Critérium du Dauphiné 2018 Stage 4: Julian Alaphilippe wins uphill, Gianni Moscon new leader

The Dauphiné serves its first mountain meal in its 4th stage. The riders crest the long and trying Col du Mont Noir with 37.5 kilometres out, but the race comes down to the last kilometre of the last climb. Julian Alaphilippe bests Daniel Martin, Geraint Thomas and Romain Bardet in a four-up sprint. Gianni Moscon is the new leader on GC. (Slideshow route/profile)

Results 4th stage Critérium du Dauphiné 2018

1. Julian Alaphilippe (fra)
2. Daniel Martin (irl) s.t.
3. Geraint Thomas (gbr) s.t.
4. Romain Bardet (fra) s.t.
5. Pierre Latour (fra) + 0.05
6. Adam Yates (gbr) + 0.05
7. Emanuel Buchmann (ger) s.t.
8. Guillaume Martin (fra) + 0.08
9. Gianni Moscon (ita) s.t.
10. Tiesj Benoot (bel) s.t.

13. Damiano Caruso (ita) s.t.
14. Ilnur Zakarin (rus) s.t.
15. Bob Jungels (lux) s.t.
16. Marc Soler (spa) s.t.
19. Michal Kwiatkowski (pol) + 0.17
26. Vincenzo Nibali (ita) + 0.32

GC after the 4th stage
1. Gianni Moscon (ita)
2. Michal Kwiatkowski (pol) + 0.06
3. Geraint Thomas (gbr) s.t.
4. Julian Alaphilippe (fra) + 0.48
5. Damiano Caruso (ita) + 0.49
6. Bob Jungels (lux) + 1.05
7. Adam Yates (gbr) + 1.11
8. Tiesj Benoot (bel) + 1.13
9. Romain Bardet (fra) + 1.41
10. Marc Soler (spa) + 1.48

11. Pierre Latour (fra) + 1.49
12. Ilnur Zakarin (rus) + 2.04
20. Daniel Martin (irl) + 2.40
22. Vincenzo Nibali (ita) + 2.49

Race report
All attacks are neutralised in the first hour, which is raced at an insane pace: 52.1 kms/h. Following a split in the peloton – with Bardet trapped on the wrong side – AG2R brings the two groups back together and it’s only after almost 80 kilometres of racing that the breakaway takes shape. Edvald Boasson Hagen, Jens Keukeleire, Dario Cataldo and Lukas Pöstlberger go clear before Odd Christian Eiking, Arnaud Courteille, Simon Clarke and Bryan Coquard bridge across. The eight hit the Mont Noir with a lead of more than 5 minutes.

While Coquard is distanced on the early slopes Eiking goes alone. Cataldo tracks him down and drops the Norwegian before he reaches the crest as the sole leader, almost 3 minutes ahead of the pack.

The Italian hits the last climb 2 minutes ahead of the peloton. Guillaume Martin tries to bridge across with 1.5 kms to go, but he is brought back when Dan Martin strikes with Geraint Thomas, Romain Bardet and Julian Alaphilippe. The four gobble up Cataldo with 400 metres left before Alaphilippe sprints to victory ahead of Martin and Thomas.

Moscon crosses the line 8 seconds after the winner with Kwiatkowski another 9 seconds further back. The Italian takes the leader’s jersey 6 seconds ahead of Kwiat and Thomas.