Roglic hangs on to clinch second Dauphine title in three years

Primoz Roglic had to dig deep during a dramatic finish to the Criterium du Dauphine to hold on and win his second title in three years by eight seconds.

The Bora-Hansgrohe rider faced the last stage with a lead of 62 seconds over Matteo Jorgenson, who was seriously threatened by the American on the last climb of the day.

Spaniard Carlos Rodríguez attacked with 5.5 km remaining, followed by Canadian Derek Gee and Visma–Lease a Bike’s Jorgenson, who tried to erase their deficit.

Rodríguez eventually took the stage win for Ineos Grenadiers at the top of Plateau des Glieres, ahead of Jorgenson, and Roglic did enough to secure the victory.

At the start of the 160.6km mountain stage from Thones, the 34-year-old Slovenian looked set to enjoy a comfortable day and perhaps even a challenge for a Third consecutive stage victory.

Then Rodriguez, Jorgenson and Gee, all in the top five overall, made their move.

With a 10-second bonus at stake for the stage winner, Jorgenson, 24, knew he would clinch the Dauphine title if he could cross the finish line more than 52 seconds ahead of Roglic.

At one point, the breakaway trio increased their lead to more than 40 seconds and the 23-year-old Rodriguez took the stage win, with Roglic arriving 48 seconds later to take his first win with his new Bora-Hansgrohe team.

Roglic is now expected to fight for his first title in the Tour de France, which begins on June 29.

“(Winning) the Dauphine is one thing, the Tour is another,” he said. “I want to enjoy the moment because it’s not every day you win races like this. It’s beautiful.”

Result of the eighth stage

1. Carlos Rodríguez (Spa/Ineos Grenadiers) 4 h 18 min 2 sec

2. Matteo Jorgenson (USA/Visma – Lease a Bike) At the same time

3. Derek Gee (Can/Israel-Premier Tech) +15 seconds

4. Laurens de Plus (Bel/Ineos Grenadiers) +35 seconds

5. Santiago Buitrago (Colonel/Victorious Bahrain) Same time

6. Primoz Roglic (Slo/Bora–Hansgrohe) +48 seconds

7. Giulio Ciccone (Ita/Lidl-Trek) Same schedule

8. Remco Evenepoel (Bel/Soudal Quick-Step) +58 seconds

9. Aleksandr Vlasov (Russia/Bora–Hansgrohe) Same time

10. Mikel Landa (Spa/Soudal Quick-Step) +1min 10sec

Final general classification

1. Primoz Roglic (Slo/Bora–Hansgrohe) 25h 35m 40s

2. Matteo Jorgenson (USA/Visma – Bike Leasing) +8 seconds

3. Derek Gee (Can/Israel-Premier Tech) +36 seconds

4. Carlos Rodríguez (Spa/Ineos Granaderos) +1min

5. Laurens de Plus (Bel/Ineos Granaderos) +2min 4sec

6. Aleksandr Vlasov (Russia/Bora–Hansgrohe) +2:06

7. Remco Evenepoel (Bel/Soudal Quick-Step) +2:25

8. Giulio Ciccone (Ita/Lidl-Trek) +2:54

9. Oier Lazkano (Spa/Movistar Team) Same schedule

10. Mikel Landa (Spa/Soudal Quick-Step) +4:13