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Critérium du Dauphiné stage 8 – Live coverage

Critérium du Dauphiné 2021 profiles

(Image credit: ASO)

Critérium du Dauphiné 2021

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Hello and welcome to our live coverage of the final stage of the Critérium du Dauphiné and another day in the mountains.

Around 10 minutes until the riders roll out in La Léchère-les-Bains to start today's stage.

A lot more climbing ahead of the riders today, with six categorised climbs on the route, including the HC-rated Col de Joux Plane.

There's climbing from the very start with the fourth-cat Côte d'Esserts-Blay starting 100 metres into the stage. Will the break establish itself there or will we see another fast, long fight to get away?

The peloton have set off to begin the 147km stage. They're in the neutralised zone now.

A reminder of what happened yesterday on La Plagne. Richie Porte took over the yellow jersey after taking second on the stage, with Alexey Lutsenko and Geraint Thomas now in second and third. Mark Padun won the stage after attacking on the climb.

Porte will look to defend his yellow jersey today while new KOM leader Lawson Craddock might have a battle on his hand to win the blue and white polka dot jersey.

A look at the start.

147km to go

A climb from the start as the riders tackle the two-kilometre, four per cent slopes of the Côte d'Esserts-Blay.

Julien Bernard (Trek-Segafredo) and Franck Bonnamour (B&B Hotels p/b KTM) are among the first attackers.

It's Michael Schwarzmann (Bora-Hansgrohe) who takes a point for first over the summit. A small crash in the peloton takes down a handful of riders but they're up and running again.

144km to go / 3km done

Mads Würtz Schmidt (ISN) has abandoned the race after a crash.

Stage 7 winner Mark Padun is among the riders on the attack at the moment.

136km to go / 11km done

Michael Valgren (EF Education-Nippo) is among the chasers. We'll get a full list of names if this move establishes itself as the day's main break.

Tim Wellens and Patrick Konrad are also up there among the attackers.

127km to go / 20km done

The break: Valentin Madouas (Groupama-FDJ), Guillaume Martin (Cofidis), Jonas Vingegaard (Jumbo-Visma), Jorge Arcas, Imanol Erviti (Movistar), Patrick Konrad, Nils Politt (Bora-Hansgrohe), Dorian Godon (AG2R Citroën), Warren Barguil (Arkéa Samsic), Harry Sweeny (Lotto Soudal), Mark Padun (Bahrain Victorious), Julien Bernard, Kenny Elissonde (Trek-Segafredo), Pierre Rolland
Franck Bonnamour (B&B Hotels p/b KTM), Sander Armée (Qhubeka Assos)

Tim Wellens (Lotto Soudal), Michael Valgren (EF Education-Nippo), Martijn Tusveld (Team DSM), Jan Bakelants (Intermarché-Wanty Gobert) are chasing.

117km to go / 30km done

Five minutes for the break at the moment. No time check to the chasers at the moment.

Three major climbs in this first half of the stage with the Côte d'Héry-sur-Ugine, another second-cat of the Col des Aravis, and then the first-cat Col de la Colombière.

The chase group is 1:45 behind the break. Wellens is further back on his own.

The Tour de Suisse kicks off later today, with another eight days of racing coming straight up. We'll have the usual full live coverage, news and reports – all in our race hub page

The chasers are closing in though, as the leaders crest the climb.

A scene from the early stages of today's race.

Padun took five points over the top of the climb, with Politt and Bonnamour next in line. 

A short descent and then they're climbing again to the base of the Aravis.

107km to go / 40km done

A look at the next two climbs on the course.

The Valgren chase group is around 30 seconds down on the break currently.

The leaders hit the 6.7km, 7 per cent Aravis.

ISN are working at the head of the peloton. They have nobody in the break and nobody in the GC battl here.

The chasers are still closing in on the break, meanwhile.

97km to go / 50km done

Having made it across, Bakelants is now dropped from the break as the riders get closer to the top of the climb.

Another five points for Padun over the top of the Aravis and he now has 25, eight behind Craddock. Valgren was second on the climb.

