Pascal Ackermann sprints to victory on Critérium du Dauphiné stage two as Impey takes overall lead
Race leader Kwiatkowski crashed with just over a kilometre remaining and was able to get to the finish of stage two


Pascal Ackermann (Bora-Hansgrohe) took victory on one of the few sprint days at the 2018 Critérium du Dauphiné, out-pacing Edvald Boasson Hagen (Dimension Data) and stage one winner Daryl Impey (Mitchelton-Scott) to the line.
Race leader Michal Kwiatkowski (Team Sky) came down hard in a crash with 1.3km remaining on the stage, but was able to get up and ride in to the finish by himself. The Pole lost his race lead however after time bonuses on stage one and today move South African Impey into the overall lead by two seconds over Kwiatkowski.
With a small group of sprinters taking part in this year's Dauphiné, the final sprint saw Classics man Oliver Naesen (Ag2r La Mondiale) try his hand with an early effort, but he quickly saw himself overtaken by Ackermann and Boasson Hagen towards the line, with Impey making a later move for third place.
German Ackermann was able to hold his speed though, and Norwegian Boasson Hagen could do nothing to stop him from riding to victory over the line in Belleville en Beaujolais.
How it happened
Ahead of Wednesday's team time trial and four difficult days in the mountains, the riders faced a slightly more straightforward day on stage two of the race, albeit with four classified climbs en route to the finish.
The last of those would be crested with around 30km to go, meaning it could be a rare day for the sprinters at the Dauphiné.
A brave quartet of riders still went up the road early in the day though, with Nikita Stalnov (Astana), Antoine Duchesne (Groupama-FDJ), Pierre-Luc Périchon (Fortuneo-Samsic) and Frederik Backaert (Wanty-Groupe Gobert) forming the day's main breakaway with a maximum gap of 6-40.
The peloton seemed content to let the four stay away for most of the day and fight it out over the climbs for KoM points, with the gap gradually decreasing as the race approached the closing 50km.
One of the day's main favourites Bryan Coquard (Vital Concept) was the biggest casualty of the day's climbs, getting dropped over the summit of the final ascent with 30km to go and eventually dropping to 1-30 behind the leading group.
The break however, continued on, and the trio of Périchon, Duchesne and Stalnov held just 25 seconds with 15km to go.
The was quickly swallowed up, and with 9km to go Stalnov bravely pushed on alone to try and hold out for victory.
With Mitchelton-Scott and Bora working hard on the front of the peloton to set up a sprint, the Astana man was in for a difficult time if he was going to make it stick, but held out until 1km to go before being retrieved by the bunch.
It was then down to a bunch sprint, with Ackermann the fastest of them all to take victory. With Kwiatkowski out of contention after taking a tumble with 1.3km to go, Impey was able to sprint in for third place and take four bonus seconds to move into the overall lead.
Wednesday's stage three will the riders take on a 35km team time trial from Pont-de-Vaux to Louhans-Châteaurenaud.
Results
Critérium du Dauphiné 2018, stage two: Montbrison - Belleville en Beaujolais (180.5km)
1 Pascal Ackermann (Ger) Bora-Hansgrohe, in 4-19-57
2 Edvald Boasson Hagen (Nor) Dimension Data
3 Daryl Impey (RSA) Mitchelton-Scott
4 Oliver Naesen (Bel) AG2R La Mondiale
5 Jens Keukeleire (Bel) Lotto Soudal
6 Julien Simon (Fra) Cofidis, Solutions Credits
7 Dion Smith (NZl) Wanty-Groupe Gobert
8 Patrick Bevin (NZl) BMC Racing Team
9 Toms Skujins (Lat) Trek-Segafredo
10 Romain Hardy (Fra) Fortuneo-Samsic, all same time
General classification after stage two
1 Daryl Impey (RSA) Mitchelton-Scott, in 8-51-46
2 Michal Kwiatkowski (Pol) Team Sky, at 2s
3 Gianni Moscon (Ita) Team Sky, at 5s
4 Bob Jungels (Lux) Quick-Step Floors, at 9s
5 Julian Alaphilippe (Fra) Quick-Step Floors, at 10s
6 Jens Keukeleire (Bel) Lotto Soudal, at 11s
7 Jonathan Castroviejo (Esp) Team Sky
8 Brent Bookwalter (USA) BMC Racing Team, at 13s
9 Edvald Boasson Hagen (Nor) Dimension Data, at 14s
10 Damiano Caruso (Ita) BMC Racing Team, at 17s
Thank you for reading 5 articles this month* Join now for unlimited access
Enjoy your first month for just £1 / $1 / €1
*Read 5 free articles per month without a subscription
Join now for unlimited access
Try first month for just £1 / $1 / €1
Follow on Twitter: @richwindy
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).
-
-
David Millar: Why Mark Cavendish deserves to be at the Tour de France
Cav has bridged generations in a way no one else could, he shows what's possible
By David Millar • Published
-
Young and talented: Meet the seven Americans racing Le Tour
Young and talented: Meet the seven American bike racers ringing Le Tour de France in 2022.
By Marshall Opel • Published
-
After 'fighting with the best guys', Ben O'Connor is proud of his Critérium du Dauphiné podium
Australian heads into Tour de France with best WorldTour stage result in his pocket
By Adam Becket • Published
-
Can anyone stop the Jumbo juggernaut? Five talking points from the Critérium du Dauphiné
Wout van Aert and Primož Roglič are the best at the French race, but the Tour de France is another level up
By Adam Becket • Published
-
Jonas Vingegaard wins stage eight of the Critérium du Dauphiné as Roglič triumphs on GC
It was a dominant display from the Jumbo Visma pair who crossed the line hand in hand and secured a 1-2 on GC
By Adam Hart • Published
-
Carlos Verona holds off Primož Roglič to win stage seven of the Critérium du Dauphiné
Verona proved to be the strongest rider in the breakaway as he time-trialled up the final climb to victory
By Adam Hart • Published
-
A 'dangerous mistake' — Juan Sebastián Molano disqualified from Critérium du Dauphiné for hitting Hugo Page
Colombian sprinted thrown out of race after striking Frenchman on camera late on Friday's stage
By Adam Becket • Published
-
Valentin Ferron triumphs from breakaway on stage six of the Critérium du Dauphiné
TotalEnergies take their second win of the race as day's escape lasts until the end of the day
By Adam Becket • Published
-
'If even your GC guys who weigh 60 kilos are pulling, you have to finish it off' - No more disappointment for Wout van Aert at Dauphiné
Jumbo-Visma rider took his second stage win in five days in France on Thursday, and stays in race lead
By Adam Becket • Published
-
Wout van Aert sprints to stage five victory at the Critérium du Dauphiné as break caught in final 100 metres
Belgian wins his second stage of race to maintain general classification lead
By Adam Becket • Published