The Critérium International, formerly known as the three-day Classics stage race, has a whole different feel this year as race organisers ASO have decided to take the race to the island of Corsica for a possible pre-Tour de France 2013 dress-rehearsal.
The addition of significant mountains to the course will open the overall victory to climbers able to defend a lead from the opening stage. Tall German Voigt, a five-time winner of the event, will not attend this year as his climbing abilities clearly won't be sufficient to defend his title - instead, he won a stage at the Volta a Catalunya on Thursday.
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'Can somebody launch me?' - Visma-Lease a Bike delighted after Jonas Vingegaard catches Vuelta a España rivals napping with powerful surprise attack
Dane's acceleration 10 kilometres from line completely unplanned, team say -
'I felt a lot better than on the previous mountain stages' – Jonas Vingegaard back in full flight for 40th career victory at Vuelta a España despite mistimed attack
'Maybe I didn't do my homework good enough, because I thought it was closer to the finish' says Dane after making gains on all GC rivals with solo move -
'They got the surprise factor' - João Almeida forced into damage limitation mode at Vuelta a España after Jonas Vingegaard launches devastating mountain attack
Portuguese racer points to lack of team support in pursuit of Danish favourite -
'He told me to grow some balls' – Tom Pidcock makes big GC gains at Vuelta a España but frustrates João Almeida in the process
Brit said he was unable to pull through against Portuguese rider's pace as Jonas Vingegaard beats both to stage victory in Valdezcaray