92km to go / 55km done

Bakelants made it back to the break on the descent and now the group passes through Le Grand-Bornand before heading back uphill for the Colombière.

Three minutes back to the peloton as the riders tackle the lower slopes of the 11.7km Col de la Colombière.

The second and final stage of the Tour de Suisse Women has just concluded.

Hideto Nakane (EF Education-Nippo) abandons the race. He was among those attempting to break away early on.

Bora-Hansgrohe riders Patrick Gamper and Michael Schwarzmann have also left the race. The latter worked hard to set up the break earlier. Politt and Konrad remain out front for the team.

Sweeny drops from the break. Ineos are on the front of the peloton now.

A reminder of the current GC top 10...

The break is just a couple of kilometres from the top of the climb now.

A shot of the break from earlier today, with Barguil and Vingegaard leading the way.

AG2R duo O'Connor and Paret-Peintre shine on Critérium du Dauphiné summit La Plagne

63km to go / 84km done

Another long descent for the riders now and there'll be some time in the valley before they tackle the Joux Plane.

The riders are out in the Alps among the snow-capped peaks today.

50km to go / 97km done

A bike change for race leader Porte, but there's no drama. He quickly gets back to the peloton.

The gap still hangs around the 3:00-3:20 mark.

45km to go / 102km done

Ineos back in control on the front of the peloton after Porte's mechanical.

Politt and Martin took the two and one point over the top. 

Here's a look at Porte's bike change.

36km to go / 111km done

The break is back together now. Ineos' work at the front of the peloton has brought the gap down to 2:50.

30km to go / 117km done

Politt now putting in work for Konrad on the front. Here's a look at the climb – 11.6km at 8.6 per cent and it gets tougher towards the top.

Konrad is 20th on GC, 2:51 down. He just took the three bonus seconds and could move up quite a lot if the break holds this to the finish.

Padun is pushing on already! Martin and Konrad are not far behind but the rest of the break are gone.

Ineo, Jumbo and Trek are on the front of the peloton as they hit the climb.

27km to go / 120km done

Fabio Aru drops from the peloton along with KOM jersey holder Craddock and Chris Froome.

Quintana and Hermans are less than 10 seconds up on the peloton.

3:10 for Padun (and 45 seconds on the break!) as the peloton absorbs some of the dropped breakaway riders.

Steven Kruijswiijk (Jumbo-Visma) jumps across to Quintana and Hermans.

24km to go / 123km done

Kruijswijk is 15th at 1:35 currrently. Quintana a spot lower at 1:44.

The Dutchman has 30 seconds on the peloton.

Ineos remain in control of the peloton. Nothing from Movistar yet.

50 seconds for Padun though. He's looking very good here.

21km to go / 126km done

Kwiatkowski pulls off the front, his work done. Quintana is dropped now, too. 4.5km from the top.

Vingegaard and Konrad are the only men left of the original break chasing Padun now. Kruijswijk passes several men as he rides on, including Barguil.

1:10 from Padun to the chasers now. He's 3:30 up on the break.

Padun out in front once again.

19km to go / 128km done

Padun's second win doesn't look in doubt now. As soon as he got away from his breakmates it looked like a win might be on the cards.

Three men left for Ineos including Porte as the group rolls on.

18km to go / 129km done

Kruijswijk dropped.

Attack from López.

He's barely getting a gap here, just getting a few seconds ahead.

17km to go / 130km done

Attack by Jack Haig now.

Haig is 34 seconds down on GC and sweeps up some breakaway stragglers. Ineos lurk not far behind.

No time check for Haig yet as the peloton cross the top.

11km to go / 136km done

Inside the final 10km for Padun now. Still some descending to go.

Haig has a few men with him just ahead of the peloton. Izagirre and Lutsenko are there.

Lutsenko is 17 seconds down on Porte on GC.

Porte is with Gaudu, Lopez and O'Connor in the chase.

Thomas crashes on the descent! He loses it on a corner but he's back up and running quickly.

The Welshman just slid out on a corner there.

Porte's group is almost back with the Haig group.