Flying Dutchman Lars Boom powered to the overall lead of the Criterium du Dauphine stage race after dominating his rivals in the opening prologue held over 5.4km on Sunday.
Former cyclo-cross champion Boom, who rides for Rabobank, completed the race against the clock in a time of 6 minutes, 18 seconds to keep Astana veteran Alexandre Vinokourov of Kazakhstan in second place by two seconds.
Britain’s Bradley Wiggins, one of several top names hoping to use the eight-day race as a crucial warm-up for the Tour de France next month, was third, five seconds adrift for Team Sky.
Photo: Reuters
Briefs spells of rain had made the technical course something of a lottery for most of the peloton, although by the time the big favorites had warmed up and were ready to go most of the roads had dried.
Boom, who is just recovering from a bout of tendinitis which flared up at the Tour of California, put his victory down to a solid block of training.
“Apart from the hill at the start of the race, it went really well for me,” said the 25-year-old, one of the few professional riders who stands above 1.9m. “I felt comfortable in the corners, where my cyclo-cross experience probably helped, but I think the biggest difference was having trained solidly last week. Now I’d like to keep the jersey for another day, although I know tomorrow’s stage finishes on an uphill. The main aim for the team is to go for more stage wins, whether it’s me or someone else.”
As a host of big names, including Italian Ivan Basso, finished way off Boom’s pace, Vinokourov was more than happy with a place on the podium.
“I’ve got great legs,” the Kazakhstan rider said. “I trained hard in the lead up to the Dauphine and this is my reward. I’m delighted.”
Australian Cadel Evans, a three-time runner-up on the race, finished seventh, nine seconds back.
“Unfortunately, when it’s changing weather conditions, it can make for a little bit of an unfair racing, but it was good the roads dried up for the GC favorites. It’s a good start to what is going to be an interesting race,” Evans said.
BMC Racing directeur sportif John Lelangue said Evans is on track at a race where he has finished runner-up three times.
“There is still a big time trial coming and some nice mountaintop finishes,” Lelangue said. “Most important today was to be safe and not lose time.”
Belgian Jurgen van den Broeck was the next best among the other hopefuls for a podium place at next month’s Tour, the Omega-Pharma all-rounder finishing in 15th, 14 seconds adrift.
Dutchman Robert Gesink, also of Rabobank, was a further two seconds further back, while German Tony Martin of HTC-Highroad finished 17 seconds behind Boom.
Basso, who has made victory in the Tour de France his priority this year, could only finish 102nd, 34 seconds behind Boom.
Time-trial specialist Boom claimed his second victory of the season after winning the Tour of Qatar prologue in February.
The first stage of the Criterium is a 144 km ride that takes the peloton from Albertville to Saint-Pierre-de-Chartreuse.
In keeping with the tradition of being a major warm-up for the yellow jersey battle, the third stage tomorrow will feature the exact same 42.5km time trial around Grenoble that will be used on the 20th and penultimate stage of the Tour de France.
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