As it happened: Mads Pedersen wins at Critérium du Dauphiné as Evenepoel and Roglic return from injury

Hello! Welcome to Cyclingnews' live coverage of stage 1 of the Critérium du Dauphiné.

We're 22 kilometres into the opening stage already, so here's a quick summary of the situation as it stands.

Mark Donovan (Q36.5) made an early move away from the bunch and is currently 4:25 in the lead on his own. He's being pursued by Mathis Le Berre (Arkea-B&B Hotels) who is 1:10 behind.

Donovan has already taken the points on the first climb of the day, the 4th category Côte de Jenzat and is now at the foot of the 3rd category Côte de Gannat. If he leads over the top of that one, he will be in the King of the Mountains jersey this evening.

Most of the climbing in today's stage comes in the opening 50 kilometres, which includes all three of the day's classified climbs.

After the Côte de Gannat will be the Côte de Chouvigny.

140km to go

Donovan has crested the Gannat first, so he will be in the King of the Mountains jersey at the end of the stage. 

Le Berre is now just 20 seconds away from the Englishman

The buzz at the start today in Saint-Pourçain-sur-Sioule was all about the return to racing of Primoz Roglic and Remco Evenepoel.

Both returned to training several weeks ago, but today will be their first indicators of how their form is heading into the Tour de France in 4 weeks' time.

Roglic and Evenepoel are two big favourites for the race this week, although the Belgian has played down his chances. 

Others here to tune-up their Tour de France form include Juan Aysuo (UAE Team Emirates), Sepp Kuss (Visma-Lease a Bike) and Carlos Rodriguez (Ineos Grenadiers)

Here is CyclingNews' breakdown of the big contenders at the 2024 Critérium du Dauphiné

Le Berre has now caught Donovan and the pair have a lead of 4:45 over the bunch.

Here's a close look at Lidl-Trek's brand new bike. Is it a Madone is it an Emonda? We're not quite sure, but CyclingNews got a first look at it before the race started yesterday.

Spotted: New Trek at the Dauphine…is it an Emonda? Is it a Madone?

The leading duo are now on the lower slopes of the final climb of the day, the Côte de Chouvigny. Their lead has dropped to below four minutes.

Remco Evenepoel is back. He gave a very open virtual press conference yesterday, speaking about his recovery, goals for this week and talked about whether Tadej Pogačar can really achieve the Giro-Tour double.

Remco Evenepoel: If there's one rider who can do the Giro d'Italia-Tour de France double, it's Tadej Pogačar

120km to go

Donovan and Le Berre are over the top of the Chouvigny now, with Donovan taking maximum points again.

As you might expect, with Mads Pedersen in their line up, Lidl-Trek have taken conrol of things at the front of the peloton so far

Visma-Lease a Bike are at the Dauphiné without their two-time Tour de France winner Jonas Vingegaard. It's down to Sepp Kuss and Matteo Jorgensen to lead their General Classificatio hopes this week.

'Nobody will be able to hide' - Kuss, Jorgenson look to later stages in Visma-Lease a Bike's two-pronged Critérium du Dauphiné GC approach

The riders are now on the long descent of the Côte de Chouvigny. The duo lead by 4:20.

So who are the favourites for the stage today? 

It's a undulating finish, perfectly suited to Lidl-Trek's Mads Pedersen. 

The big worry for Lidl-Trek with be the presence of an in-form Sam Bennett (Decathlon-AG2R). The question is whether the Irishman can make it to the finish with fresh legs.

Other riders hoping to challenge today include the likes of Magnus Cort (Uno X Mobility), Ivan García Cortina (Movistar) and Milan Menten (Lotto DSTNY)

The breakaway have reached the bottom of the descent. Their lead is steady at 4:20.

The CyclingNews tech team are on the ground at the Dauphiné and have been out spotting all the new tech being tested out ahead of the Tour de France. 

New Pinarello Dogma used by Ineos Grenadiers at the Criterium du Dauphiné

New Trek at the Dauphine…is it an Emonda? Is it a Madone?

New Canyon Aeroad doubles down on aero gains at the Criterium du Dauphiné

95km to go

The riders are on the flat now and are on the approach to the day's one and only intermediate sprint at Chantelle. That's in about 10k's time. 

