On paper, the first stage of this year Dauphiné criterium was one for sprinters. Yes, there were elevation splashes during the 195 km scene finishing circuit in Montluçon, but the mountainous tail of the race pointed out to fast men on the first day.
This hypothesis was quickly broken when Jonas Vingegaard (Visma-Lail A bike) turned off the front at the top of the final ascent of the Côte de Buffon with less than 7 km remaining.
Visma-lease A key man of a bicycle was quickly marked, of course, by Tadej Pogačar (Emirates-XRG water team), who admitted during his press conference after the race he planned to “survive today”.
A group with five Crille-Ciel composed of Pogačar, Vingegaard, Mathieu van der Poel (Alpine-deceuninck), Remco Evenepoel (Sudal-Quickstep) and Santiago Buitrago (Bahrain-Victorious) managed to hold the pressure from the Sprint teams and make sure they would do it just Fight for the sprint.
Pogačar may have been the possible benefactor of the late attack, Win the scene and take the race advanceBut he did not take any credit for the plan.
“I don’t remember that I had attacked. I just followed the wheels today. I never attacked today,” he said with an ironic smile at his press conference.
Whether just a decision to cover his probable rival or not from the GC, Pogačar was happy that it was still produced.
The latest race content, interviews, features, reviews and expert purchase guides, directly in your reception box!
“I was really happy to have attacked,” he added in reference to the Vingegaard movement.
“I think it’s a good sign. He is in good shape, he wants to run, he wants to have fun on the bike. I think there was a little hesitation when Remco joined the group, so Jonas was no longer impatient to shoot, I think he really wanted (to), maybe the car (team) did not want him to shoot.”
Slovenian noted the clear form only its main competitors demonstrated: “They all looked in super good condition. Mathieu (Van der Poel), exceptional once again to be on this steep ascent with more or less pure climbers, ready for GC, to be among them. It was a very good finish.”
However, for all the enthusiasm of Pogačar around the aggressive race of his rivals, something he is never afraid to do, he also seems an air of nervousness in the Emirates-XRG Talisman water team.
“It was nice to see everyone in good shape. But now maybe I can be a little afraid because they are so good,” he said, maybe only half pleasant.
Given the intensity of a scene that no one had assigned to a Battle of GC to ignite, the rest of the race will have to be reassessed, the work of the Sprint teams made even more difficult than we had to tighten something from the first stadiums.
The day also marked the first Pogačar, Vingegaard and Onepoel meeting since they stood on the Tour de France podium in Nice last July. Pogačar was undecided to know if this first cycle of action changes the prospects for the big loop of next month, with the pressure always on the trio to be delivered.
“The pressure for the tour is everywhere. Each year, it increases a little, and the level each year is more difficult. Obviously, the season is perfect for me so far, so in one way or another, it relieves the pressure, in a way adds a little pressure. So it depends on the day, the way I wake up,” he pointed out in his typically relaxed behavior.
“If you do not succeed on the tour, then you still have a very good season, you know? And so maybe from this point of view, I can be more relaxed to go to the tour.”