Briton Adam Yates attacked inside the last kilometre of today’s short final stage of Criterium du Dauphine to take a stage victory and finish in second place overall.
Yates waited patiently until the final moments to attack away from the small group of general classification contenders and past the solo leader Daniel Navarro (Cofidis), to claim the win and wrap up a successful week for Mitchelton-SCOTT.
South African champion and stage one winner Daryl Impey was able to hold onto the green points jersey after a close battle all week.
Six make the break
The final stage was no easy feat with four, first-category climbs coming within the short 136kilometre race with a summit finish up to Saint-Gervais-Les-Bains.
On the first climb of the day, after multiple attacks, a breakaway of six riders formed ahead of the peloton.
The group rode out to around three minutes with the main GC contenders watching one another in the main peloton.
Final battle to the summit
On the final steep first category climb, the race was on and the breakaway began to split up on the steep slopes.
David Gaudu (FDJ) attacked and led the race solo for most of the climb as the chasing group behind dissolved, to leave only the five main GC contenders including Yates.
The group hovered 40seconds behind but continued to work together to slowly reel in the remaining escapees and finally Gaudu.
Classification battle
Navarro was the next to attack and the move looked promising, however biding his time behind, Yates waited for the chasing group to start to suffer and went on the attack alongside Roman Bardet (AG2R).
Within the final kilometre, as Bardet slowed, Yates continued to keep the pressure on the pedals and pushed away, over taking the leader Navarro in the last 50metres to take the stage win and cement his second place overall behind Geraint Thomas (Team Sky).
Adam Yates – Stage 7 winner
“It’s been two back to back hard stages. The past four days, I’ve always been the one to initiate the attacks. So today I decided to wait. I just made that final move towards the end.
“I could take the stage win on the last corner. Romain Bardet was trying to overtake me in the GC but every time I responded.
“The Tour de France has been my main goal for the whole season. We’re getting closer and closer so I’m happy to get confidence from this race. I look forward to the Tour now.”
Criterium du Dauphine stage 7 results:
1. Adam Yates (Mitchelton-SCOTT) 3:51
2. Daniel Navarro +0:04
3. Roman Bardet (AG2R) +0:09
Final general classification:
1. Geraint Thomas (Team Sky) 24:43
2. Adam Yates (Mitchelton-SCOTT) +1:00
3. Roman Bardet (AG2R) +1:47
