Critérium du Dauphiné Live – Evenepoel and Roglic return to racing on opening hilly stage

Behind Lidl-Trek and Decathlon AG2R, the GC teams are gathering together. Ineos Grenadiers in particular have lots of numbers, keeping their leader Carlos Rodríguez right at the front and well out of trouble.

There’s been a definite increase in pace in the peloton. Having remained stable at just over three minutes for a while, the break’s lead is now closer to 2-30. Some riders also taking off gillets.

Lidl-Trek now bring the peloton across the finish line. They look very relaxed, and have matters firmly under control. 

59KM TO GO

Le Berre and Donavan have just crossed the finish line for the first time, with a lead of 3-03. There are big crowds here, and they will see them again in about 30km when the riders will hear the bell.

We’ve had our first abandonment of the race — Alex Edmondson of Team dsm-firmenich PostNL.

70KM TO GO

Their work is ensuring the gap remains stable. With 70 kilometres to go, it’s ay 3-17.

It’s the teams you’d expect to be setting the pace at the front of the peloton, with the fastest sprinters on paper — Decathlon AG2R for Sam Bennett, and Lidl-Trek for Mads Pedersen. 

Here’s Donovan and Le Berre out in front, shrouded in mist – this isn’t the kind of weather you’d associate with France in June. 

Kobe Goossens and Toms Skujiņš both came down in a crash a few kilometres ago, but both are up again and seem OK. 

80KM TO GO

3-15 now for the two leaders out front.

The peloton has eased off now after the intermediate sprint. The lead is back out to 3 minutes

The riders are now heading into a rolling section of the race before starting two local laps where they will cross the finish line twice before the end of the stage.

92km to go

The gap is coming down, the leaders now have a 2:35 lead

Here are the results from the intermediate sprint in Chantelle:

1. Le Berre 10 points and 3 seconds
2. Donovan 6 points and 2 seconds
3. Casper Pedersen 4 points and 1 second

Here’s what Sam Bennett had to say…