Critérium du Dauphiné Stage 3 Live – chance for GC action on final climb

Madouas is not giving up though, and he’s about 25 seconds back on the four ahead.

We’re now onto the fourth of the five classified climbs of the day, the cat. 4  Côte de Valogeon. 

Juul Jensen makes it to the three ahead, but Madouas looking as if he is going to be caught by the bunch.

Christopher Juul Jensen (Jayco-AIUIa) is close to reaching the three ahead – Nicolas Prodhomme (Decathlon-AG2R La Mondiale), Remi Rochas (Groupama-FDJ) and Harry Sweeny (EF Education-Easy Post).

Next up the road is France’s Valentin Madouas, keen to show off his National Champion’s jersey in the last few weeks before he has to fight for it again.

Jayco-AIUIa’s Chris Juul-Jensen fires himself out of the left-hand side of the pack and has gone on the hunt for the break.

42 kilometres to go

1:18 the gap. The bunch are clearly not wanting to close in too soon on the break.

Four new bikes, two new wheelsets, fresh custom paint, tyre nerdery, and much more besides: Biggest ever tech gallery from the Critérium du Dauphiné

4%, 5%, 4%…there’s a long, uneven grind now for the race up to foot of the second-last climb of the stage, the Cat.4  Côte de Valogeon (2km at 5.2%). Of the 3,000 metres of vertical climbing in today’s stage, we’ve still got nearly 1,000 left and we’re all but into the last 40 kilometres. 

Mechanical for Cofidis’ rookie pro Oliver Knight. But it’s sorted and he’s quickly heading back to the peloton. 

A shot of Primož Roglič, where you can see some more consequences of his crash on his left side.

50 kilometres to go

And just under a minute’s advantage for Prodhomme, Rochas and Sweeny.

Speaking before the start, Magnus Cort has just confirmed on Eurosport that he’d like to try to go for a second stage win today. The finish is certainly a similar one to Monday’s, even if the run-in is not so tough.

Rochas claims maximum points at the summit of the Côte de Retournac ahead of Prodhomme and Sweeny with minimal opposition from his two breakaway companions, content to simply…