The leaders are about 1km away from the intermediate sprint

Lidl-Trek and Decathlon-AG2R are leading the bunch in support of Mads Pedersen and Sam Bennett respectively. The gap is now 3:45.

Here's what Sam Bennett had to say before the start:

“The condition is building up quite nicely and the sprinting has come along quite good. Hopefully we can set up nicely today. But it’ s going to be a hard sprint. We first have to make it a sprint but then it’s slightly downhill, very straightforward on paper but harder when we get there. 

"We’ll see how we get on, we hope it will be good. I think today’s parcours should be OK. The next one may be harder, but we’ll just take it day by day. Hopefully we’ll get to use Dorian Godon’s amazing power in the run-in. It’s slightly downhill so it’ll be difficult to control the front but his power can be put to great use.”

Here are the results from the intermediate sprint in Chantelle:

1. Le Berre 10 points and 3 seconds
2. Donovan 6 points and 2 seconds
3. Casper Pedersen 4 points and 1 second

92km to go

The gap is coming down, the leaders now have a 2:35 lead

The riders are now heading into a rolling section of the race before starting two local laps where they will cross the finish line twice before the end of the stage.

The peloton has eased off now after the intermediate sprint. The lead is back out to 3 minutes

80KM TO GO

3-15 now for the two leaders out front.

Kobe Goossens and Toms Skujiņš both came down in a crash a few kilometres ago, but both are up again and seem OK. 

Here's Donovan and Le Berre out in front, shrouded in mist - this isn't the kind of weather you'd associate with France in June. 

It’s the teams you’d expect to be setting the pace at the front of the peloton, with the fastest sprinters on paper — Decathlon AG2R for Sam Bennett, and Lidl-Trek for Mads Pedersen. 

70KM TO GO

Their work is ensuring the gap remains stable. With 70 kilometres to go, it's ay 3-17.

We’ve had our first abandonment of the race — Alex Edmondson of Team dsm-firmenich PostNL.

59KM TO GO

Le Berre and Donavan have just crossed the finish line for the first time, with a lead of 3-03. There are big crowds here, and they will see them again in about 30km when the riders will hear the bell.

Lidl-Trek now bring the peloton across the finish line. They look very relaxed, and have matters firmly under control. 

There’s been a definite increase in pace in the peloton. Having remained stable at just over three minutes for a while, the break’s lead is now closer to 2-30. Some riders also taking off gillets.

Behind Lidl-Trek and Decathlon AG2R, the GC teams are gathering together. Ineos Grenadiers in particular have lots of numbers, keeping their leader Carlos Rodríguez right at the front and well out of trouble.

50KM TO GO

2-20 now for the leaders, as we enter the final 50km of the stage. 

Giulio Ciccone is the latest riders to remove his outer-wear. Things have definitely sped up.

Puncture for Bruno Armirail, who had been one of Bennett's Decathlon teammates controlling the pace at the front of the peloton.

Now Decathlon's leader Sam Bennett is at the back, for a wheel change. Things are calm enough for him to have no problem getting back to the front. 

There might not be any more official climbs to be tackled today, but the riders will be going uphill again in a few kilometres. It shouldn’t be hard enough to put any top sprinting candidates in trouble, but it’ll be interesting to see if a team like Pedersen's Lidl-Trek use it to apply some pressure.

40KM TO GO

The gap continues to fall. It's now at 1-40, as the riders climb this unclassified hill.

There’s been no change in the peloton while they’ve been climbing this rise. It’s still Lidl-Trek and Decathlon AG2R leading, and there’s been no notable increase in pace.

Now we have some different teams battling to get to the front of the peloton. Bora-Hansgrohe are one such team, looking after Primož Roglič, while Uno-X Mobility must fancy the chances of Magnus Cort as they too are right up there.

29.5KM TO GO

It’s the last lap! Le Berre and Donavan cross the line for the penultimate time still in the lead, but with their advantage now reduced to just 1-13.

Mechanical for Emīls Liepiņš as they cross the finish line. His Team dsm-firmenich PostNL team were one of those to have moved to the front of the peloton in recent kilometres.

