Adam Yates takes last stage victory, Geraint Thomas wins overall classification at Dauphine
Jun 10 2018 08:55 pm CET
Mitchelton-Scott
Adam Yates has taken the victory at the last stage of the Criterium du Dauphine. An attack in the last kilometres was enough for the Mitchelton-Scott rider to take the day's win, while Geraint Thomas' fourth position gave him the overall victory.
The last stage of the Dauphine was 136 kilometres long between Moutiers and Saint-Gervais Mont Blanc, and featured four climbs of the fourth category, including the mountain finish. The day started with an escape of six riders that included David Gaudu (Groupama-FDJ), Pierre Rolland (EF Education First) and Julian Alaphilippe (Quick-Step Floors).
Behind, Team Sky took the control of the pace in the peloton, but it was momentary because race leader Geraint Thomas suffered two punctures during the first climbs. The rider was dropped from the favourites' group but was back with 25 kilometres to go.
On the last descent, Alaphilippe tried to escape from the front group but at the start of the final ascent, the escapees got reunited again. With 11 kilometres to go, David Gaudu (Groupama-FDJ), attacked from the front and went solo.
Behind, a group formed by Thomas, Adam Yates (Mitchelton-Scott), Romain Bardet (AG2R La Mondiale) and Tao Geoghegan Hart (Sky) caught most of the escapees. With six kilometres remaining, Dani Navarro (Cofidis) and Rolland reeled in Gaudu and tried to get away, Navarro being the only one that could manage to do so.
At 2.6 kilometres from the finish, Bora-hansgrohe's Emanuel Buchmann attacked and was followed by Dan Martin (UAE-Team Emirates). The strength of the Irishman was diminished and he was soon caught and overtaken by a change of acceleration by Bardet. Thomas and Yates stayed at his wheel until they caught Buchmann.
Buchmann changed rhythm again but could not get rid of the others. Just past the last kilometre mark, Bardet launched a new attack and took Yates with him, but Thomas got back to them a few metres later.
Yates attacked in the last meters and none of the others could react. The Briton managed to catch Navarro and crossed the finish line on his own.
The Spaniard was second and Bardet was third. Thomas arrived at the finish line at 19 seconds from Yates, which was enough for him to take the overall victory.
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