Critérium du Dauphiné 2016 Stage 7: Cummings solos to mountain victory, Froome wins overall

The last stage of the 2016 Critérium du Dauphiné features six climbs. The final 50 kilometres are marked by two 1st categorie ascents, and it's there Stephen Cummings attacks from the front group to solo to victory. Dan Martin finishes in second and Romain Bardet in third, while they occupy the same places in reverse in the overall. Chris Froome takes the GC for the second year in a row. (Slideshow route/profile)

Results Stage 7 Critérium du Dauphiné

1. Stephen Cummings (gbr)
2. Daniel Martin (fra) + 3.58
3. Romain Bardet (fra) s.t.
4. Wout Poels (nld) s.t.
5. Adam Yates (gbr) s.t.
6. Julian Alaphilippe (fra) s.t.
7. Diego Rosa (ita) s.t.
8. Louis Meintjes (rsa) + 4.01
9. Richie Porte (aus) + 4.03
10. Chris Froome (gbr) s.t.

11. Alberto Contador (spa) s.t.

Final GC Critérium du Dauphiné
1. Chris Froome (gbr)
2. Romain Bardet (fra) + 0.12
3. Daniel Martin (irl) + 0.19
4. Richie Porte (aus) + 0.21
5. Alberto Contador (spa) + 0.35
6. Julian Alaphilippe (fra) + 0.51
7. Adam Yates (gbr) + 0.57
8. Diego Rosa (ita) + 1.13
9. Louis Meintjes (rsa) + 1.30
10. Pierre Rolland (fra) + 2.43

Race report
At the second climb of the day, Côte des Terrasses, a front group of 20 riders takes shape: Cummings, Hesjedal, Slagter, De Gendt, Van den Broeck, Kiserlovski, Roy, Lutsenko, Gastauer, Impey, Gallopin, Teklehaimanot, Oliveira, Sicard, Bauer, Coppel, Huzarski, Voss, Grmay and Guillaume Martin. They race to a maximum advantage of 3 minutes.

Teklehaimanot is the first to hit the top of Côte de Saint-Laurent-du-Cros, so virtually he is back in the polka dot jersey, while Stephen Cummings goes solo at the lower flanks of the first 1st category climb, Col de Moissière. He is the first to crest ahead of Grmay and then a group with Kiserlovski, Lutsenko, Van den Broeck, Gallopin, Teklehaimanot, Bauer and Voss.

At the next 1st category climb, Col du Noyer, Cummings enjoys a 5 minutes lead over the peloton. His chasers are brought back one after the other, while the solo-specialist pushes hard. The advantage lingers at around 4’30”.

Contador attacks a few kms under the top. Froome, Porte and Bardet are the only riders able to hook up and due to the acceleration Cumming’s gain goes down to 3 minutes, yet this goes up again in the section leading to the last climb. Several riders join the group Froome, among them Dan Martin, Adam Yates and Julian Alaphilippe.

Cummings victory is not endangered. On the contrary, he finishes with a comfortable 4 minutes lead over Daniel Martin. With a late surge to the line the Irishman not only takes a time bonus, he also puts time into Porte and so he finishes on the podium. Because Romain Bardet is on Martin’s wheel at the finish line, the Frenchman concludes the Dauphiné in second, while Porte drops to fourth.