As it happened: Breakaway heartbreak on Critérium du Dauphiné stage 2

Hello and welcome to Cyclingnews' live coverage of stage 2 of the 2024 Critérium du Dauphiné.

Just over half an hour to go before stage 2 gets underway in Gannat.

Today features the first uphill finish of the race and plenty of climbing beforehand as the riders tackle four classified climbs before the finale.

Mads Pedersen is in the race lead heading into the stage having won Monday's opener. He beat Sam Bennett in the bunch sprint finish.

Here's a look at the stage 1 results and GC heading into today.

The peloton have rolled out in Gannat to start the neutral zone on stage 2.

A 3.6km neutral zone to start the day.

142km to go

And we're away. The flag has dropped and stage 2 is underway!

Early attacks fly at the head of the peloton.

Bruno Armirail (Decathlon AG2R La Mondiale) is away with Jonas Gregaard (Lotto-Dstny), Xandro Meurisse (Alpecin-Deceuninck), Mathis Le Berre (Arkéa-B&B Hotels), and Filippo Conca (Q36.5).

The five-man move currently has 45 seconds on the peloton.

132km to go

This looks like the breakaway of the day. Their advantage is approaching a minute now.

The break of the day, with Armirail leading the way.

The move now has three minutes and counting.

117km to go

4:40 now with Bora-Hansgrohe working in the peloton.

A 40.9kph average speed to start the day.

13km to go until the riders hit the first climb of the day.

113km to go

The opening climb is the Côte de Fagot (5.3km at 5.3%).

The breakaway approach the day's opening climb at 5:20 up on the peloton.

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The leaders now taking on the third-category hill to start the day's climbing.

The peloton speeds along on stage 2.

85km to go

Le Berre led Meurisse over the top of the climb for two KOM points.

Now 4:25 between the break and the peloton.

The leaders are over the top of the climb and within 10km of the next climb, the Col Saint-Thomas (4.4km at 6.7%).

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The riders are nearing the top of the second-category climb now.

Bora-Hansgrohe and Ineos Grenadiers leading the peloton.

Another five points for Le Berre over the top of the climb and he now leads the mountain classification with nine points.

70km to go

Just over four minutes for the break now.

A spell on flatter ground now before the riders reach the climbs of the final 20km.

Israel-Premier Tech alos up front in the peloton now.

60km to go

4:20 for the break now.

5km to go until the day's intermediate sprint.

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Still the same five men out up front. No changes.

41km to go

3:20 for the breakaway now.

Conca leads the way over the day's intermediate sprint.

Bora-Hansgrohe, Israel-Premier Tech and Groupama-FDJ working at the head of the peloton currently.

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Under three minutes for the breakaway men now as they approach the start of the next climb.

The gap from the peloton to the break will surely only go down from here on out.

The riders now taking on the Côte de Saint-Georges-en-Couzan (7.4km at 5.7%).

Antonio Tiberi, fifth overall in the recent Giro d'Italia, is dropped.

23km to go

Two minutes for the break.

More riders drop from the back of the peloton but no major contenders.

3.5km from the top of the climb and it's 1:30 for the break.

Bora and Ineos on the front.

20km to go

1:20 for the break.

Filippo Conca goes on the attack from the break.

Mathis Le Berre tries to counter behind.

Le Berre catches Conca before the top and leads the way over the top.

Le Berre will be the new mountain classification leader tonight.

17km to go

The peloton now lies 55 seconds down on the break.

The breakaway remain together up front.

Stage 1 winner Mads Pedersen is still in the main peloton.

12km to go

Uno-X and Visma at the front of the chase now.

40 seconds for the break.

EF now take it up at the head of the group.

Up front, Armirail is off the front of the break.

Now Aleksandr Vlasov moves to the front of the chase group.

The riders now midway up the day's final classified climb – Col de la Croix Ladret (3.2km at 5.8%).

9km to go

The peloton catches the break, leaving just Armirail up front.

Armirail has 20 seconds.

Mads Pedersen is dropped at 7.5km to go.

5km to go

UAE and Decathlon on the front behind Armirail.

33 seconds between Armirail and the chase now.

Armirail solo out front.

Bora-Hansgrohe trying to chase down the Frenchman but the gap isn't shifting.

3km to go

Armirail is still leading by 25 seconds.

Pedersen gives up in the chase at a minute down.

2km to go

Still 20 seconds for Armirail.

Bora and Uno-X still chasing.

Into the final kilometre now and Armirail is still out in front.

Uno-X now leading the way behind.

500 metres to go in the mist at the top of the hill!

5% gradients to the line.

The peloton is closing in on Armirail.

Just a few seconds with 300 metres to go.

Armirail is caught inside the final 200 metres.

There's no visibility on the run to the line.

Finish

Magnus Cort (Uno-X Mobility) emerges through the mist to win stage 2!

Cort beats Primož Roglič and Matteo Jorgenson in the sprint finish.

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Cort is also the new race leader with a four-second advantage over Roglič. Jorgenson is third at six seconds.

Here's what Cort had to say after the stage...

"It's amazing. It's a big race here in the Dauphiné. Joining Uno-X for this year, I didn't have the best start of the season. I struggled a little bit I didn't get any big results and then I had an injury in Tirreno on was out for a long time and it's amazing to come back and and take a stage win here.

"It was out of my control and the team because I was very much on the limit on this climb. On the steeper parts, I couldn't go any faster but the team did an amazing job pulling a little bit and also bringing me completely to the front so I could lose some metres being at the back of the group. Once the steeper parts were done and they brought me back again and delivered me perfectly in the final."

Cort celebrates his stage win in the mist.

New race leader Magnus Cort.

That's all from us on the stage 2 live coverage today. Be sure to check back tomorrow for more from the third stage of the race!