{"id":183765,"date":"2025-06-14T12:41:14","date_gmt":"2025-06-14T12:41:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/183765\/"},"modified":"2025-06-14T12:41:14","modified_gmt":"2025-06-14T12:41:14","slug":"criterium-du-dauphine-stage-7-live-gc-riders-poised-for-battle-in-the-high-mountains","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/183765\/","title":{"rendered":"Crit\u00e9rium du Dauphin\u00e9 stage 7 live \u2013 GC riders poised for battle in the high mountains"},"content":{"rendered":"

Refresh <\/p>\n

2025-06-14T12:39:22.950Z<\/p>\n

Those five have now been joined by Martin, Martinez, Lutsenko and Higuita.<\/p>\n

2025-06-14T12:38:36.613Z<\/p>\n

The break as split, with Healy, Kuss, Buitrago, Traeen and Bardet going clear.<\/p>\n

2025-06-14T12:37:36.808Z<\/p>\n

Jorgenson is setting the pace in the much-reduced peloton for Visma.<\/p>\n

2025-06-14T12:36:03.760Z<\/p>\n

Healy hasn’t gone clear, but Armirail, Leknessund and Romeo have been dropped.<\/p>\n

2025-06-14T12:34:45.661Z<\/p>\n

Up ahead, Ben Healy has attacked.<\/p>\n

2025-06-14T12:32:39.131Z<\/p>\n

Campanaerts is finished, and caused significant damage. There are only around 15 riders left i the peloton, and the gap between it and the leaders has plunged to one minute.<\/p>\n

2025-06-14T12:31:40.195Z<\/p>\n

Campanaerts has upped the pace big time. It seems Visma might be setting something up\u2026<\/p>\n

2025-06-14T12:30:06.090Z<\/p>\n

There’s a change at the front of the peloton as Visma take over from UAE. Campanaerts is their man setting the pace.<\/p>\n

2025-06-14T12:28:05.134Z<\/p>\n

The break’s lead is going up again. It’s risen to over two minutes for the first time all day.<\/p>\n

2025-06-14T12:23:51.179Z<\/p>\n

Martin and Romeo are now also with the leaders.<\/p>\n

2025-06-14T12:21:00.195Z<\/p>\n

Leknessund’s issue doesn’t seem to be a lack of legs, as he’s returned back into the group now. Romeo remains dropped, however, and has just been caught by Martin.<\/p>\n

2025-06-14T12:18:47.773Z<\/p>\n

Romeo and Leknessund have been dropped out of the break, and are about 15 seconds adrift.<\/p>\n

2025-06-14T12:16:05.347Z<\/p>\n

Halfway up the Col de la Croix Fer, and no attacks yet by any of the GC men. With such a long, and not especially technical, descent to come after, they may deem it best to hold fire until the final climb – but there are still plenty of steep gradients to overcome yet on this one.<\/p>\n

2025-06-14T12:12:45.231Z<\/p>\n

Martin is 17th on GC at 4:44, so not much of a threat on GC.<\/p>\n

2025-06-14T12:09:04.923Z<\/p>\n

Guillaume Martin has attacked out of the peloton.<\/p>\n

2025-06-14T12:05:39.836Z<\/p>\n

The break at the front of the race. Their lead is now 1:40.<\/p>\n

\"Jordan<\/p>\n

(Image credit: Getty Images)<\/p>\n

2025-06-14T11:57:35.876Z<\/p>\n

Paret=Peintre is reabsorbed back into the peloton.<\/p>\n

2025-06-14T11:57:04.410Z<\/p>\n

The gap is going the other way now, growing back up to 1:30.<\/p>\n

2025-06-14T11:53:14.593Z<\/p>\n

UAE Team Emirates – XRG lead the peloton, with Nils Politt setting the pace.<\/p>\n

2025-06-14T11:52:14.533Z<\/p>\n

Paret-Peintre is the first rider to be dropped from the breakaway on this climb.<\/p>\n

2025-06-14T11:44:39.673Z<\/p>\n

Buitrago has needed to have a bike change.<\/p>\n

2025-06-14T11:44:22.004Z<\/p>\n

The advantage has swung towards the peloton on the early slopes of the Col de la Croix Fer. The gap has been reduced, to 1 minute.<\/p>\n

80KM TO GO<\/p>\n

2025-06-14T11:41:45.210Z<\/p>\n

For an idea of how much damage the Col de la Madeleine did, this was all that was left of the peloton as they neared the top.<\/p>\n

\"Peloton\"<\/p>\n

(Image credit: Getty Images)<\/p>\n

2025-06-14T11:37:24.046Z<\/p>\n

The leaders start the climb, with an advantage over the peloton of 1:15. They\u2019ll need to increase that on this climb if they\u2019re to stand a chance of competing for the stage win.<\/p>\n

2025-06-14T11:35:20.537Z<\/p>\n

The riders are done descending and are about to start the second climb – the Col de la Croix de Fer.<\/p>\n

2025-06-14T11:33:16.826Z<\/p>\n

Tadej Poga\u010dar and Jonas Vingegaard, poised for battle on the coming climbs.<\/p>\n

