CRITERIUM DU DAUPHINE
I’m currently road tripping in the team bus from the finish of Dauphinè to my next race, Tour de Slovenie. It’s quite a trip so thought I’d write a little something about last week.
Prologue, Valence.
Critérium du Dauphinè started with a 6,6km prologue. This is a perfect opportunity to blow the cobwebs out of the system and prepare for what’s ahead. Even though it’s only a 6,6 km effort, it still hurts and by the time you reach the finish you can feel the lactic in your ears.
My start time was 14:01. Afternoon rain was forecasted so most of the prologue contenders gambled by starting earlier. Luckily for all, the rain held off. I headed towards the start around 11, jumped on my TT bike and did a couple of laps to learn the course. By 12 the first rider started so the course was officially closed. I relaxed on the bus while preparing my stuff. Pinning my number, getting my TT helmet ready, light snack etc.
13:15 I started my warmup. It’s a basic 30′ progression warmup with a couple of hard efforts to make sure you get the HR going. By 13:55 I was at the start and ready to roll.
I felt I did a good effort. Smooth and fast through the corners, which there were quite a few of. I faded towards the end losing plenty of time in the last kilometer. Looking back, that’s probably the only kilometer I would do differently if I could.
Stage 1, Valence > Saint-Just-Saint Rambert (179km)
Lumpy sprint stage which started with a 9 km cat 2 climb. Enough to make the peloton nervous for the start. Shots were fired from km 0 as riders tried for the break. Luckily, a break went relatively quick so we didn’t have to sprint all the way to the top. The race settled in to a nice rhythm as sprint teams took control. As we headed towards the local laps the tension built and speed increased. The 2 x 12km final lap we had to do was fast and furious. We tried our best to position Eddie well so that he could do the sprint. The stage was eventually won by fellow Saffa, Daryl Impey.
Stage 2, Montbrison > Belleville (181km)
The last opportunity for the sprinters as from now on it’s either a TTT or mountain top finish. Knowing this, the break went straight and easy from the start. Around km 80 approaching the climbing section the pace increased as everyone wants to be at the front while descending. If you watched the stage and saw us climbing with riders across the road and not single file, this just means teams are drag racing each other to the top instead of riding single file. It might look like we are going easy, but we actually going full and it’s stressful AF to hold position.
Eddie went on to finish 2nd on the stage. I was disappointed to not make it over that final cat 3 climb in the front group. Just missing that small % to be there in the final.
Stage 3, TTT Pont-de-Vaux > Louhans (34km)
A lot of time and detail goes in to TTT days. We are improving, but still have a long way to go before being competitive for the win. We left the hotel earlier to go ride the course. Adjusting what needs to be ajusted and figuring out what’s going to be the fasted way to ride this 34km together.
The stage profile was misleading. It was up and down with rollers all the way. A super fast and flowing course. It was nice to finally do a TTT where speed, power and technique could be used instead of risk (sometimes we race through obstacle courses where the team willing to risk the most usually wins).
We tried a new strategy. Using Eddie, Steve, Jay and Amanual the first 20km and then Serge and I come in to join the last 15. We did one of our best TTT’s and I think it’s one we can be proud of. We finished 11th, 1:41 off the pace of Sky. More importantly, just a handful of seconds off a top 10.
Stage 4, Chazey -sur- Ain > Lans en Vercors (181km)
Let Dauphinè begin! The break took more than 80km to go. We did over 50 km/h the first 2hrs as all teams tried to place someone in the break. Eventually, when the break finally went, we had Eddie in the move. They hardly had time to open up a substantial gap as we approached the climbs.
I tried my luck at the start a couple of times. This cost energy so when we hit the Coll du Mont Noir I found a comfortable group to ride to the finish.
Stage 5, Grenoble > Valmorel (129,5km)
3,8km @ 8% from km 0. Lovely. Followed by a similar 3,7km straight after. If you see who made the break: De Gendt, Cataldo etc. then you’ll get an idea of how that start went.
Bora wasn’t happy with the break and wanted to contest for the stage victory. They flew us down and through the valley all the way to Valmorel ensuring a fast stage yet again. Dan Martin took the honors while most of us saved what’s left for the weekend.
Stage 6, Frontenex > La Rosier (110km)
Short and sweet? Yeah right. This was still a 4hr30 stage climbing close to 4000m in 110km.
It was a fast start as all the mountain goats tried for the break. Serge rode across to a 20 + man break on the Montee de Bissane. I was happy with how I was feeling and climbing. Sky set the pace and it once we hit the Coll du Prè where the race exploded as AG2r picked up the pace.
Climbing wise my shape is not where it needs to be or can be. But, it’s definitely way better than where it was a couple of weeks ago. Having finally have some time to rest up and train after racing, what felt like every possible type of race on the calender (check out Cobbles to Riviera), my condition is on the up. This makes me really excited and positive for the next up coming races.
Stage 7, Moûtiers > Saint-Gervais Mont Blanc (136km)
Like we haven’t learned anything from the past few stages, everyone attacked like heroes from the start. The break never established before the climb so the race shattered to pieces. Or atleast from where I could see.
This turned out to be one of those ‘hardest day of my life’ type of stages. I was in a good group over the Cormet de Roselend. We weren’t far off the front group as we started the cat 3 Cote de la Route Villes. A slight moment of loss of concentration and I was 100m off the back of that group over the top. They made it to the front group down the valley as I chopped off with one other rider for the rest of the day. Form finder. Character builder. Punishment. Whatever you want to call it to make it sound better. I wobbled up the last 7km climb to finish my first Dauphinè.
In general it was a great week. We were lucky with the weather. My shape is improving (I have already erased stage 7 from my memory apparently) and I’m heading to Slovenia with high morale.
Photo credit: Mario Stiehl. Unless specified otherwise.