Samuel Sanchez of Euskaltel attacked on the penultimate climb of today's Stage 7 of the 2013 Critérium du Dauphiné and, after being joined by Astana's Jakob Fuglsang on the way down towards the final ascent, outsprinted the Dane to the finish in Superdévoluy.
Team Sky's Richie Porte jumped clear of a select chasing group with the line in sight to finish third, the riders who crossed the line a second behind him including his team leader Chris Froome, who retains the race leader's maillot jaune.
Movistar's Alejandro Valverde and Joaquin Rodriguez of Katusha had tried to get away on that last but one climb, the Category 1 Col du Noyer, as the group containing Froome and his rivals swept up the remnants of what had been a 22-strong breakaway group that had got away early in the stage, which included an ascent of the Alpe d'Huez early on.
By the time the leaders were approaching the summit of the Col du Noyer, it was a select group of no more than ten riders at the head of the race, including Froome, Porte, Rodriguez, Valverde Saxo-Tinkoff’s Alberto Contador - working today for Michael Rogers, fourth on GC this morning - and Sanchez and Fuglsang.
Sanchez got awy towards the top of the climb, with Fuglsang setting off in pursuit of him. Heading towards the finish, Sanchez seemed to be suffering, TV cameras catching him grimacing, but the 2008 Olympic road champion had enough left in the tank for that final burst to the line, with Fuglsang unable to find a response.
The race concludes tomorrow with a 155.5km mountain stage from Sisteron to a summit finish at Risuls, the second of two Category 1 climbs on the day's route.
Critérium du Dauphiné Stage 7 result
1 SANCHEZ Samuel Euskaltel - Euskadi 05:26:14
2 FUGLSANG Jakob Astana Pro Team ,,
3 PORTE Richie Sky Procycling 00:15
4 MORENO Daniel Katusha Team 00:16
5 CLEMENT Stef Blanco Pro Cycling Team ,,
6 VALVERDE Alejandro Movistar Team ,,
7 FROOME Christopher Sky Procycling ,,
8 NAVARRO Daniel Cofidis Solutions Crédits ,,
9 ROGERS Michael Team Saxo-Tinkoff ,,
10 CONTADOR Alberto Team Saxo-Tinkoff 00:23
11 RODRIGUEZ Joaquim Katusha Team 00:30
12 TEN DAM Laurens Blanco Pro Cycling Team 00:53
13 NIEVE Mikel Euskaltel - Euskadi 01:00
14 VOECKLER Thomas Team Europcar 01:45
15 GENIEZ Alexandre Equipe Cycliste FDJ ,,
16 TAARAMäE Rein Cofidis Solutions Crédits ,,
17 CUNEGO Damiano Lampre - Merida 01:52
18 THOMAS Geraint Sky Procycling 02:06
19 KWIATKOWSKI Michal Omega Pharma - Quick-Step 02:07
20 DENNIS Rohan Garmin - Sharp 02:10
Overall standings after Stage 7
1 FROOME Christopher Sky Procycling 25:00:13
2 PORTE Richie Sky Procycling 00:51
3 ROGERS Michael Team Saxo-Tinkoff 01:37
4 MORENO Daniel Katusha Team 01:47
5 NAVARRO Daniel Cofidis Solutions Crédits 01:49
6 FUGLSANG Jakob Astana Pro Team 02:04
7 CLEMENT Stef Blanco Pro Cycling Team 02:32
8 VALVERDE Alejandro Movistar Team 02:47
9 DENNIS Rohan Garmin - Sharp 02:48
10 CONTADOR Alberto Team Saxo-Tinkoff 02:56
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2 comments
Mick Rogers virtually a minute and a half ahead of Bertie. Nice.
Love Sanchez's fake pain face. He really sold Fulsang a good'un