MODANE VALFREJUS, France (AP) β British rider Chris Froome launched one of his blistering mountain attacks to win the Criterium du Dauphine race for the second time on Sunday, clinching the eighth stage to take the yellow jersey from American rider Tejay van Garderen.
Froome won the race in 2013 on his way to the Tour de France title, and with the showcase race starting in less than three weeks this victory sends a strong message out to his rivals.
Van Garderen led Froome by 18 seconds overnight, but could not keep up when Froome attacked with about 2 kilometers (1.25 miles) left on the final climb.
Froome moved into contention by winning Saturday’s seventh stage β the toughest of the race with five category-1 climbs β and again proved too strong.
