Arnaud Démare (FDJ) sprinted to his second WorldTour win of the season on stage two of the Critérium du Dauphiné, beating Alexander Kristoff (Katusha-Alpecin) and Nacer Bouhanni (Cofidis) to the line.
The Frenchman was perfectly dropped off by his teammates on the right-hand side of the road by his FDJ team-mates as Katusha powered on the front in aid of Kristoff.
As Démare was left by his last leadout man, he was able to grab Ben Swift's (UAE Team Emirates) wheel before jumping round him with a powerful sprint and leaving everyone in his wake.
Kristoff, who started ahead of Démare, was able to hold his sprint to grab second, with Bouhanni sneaking in for third.
2016 Milan-San Remo winner Démare adds the Dauphiné win to the opening stage victory he took at Paris-Nice in March.
Behind the sprint finish, race leader Thomas De Gendt (Lotto-Soudal) was able to retain his lead ahead of Axel Domont (Ag2r La Mondiale) after finishing safely in the main bunch.
How it happened
As the flag dropped the breakaway immediately attempted to get away.
Koen Bouwman (LottoNL-Jumbo), Mickaël Delage (FDJ), Nathan Brown (Cannondale-Drapac) and Romain Combaud (Delko Marseille Provence KTM) were the chosen quartet to initially get away, establishing a maximum gap of 3-45.
Delage dropped out of the break shortly after with 142km remaining, with his FDJ team likely to have called him back to help team-mate Démare to victory.
Astana clearly wanted to make the break and having missed it, increased the pace on the front of the bunch to bring the gap down to 1-30, which allowed their rider Alexey lutsenko to bridge over to the break with 72km to go.
The gap remained relatively steady but Bowman and Combaud began to look tired, Lutsenko attacked and went solo with 30km remaining.
While his former breakaway companions immediately sat up to be caught by the peloton, Lutsenko managed to hold onto a minute advantage for some time before Dimension Data began the chase in earnest.
Lutsenko was eventually caught after a determined effort with 3km remaining, with the sprint teams in full swing to try and set things up for their fast men, where Démare ultimately proved triumphant.
The Critérium du Dauphiné continues on Tuesday with stage three, a 184km route that once again should suit the sprinters.
Result
Critérium du Dauphiné stage two, Saint Chamand - Arlanc (171km)
1 Arnaud Demare (Fra) FDJ, in 4-13-53
2 Alexander Kristoff (Nor) Katusha-Alpecin
3 Nacer Bouhanni (Fra) Cofidis, Solutions Credits
4 Sonny Colbrelli (Ita) Bahrain-Merida
5 Phil Bauhaus (Ger) Team Sunweb
6 Edvald Boasson Hagen (Nor) Dimension Data
7 Ben Swift (GBr) UAE Team Emirates
8 Pascal Ackermann (Ger) Bora-Hansgrohe
9 Alberto Bettiol (Ita) Cannondale-Drapac
10 Bryan Coquard (Fra) Direct Energie, all same time
General classification after stage two
1 Thomas De Gendt (Bel) Lotto Soudal, in 8-30-47
2 Axel Domont (Fra) AG2R La Mondiale, at 48s
3 Diego Ulissi (Ita) UAE Team Emirates, at 1:03
4 Pierre Roger Latour (Fra) AG2R La Mondiale, at 1:07
5 Emanuel Buchmann (Ger) Bora-Hansgrohe, at 1:09
6 Sonny Colbrelli (Ita) Bahrain-Merida
7 Ben Swift (GBr) UAE Team Emirates
8 Alberto Bettiol (Ita) Cannondale-Drapac
9 Tony Gallopin (Fra) Lotto Soudal
10 Julien Simon (Fra) Cofidis, all same time
Richard is digital editor of Cycling Weekly. Joining the team in 2013, Richard became editor of the website in 2014 and coordinates site content and strategy, leading the news team in coverage of the world's biggest races and working with the tech editor to deliver comprehensive buying guides, reviews, and the latest product news.
An occasional racer, Richard spends most of his time preparing for long-distance touring rides these days, or getting out to the Surrey Hills on the weekend on his Specialized Tarmac SL6 (with an obligatory pub stop of course).
-
-
Chris Boardman becomes the first commissioner of Active Travel England
Former cyclist will head up the new cycling and walking body, which is responsible for £5.5 million investment in active travel schemes
-
'Well, I'm getting off here': Miguel Ángel López's final moments with Movistar seen in snippet of latest documentary season
The Colombian responds to the release of the trailer, making light of the incident
-
'It's riders from the UK who everyone wants to sign': development teams scouring British market for next superstar
Three of Groupama-FDJ Continental's 13-rider squad in 2022 will be Britons after the success of Jake Stewart and Lewis Askey
-
Thibaut Pinot says he set his fastest ever Strava time on Ballon d'Alsace as he trained for comeback
The former Tour de France podium sitter has had a break from racing with injury
-
Here's why Jumbo-Visma are riding blue tyres at the Tour de France 2021
Jumbo-Visma could be spotted using blue tyres at the Critérium du Dauphiné and Tour de France 2021, but why?
-
Marc Madiot admits he should've taken Thibaut Pinot out of racing earlier in 2020
Pinot has been suffering from back problems which were made worse at last year's Tour de France
-
‘It’s never felt so easy on the bike’: Mark Padun doubles Dauphiné win tally and takes polka dot jersey for good measure
The Ukrainian took his second win in as many days at the French stage race
-
Richie Porte ‘would love to repay Geraint Thomas’ at Tour de France after taking Dauphiné victory
The Tasmanian secured the yellow jersey, a nice bonus, before the real maillot jaune his Ineos team are after at the Tour later this month
-
Richie Porte seals Critérium du Dauphiné title as Mark Padun wins second stage in a row
Mark Padun won the final stage of the Critérium du Dauphiné as Richie Porte sealed the overall win
-
'I'd love to finish it off,' says Richie Porte after taking Critérium du Dauphiné lead
Richie Porte was the strongest of the GC guys as he attacked on stage seven to take the race lead