\"Tadej<\/p>\n

(Image credit: Getty Images)<\/p>\n

2025-06-14T11:30:25.720Z<\/p>\n

The break have grown their lead a little during the second half of this descent – it’s now up to 1:25.<\/p>\n

90KM TO GO<\/p>\n

2025-06-14T11:25:53.509Z<\/p>\n

Here are the updated KOM rankings:<\/p>\n

1 Armirail 19<\/p>\n

2 Higuita 15<\/p>\n

3 Baudin 13<\/p>\n

4 Poga\u010dar 12<\/p>\n

5 Ourselin 12<\/p>\n

6 Buitrago 12<\/p>\n

2025-06-14T11:22:39.599Z<\/p>\n

The gap holds steady at just over a minute, as the riders fly down the descent.<\/p>\n

100KM TO GO<\/p>\n

2025-06-14T11:21:13.122Z<\/p>\n

The peloton that reached the top of the climb was mch reduced from that which started it. It\u2019s been whittled down to less than 40 riders.<\/p>\n

2025-06-14T11:18:26.291Z<\/p>\n

Higuita led the break over the climb to take 15 KOM points, followed by Buitrago and Armirail. That means Armirail is now the vitual leader in the mountains classification.<\/p>\n

2025-06-14T11:17:06.656Z<\/p>\n

The riders have at last, after over an hour of racing, reached the top of the Col de la Madeleine. The break leads the peloton by just over a minute.<\/p>\n

COL DE LA MADELEINE<\/p>\n

2025-06-14T11:13:59.396Z<\/p>\n

\"Col<\/p>\n

(Image credit: Getty Images)<\/p>\n

2025-06-14T11:11:14.928Z<\/p>\n

Leknessund is back in the peloton, which is just under a minute behind.<\/p>\n

2025-06-14T11:10:19.524Z<\/p>\n

Leknessund is being dropped out of the break. He must have made a big effort to bridge the gap from the peloton.<\/p>\n

2025-06-14T11:05:12.844Z<\/p>\n

It hasn\u2019t taken them long – Leknessund and Traen are with the leaders now.<\/p>\n

2025-06-14T11:04:07.644Z<\/p>\n

And some riders still haven\u2019t given up hope of joining the lead group. Leknessund and Traen have jumped out of the peloton and are in pursuit.<\/p>\n

2025-06-14T11:03:05.680Z<\/p>\n

The race has settled down a bit now, but the elastic between the lead group and the peloton hasn\u2019t snapped. Their lead has grown, but only a little, to 45 seconds.<\/p>\n

2025-06-14T10:58:55.995Z<\/p>\n

The leaders have 40 seconds on the peloton, as they come ever closer to the top of the Madeleine.<\/p>\n

110KM TO GO<\/p>\n

2025-06-14T10:56:49.845Z<\/p>\n

A 13th rider has joined the lead group – Iv\u00e1n Romeo.<\/p>\n

2025-06-14T10:55:04.285Z<\/p>\n

The 12 riders in the lead group are: Kuss, Lutsenko, Healy, Valentin Paret-Peintre, Buitrago, Meintjes, Armirail, Jegat, Alfonso, Combaud, Juan Guillermo Martinez and Bardet.<\/p>\n

2025-06-14T10:54:01.557Z<\/p>\n

Bardet has two teammates with him in this lead group. This feels like a plan has been hatched by Picnic-PostNL to get their retiring star a fairytale end to his career.<\/p>\n

2025-06-14T10:50:51.168Z<\/p>\n

Romain Bardet was chasing them, and he too has now joined the leaders.<\/p>\n

2025-06-14T10:50:18.584Z<\/p>\n

The Buitrago chase group has caught the leading quartet. So we now have a new lead group of 11.<\/p>\n

2025-06-14T10:48:31.484Z<\/p>\n

Armirail has been dropped out of the lead group. The pace is still high as they continue to climb, and try to stay clear of the peloton.<\/p>\n

2025-06-14T10:47:18.071Z<\/p>\n

A chase group of 6 have formed behind, featuring Buitrago. The Colombian is no longer a GC threat, having fallen to 12-49 down after yesterday’s stage.<\/p>\n

2025-06-14T10:46:21.942Z<\/p>\n

This new leading quintet have a lead of 30 seconds on the peloton<\/p>\n

2025-06-14T10:42:17.540Z<\/p>\n

That trio have joined up to Paret-Peintre and Armirail.<\/p>\n

2025-06-14T10:41:08.199Z<\/p>\n

Visma aren\u2019t done yet. Kuss counters, and has gone clear with Lutsenko and Healy, the latter trying again having been in the previous chase group.<\/p>\n

2025-06-14T10:40:20.382Z<\/p>\n

The Jorgenson group has been neutralised, and brought back into the peloton.<\/p>\n

2025-06-14T10:38:20.072Z<\/p>\n

Paret-Peintre and Armirail are just a few seconds ahead of the Jorgenson group, which is itself just a few seconds ahead of the peloton.<\/p>\n

