Critérium du Dauphiné 2017: Peter Kennaugh wins in Alpe dHuez, Porte cements overall lead

Critérium du Dauphiné 2017: Peter Kennaugh wins in Alpe d’Huez, Porte cements overall lead

The 7th stage in the Critérium du Dauphiné take in five climbs to finish uphill in L'Alpe d'Huez. Peter Kennaugh soloes to victory in the Queen Stage ahead of Ben Swift, while Richie Porte cements his overall lead. (Slideshow route/profile)

Results 7th stage 2017 Critérium du Dauphiné

1. Peter Kennaugh (gbr)
2. Ben Swift (gbr) + 0.13
3. Jesús Herrada (spa) + 1.11
4. Jelle Vanendert (bel) + 1.13
5. Romain Bardet (fra) + 1.14
6. Richie Porte (aus) + 1.56
7. Jakob Fuglsang (den) s.t.
8. Andrew Talansky (usa) + 2.04
9. Alberto Contador (spa) s.t.
10. Fabio Aru (ita) + 2.12

11. Daniel Martin (irl) s.t.
12. Alejandro Valverde (spa) + 2.19
15. Chris Froome (gbr) s.t.
20. Esteban Chaves (col) + 2.42

GC after 7th stage
1. Richie Porte (aus)
2. Chris Froome (gbr) + 1.02
3. Jakob Fuglsang (den) + 1.15
4. Fabio Aru (ita) + 1.41
5. Alejandro Valverde (spa) + 1.43
6. Romain Bardet (fra) + 2.07
7. Alberto Contador (spa) + 2.15
8. Daniel Martin (irl) + 2.31
9. Emmanuel Buchmann (ger) + 2.53
10. Andrew Talansky (usa) + 3.43

Race report
It’s only after the first climb, Côte de Berland, with 28 kms done, that the break takes shape. Peter Kennaugh is first to crest and along with Alexis Vuillermoz, Jesus Herrada, Lennard Hofsteded and Thomas Degand he pushes on. Twelve riders bridge across – among them Koen ‘polka dot’ Bouwman, who is first to crest both Col de Cucheron and Col de Porte, thus cementing his KOM lead.

On the long and rolling intermediate sector to Côte de Garcin the group of seventeen race to a maximum lead of 6 minutes and on the climb the gap falls to 4 minutes. Once again, Bouwman is first to crest, while Andrew Talansky jumps clear from the front of the peloton. The former Dauphiné-winner crosses the summit is 3 minutes after the front group.

While climbing Col de Sarenne Jelle Vanendert, Peter Kennaugh and Delio Fernandez leave the other attackers behind, while Ben Swift, José Herrada and Diego Ulissi re-join them. A few kms before the top Bardet gets clear from the main group.

Kennaugh and Swift head out together in the last km before the summit. They crest 20 seconds ahead of their former companions and 1’40 ahead of Talansky. Bardet is 2 minutes in arrears, while the other GC contenders are half a minute down on the Frenchman.

On the false flat to the foot of the last climb Bardet re-joins Talansky, while Kennaugh shakes off Swift on the first slopes to Alpe d’Huez. Bardet does the same with Talansky. Aru leaves the main group, but Porte counter-attacks with none of his rivals capable to follow with the exception of Fulsang.

Meanwhile Kennaugh comes in first ahead of Ben Swift. Bardet is the first GC contender on the line, yet the moral winner is Porte, who cements his lead with Froome now more than 1 minute in arrears.