Critérium du Dauphiné 2021: Padun wins in La Plagne, Porte new leader

foto: Cor VosMark Padun solos to victory in the mountain stage to La Plagne in the Critérium du Dauphiné, while Richie Porte finishes in second to move into the yellow jersey. (Slideshow route/profile)

Results 7th stage Critérium du Dauphiné 2021

1. Mark Padun (ukr)
2. Richie Porte (aus) + 0.34
3. Miguel Ángel López (col) + 0.43
4. Jack Haig (aus) s.t.
5. Ben O’Connor (aus) + 0.47
6. Sepp Kuss (usa) + 0.52
7. David Gaudu (fra) + 0.56
8. Enric Mas (spa) s.t.
9. Geraint Thomas (gbr) + 0.59
10. Alexey Lutsenko (kaz) + 1.00

11. Alejandro Valverde (spa) + 1.04
12. Wilco Kelderman (nld) s.t.
13. Aurélien Paret Peintre (fra) + 1.10
15. Nairo Quintana (col) + 1.13
16. Ion Izagirre (spa) s.t.

GC after stage 7
1. Richie Porte (aus)
2. Alexey Lutsenko (kaz) + 0.17
3. Geraint Thomas (gbr) + 0.29
4. Wilco Kelderman (nld) + 0.33
5. Jack Haig (aus) + 0.34
6. Miguel Ángel López (col) + 0.38
7. Ion Izagirre (spa) s.t.
8. Ben O’Connor (aus) + 1.00
9. David Gaudu (fra) + 1.12
10. Aurélien Paret Peintre (fra) + 1.17

Race report
After 67 kilometres of frantic racing Alexis Renard, Marco Haller, Martin Salmon, Pierre Rolland and Franck Bonnamour jump off the front. On the Côte de Venthon a large chase group takes shape: Matthew Holmes, Kenny Elissonde, Martijn Tusveld, Michael Valgren, Lawson Craddock, Warren Barguil, Steff Cras, Mikkel Bjerg, Nils Politt and Jorge Arcas.

Haller, Bonnamour and Rolland are the remaining leaders on the Col du Pré when the best climbers in the chase group – Valgren, Craddock, Arcas, Bjerg, Elissonde and Tusveld rejoin them in the last kilometres before the summit. Moments later Bonnamour loses contact. Craddock is the first rider to reach the top and he moves into the KOM lead. He extends the lead at the Cormet de Roselend.

Valgren and Haller distance the others in the descent. Arcas, Tusveld and Bjerg rejoin them in the valley before Valgren goes solo just before the finish climb.

Rolland en Elissonde rejoin the Danish solist inside the last 13 kilometres, but that does not matter. The peloton overhauls the attackers 2 kilometres later.

Porte accelerates with 8.6 kilometres remaining. Mas, Kuss and Padun go with him before the latter two head out together.

Padun leaves Kuss behind 4.5 kilometres before the top. Meanwhile, O’Connor attacks in the yellow jersey group. López goes after him. The two rejoin Porte and Mas.

While Padun solos to triumph, Porte and López bring back Kuss. The Tasmanian forges on alone to ride into the yellow jersey.

Another interesting read: route 7th stage 2021 Critérium du Dauphiné.