PRA-LOUP, France (AP) β French rider Romain Bardet won the fifth stage of the Criterium du Dauphine after an impressive solo attack on Thursday, while American Tejay van Garderen finished second to take the overall lead.
The relatively short but steep stage β a replica of the 17th stage of this year’s Tour de France β featured two category-2 climbs either side of a sharp ascent up Col d’Allos.
Bardet, who finished sixth on last year’s Tour, attacked near the top of col d’Allos and extended his lead in the descent.
Tour champion Vincenzo Nibali and Spanish veteran Alejandro Valverde cracked on the last climb up Pra-Loup.
Van Garderen finished 36 seconds behind Bardet, while 2013 Tour champion Chris Froome was 40 seconds back in third place.
