Contador wins brutal Criterium du Dauphine prologue

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Alberto Contador (Tinkoff) won the brutal uphill prologue of the Criterium du Dauphine on Sunday, beating Richie Porte (BMC) and Chris Froome (Team Sky). Unlike Froome, the Spaniard had opted to start late and risked the predicted rain, but it didn't fall, and he came home some 13 seconds quicker than Froome.

Porte, who was the penultimate rider to depart, split the pair with an effort just six second shy of Contador.

"It's a bit of a surprise to beat Froome and Porte, but I knew that I could do well. I didn't think that I could win," a happy Contador said after the stage.

The prologue for the Criterium du Dauphine was anything but easy with a four-kilometre climb that averaged more than nine per cent and hit gradients of up to 19. This was most certainly not for the time trial specialists and was an opportunity for the climbers to deal a physiological blow to their rivals ahead of the big mountain stages later in the race.

So it was a climber, Louis Meintjes (Lampre-Merida), that set the first benchmark time as he stopped the clock at 12:30. He didn't have long to wait until Adam Yates (Orica-GreenEdge) kicked him off the hot seat. Yates was subsequently bettered by Julian Alaphilippe (Etixx-QuickStep). Alaphilippe, brimming with confidence from his recent Tour of California victory, put in a dominating performance to set a time of 12 minutes flat.

The big GC names were spread out over the second half of the stage, with some opting for earlier start times to avoid the rain that had been forecast for the latter part of the day. Froome was one of those that had selected an earlier starting slot, along with Thibaut Pinot (FDJ). The defending champion came out of the traps quickly and by the time he hit the line he was the first rider to break through the 12-minute barrier with his time of 11:49.

"It was only a four-kilometre prologue, but that was really tough. There were gradients of 20 per cent, and I was running out of legs and just squeezing every bit out for the line," said Froome. "I'm happy with the numbers and the feelings I had on the bike. I'm in good shape but I've still got some work to do, and we're a month out from the Tour still. I'm glad that's out of the way.

"I had a look at the weather and in the last few days here it's been raining in the afternoons here. Also, I just thought it would be easier to just get up and race, rather than wait all day. It also gives me a bit more recovery for tomorrow."

Froome had plenty of time to contemplate what his tactics would be if he was in yellow at the end of the day as riders continued to cross the line but continually missed his benchmark. That was until the final riders began their rides. The first sign that Froome’s time was under threat was Dan Martin’s impressive showing to go just eight seconds short of the Team Sky rider.

Contador, who was the third-from-last rider to set off, had already caught his minute man Arthur Vichot (FDJ) before the halfway point. With no intermediate checks, it was a nervous wait until the Spaniard entered the final kilometre well ahead of Froome's time. By the time he reached the finish line, he was 13 seconds quicker than Froome. Porte was next to stop the clock, going six seconds short of the time set by Contador ensuring that the Tinkoff rider laid claim to the first leader's jersey of the race.

Monday's first road stage of the Criterium du Dauphine will take the riders from Cluses to Saint-Vulbas and should be an opportunity for the sprinters.

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