Van Aert powers to Criterium du Dauphine win / Photo: © AFP
Van Aert powers to Criterium du Dauphine win
Jumbo's Wout van Aert won the opening stage of the Criterium du Dauphine on Sunday afer a hilly 192km run from La Vaulte Sur Rhone to Beauchastel.
Wearing his Belgian champion tunic Van Aert beat Britain's Ethan Hayter of Ineos and the American Sean Quinn of EF in a bunch sprint to the line in bright sunshine after a showery day in the Ardeche region.
The peloton managed to drop the sprint specialists such as Dylan Groenewegen and Phil Bauhaus 10km from home on this first of five hilly runs, with a time trial and three mountain stages also on the menu.
World No.1 Van Aert picked up 10 bonus seconds for the win and will be wearing the overall leader's yellow jersey on the 170km run from Saint Peray to Brives on Monday, along a route resembling the opener.
Slovenian Primoz Roglic of Jumbo finished safely with the pack.
P.Sinclair--TNT
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