On a day marked by rain, Christophe Laporte (Jumbo-Vima) emerged victorious in the initial stage of the Critérium du Dauphiné 2023, in an undulating section of 158 kilometers that started and finished in Chambon-sur-Lac, where the best rider in America was Ecuadorian Richard Carapaz in 14th place.
The French sprinter was the fastest in the sprint after catching the Belgian Rune Herregodts (Intermarché – Circus – Wanty) over the finish line, who almost caused a surprise at the beginning of the event, but finished with an excellent third place, behind de Laporte and the Italian Matteo Trentin (UAE Team Emirates), who came in second.
Olympic champion Richard Carapaz signed the best task for a Latino cyclist by finishing in 14th place with the same time as the winners; while the Colombian Egan Bernal (Ineos Grenadiers), another of the most followed figures in the joust, entered the squad well positioned, ranking 21st.
Other Colombians with an outstanding position and the same time as the winner were Esteban Chaves (EF Education-EasyPost) who finished in 27th place and Daniel Felipe Martínez (Ineos Grenadiers) with 41st.
The escape of the day woke up early. After ten kilometers the leading group was already formed. Three Belgians and two Frenchmen joined forces. Fabio Van den Bossche (Alpecin-Deceuninck), Rune Herregodts (Intermarché-Circus-Wanty), Brent Van Moer (Lotto Dstny), Donovan Grondin (Arkéa-Samsic) and Dorian Godon (AG2R Citroën) made up the breakaway, but the finish all they were captured by the platoon.
The French round will continue this Monday with the dispute of the second stage, an undulating fraction of 167.3 kilometers between Brassac-les-Mines and La Chaise-Dieu, which includes four mountain passes.