120KM TO GO<\/p>\n

2025-06-14T10:36:34.031Z<\/p>\n

The other riders with Jorgenson are: Higuita, Healy, Leijnse, Jegat, Traen, Cl\u00e9ment Braz Afonso and Juan Guillermo Martinez. Baudin has been dropped from the group.<\/p>\n

2025-06-14T10:34:48.498Z<\/p>\n

Jorgenson is not just a satellite rider for Visma-Lease a Bike, but a GC threat – he\u2019s fifth on GC, just 1-41 down on Poga\u010dar. There\u2019s no way UAE Team Emirates – XRG can afford to let him up the road.<\/p>\n

2025-06-14T10:32:53.957Z<\/p>\n

Higuita, Healy and Baudin are among the other riders in this 9-man chase.<\/p>\n

2025-06-14T10:31:49.236Z<\/p>\n

A chase group has formed behind that duo, and it\u2019s a dangerous one – Matteo Jorgenson is in it.<\/p>\n

2025-06-14T10:28:43.066Z<\/p>\n

Bruno Armirail and Valentin Paret-Peintre are the latest riders to attack and gain a gap of about 20 seconds over the peloton.<\/p>\n

2025-06-14T10:27:03.445Z<\/p>\n

Sepp Kuss was one of the riders in the chase group who went after Campanaerts, before all being brought back the peloton. It\u2019s clear Visma-Lease a Bike have a plan to get satellite riders up the road to try to unsettle UAE Team Emirates-XRG and Poga\u010dar – perhaps remembering how successful that ploy was in winning the Giro d\u2019Italia with Simon Yates.<\/p>\n

2025-06-14T10:24:49.672Z<\/p>\n

Lenny Martinez is the biggest GC man to be seen struggling to hold on in the peloton. The young Frenchman hasn’t shown the form so far this Dauphin\u00e9 as he did earlier in the season.<\/p>\n

2025-06-14T10:23:11.085Z<\/p>\n

And now that chase group too has been brought back by the peloton.<\/p>\n

2025-06-14T10:22:57.808Z<\/p>\n

Campanaerts’ time out in front hasn’t lasted long – he’s been caught by the chase group.<\/p>\n

2025-06-14T10:21:53.035Z<\/p>\n

Campanaerts at the front of the race<\/p>\n

\"Victor<\/p>\n

(Image credit: Getty Images)<\/p>\n

2025-06-14T10:16:41.765Z<\/p>\n

A large chase group has formed behind Campanaerts and is closing in on him.<\/p>\n

2025-06-14T10:15:35.228Z<\/p>\n

Many more riders are dropping out the back of the peloton as they climb, and a gruppetto has been formed. This could be a long day for those in it, especially if it takes a long time for the break to form.<\/p>\n

2025-06-14T10:12:52.227Z<\/p>\n

The riders started climbing the Col de la Madeleine right from the start, and already some are being dropped – including Jonathan Milan.<\/p>\n

2025-06-14T10:12:02.835Z<\/p>\n

Campanaerts has a gap, and is being chased by Alex Baudin.<\/p>\n

2025-06-14T10:09:36.845Z<\/p>\n

Victor Campanaerts is the first rider to make a move.<\/p>\n

2025-06-14T10:08:41.145Z<\/p>\n

And they’re off!<\/p>\n

OFFICIAL START<\/p>\n

2025-06-14T10:07:19.084Z<\/p>\n

The riders have been making their way through the neutralised one and will be racing in just a few minutes.<\/p>\n

2025-06-14T10:02:13.829Z<\/p>\n

With no less than three hors category climbs to overcome in the space of just 132.7km, this is the queen stage of this year\u2019s Dauphin\u00e9. The Col de la Madeleine and Col de la Croix Fer are tackled back to back first, followed by a short valley road prior to a final climb and summit finish to Valmeinier 1800.<\/p>\n

\n2025-06-14T09:58:20.540Z<\/p>\n

2025-06-14T09:56:40.990Z<\/p>\n

As a result of that stage win, Poga\u010dar is now at the top of the GC rankings, leading Jonas Vingegaard by 43 seconds and Florian Lipowit by 54, while former leader Remco Evenepoel has now slipped to fourth at 1-22. He\u2019s in a commanding position and looking strong as ever – but there are plenty of climbs today for that situation to change.<\/p>\n

2025-06-12T16:51:46.372Z<\/p>\n

The GC race exploded into life yesterday <\/a>as Tadej Poga\u010dar – as Tadej Poga\u010dar is wont to do – stamped his authority on the race with a devastating attack in the final 10km.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Refresh 2025-06-14T12:39:22.950Z Those five have now been joined by Martin, Martinez, Lutsenko and Higuita. 2025-06-14T12:38:36.613Z The break as…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":183766,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[4104],"tags":[4230,79,16,15],"class_list":{"0":"post-183765","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-cycling","8":"tag-cycling","9":"tag-sports","10":"tag-uk","11":"tag-united-kingdom"},"share_on_mastodon":{"url":"https:\/\/pubeurope.com\/@uk\/114681773230789289","error":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/183765","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=183765"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/183765\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/183766"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=183765"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=183765"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=183765"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}