour de France champion, was 12 seconds clear of Contador, himself twice a winner of the Grand Tour, in the overall classification.
Kelderman and Garmin-Sharp’s Andrew Talansky, who finished fifth, two emerging riders, as well as Belgium’s Jurgen van den Broeck of Lotto-Belisol, fourth, vainly tried to make the most of the rare moments of respite offered by Froome in the final kilometers, but it was a group of six riders, still lead by the Briton, which emerged going into the final kilometer.
Among the group, Italy’s Vincenzo Nibali of Astana finally conceded 27 seconds to Froome and Contador to cross in sixth. Kelderman, well-oiled by the recent Giro d’Italia, resisted better without being able to rival the yellow jersey for the second time in two days.
Poland’s Michal Kwiatkowski of Omega Pharma-Quick Step and American Tejay van Garderen of BMC Racing, both Tour de France hopes, lost two minutes to Froome.
If he could count on teammates Geraint Thomas of Wales and Spaniard Mikel Nieve in the first part of the climb, Froome’s usual trusty lieutenant, Australia’s Richie Porte, struggled throughout the day to finish more than 10 minutes off the pace.
Yesterday’s third stage covered 194km from Ambert to Teil and gives the sprinters an opportunity in the mostly mountainous race.
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