Less than 30 seconds for the two leaders. The peloton has them in their sights.

A few riders have just gone down in a fall at the back of the peloton. It was a mild landing for most, but there's a Q36.5 Pro Cycling Team rider who hasn't yet managed to remount. 

Alpecin Deceuninck's Luca Vergallito is back up though, and chasing to get back into the peloton. 

20KM TO GO

Le Berre and Donovan are hanging on for now. They still have 20 seconds, but it's surely only a matter of time until the catch is made. 

Kenny Elissonde was another rider who went down in that crash, but he's about to make contact again with the peloton. 

16KM TO GO

That's it for Le Berre and Donavan, they've sat up and dropped back into the peloton. 

That doesn’t mean a bunch sprint is completely guaranteed, though. The riders still have to climb the unclassified hill again, and this time any rider who can get away would be leading the race.

It seems James Whelan was the Q36.5 Pro Cycling rider who went down in the crash earlier, and it's just been announced that he has abandoned the race.

The riders are on the climb now, but there's no sense or urgency. The pace is slow, and no sign of anyone trying an attack.

Another crash victim, Luca Vergallito, managed to get back into the peloton, but is back out the back again now as he gets a bike change.

Attack from Nils Politt!

2 riders have followed him.

Politt is with a Bora and Uno-X rider, and they have a few seconds as they reach the top of the climb.

Marco Haller is the Bora rider.

Politt isn't getting any assistance from Haller or the Uno-X rider, so this move looks unlikely to survivie much longer.

They've been caught now, but Jonas Rutsch has countered from the peloton and now leads.

10KM TO GO

Rutsch has now been brought back, and the peloton is back together as we enter the final 10km. It looks like it will indeed be a sprint.

As they descend from the top of the climb, the pace is up as long trains of teams take control at the front. There's no chance of attacks going clear while the speed remains this fast.

Ineos Grenaiders and Uno-X Mobility are the two teams stringing things out at the front.

The TV motorbike is going at 100kmph on this descent, and is struggling to keep up with the peloton. They're flying along!

Just five kilometres to go. They will be sprinting for the stage win in just a few minutes...

No one team has siezed control, but Uno-X Mobility and Ineos Grenadiers still have the most numbers. 

Three kilometres to go - the GC riders are safe.

Now Decathlon move to the front with a couple of riders, for Sam Bennett.

They're on the right hand side of the road with 4 riders, while Uno-X lead on the otehr side with three riders.

They're neck and neck with 1.5km to go.

1KM TO GO

Now here comes Lidl-Trek, for Mads Pedersen.

Pedersen in second in line with 1 lead-out left

Pedersen starts his sprint...

Pedersen wins!

Bennett tried to come past him in the final few metres, but ran out of road.

The slightly downhill nature of the sprint made it very hard for anyone to get past Pedersen once he started his sprint in front.

Sam Bennett hung on for second place, just about holding off Huge Page, who was third.

It was a textbook lead out from Ryan Gibbons, who took to the front early, yet managed to maintain his position there so that Pedersen had clear road to sprint into. 

Today's top ten in full:

1 Mads Pedersen 

2 Sam Bennett

3 Hugo Page

4 Clément Venturini

5 Owain Doull

6 Michele Gazzoli

7 Iván García

8 Fred Wright

9 Clément Russo

10 Magnus Cort all at same time

So that’s victory for Pedersen on what was his first day of racing since placing third at Paris-Roubaix, almost two months ago. He picks up from where he left off from that excellent spring campaign, too, claiming what is his eighth win of the season — a total only Tadej Pogačar and Tim Merlier have bettered. 

As for Sam Bennett,his search for a first World Tour win since the 2022 Vuelta a España goes on, but second-place is his highest finish at this level for over a year. Following on from his four wins and GC title at the Four Days of Dunkirk, it seems the Irishman is nearing his best again.

Thanks for joining us today. This might have been a fairly regulation sprint stage, but it promises to be the only one of this whole Dauphine. The GC action will already kick off tomorrow, with the first of six uphill finishes — be sure to join us again for all the action!