As it happened: major GC shake-up at Critérium du Dauphiné as race heads into the mountains

Hello and welcome to Cyclingnews live coverage of stage 6 of the Critérium du Dauphiné, the first of three crunch stages that will decide the final overall.

The stage gets underway with a short neutralised section, at 1350 CET with 2.7 kilometres for the riders to tackle before the actual race proper gets underway at 1400 CET.

Here's a quick look back at the GC standings as we head into the first of three crunch stages of the race

And if you want to catch up on a full report of stage 5, look no further than here:

Critérium du Dauphiné: Jake Stewart wins stage 5 as leader Remco Evenepoel involved in late spill

Weather today is set to be sunny for the first part of the stage but not overly warm according to race organisers ASO, with temperatures peaking at 28ºC. Very little wind, just an easterly breeze of up to 6kmh. However, it could rain later on, which would undoubtably toughen up what is, at 127 kilometres, the shortest stage of the entire 2025 race.

Here's a map of what's in store for the riders today. Most of it isn't overly tough, although the Cat.1 ascent of Mont Saxonnex will be the first real climbing test of the day for the GC challengers. And the ascent in quick succession of the Cat.2 climbs of Domancy and Cote de la Cry, the latter being the summit finish at Combloux, could well see a GC battle unfold.

Just 2,630 metres of vertical climbing today. That's not a huge amount in comparison with the 4,800 metres in store for the peloton on Saturday, but the double whammy of Cat.2 climbs at the end will do some damage all the same.

A shot of Carlos Rodríguez (Ineos Grenadiers) at the start. Rodríguez has barely figured on the radar so far, but he has serious stage racing credentials, won the final, very mountainous, leg of last year's Dauphiné and is lying 1:39 down overall. Worth keeping an eye on, then.

The peloton is now riding in the neutralised zone. Racing to get underway soon

An interesting point from Alex Baudin (EF Education-EasyPost), already in the breaks earlier on in the race and a 'regionale de l'étape'.

And stage 6 of the 2025 Criterium du Dauphiné is officially underway,
only 126.7 kilometres to go...

A reminder of who's on top of the different rankings:
General classification: Remco Evenepoel (Soudal-QuickStep)

BYR: Remco Evenepoel (Soudal-QuickStep) - Jersey won by Florian Lipowitz (Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe)

Mountains: Paul Ourselin (Cofidis)

Points: Mathieu van der Poel (Alpecin-Deceuninck)

Teams: Visma-Lease a Bike

Non-starter

One non-starter recorded so far, Andreas Kron (Uno-X Mobility)

And green jersey Mathieu van der Poel (Alpecin-Deceuninck) is our first attacker of the day

What's in store today

On today's Critérium du Dauphiné menu:

Km 34.9 Climb: Cat.4 Côte de Villy-le-Peloux (0.8km at 8.4%)

Km 59 Climb: Cat.3 Col des Fleuries (5.6km at 4.4%)

Km 87.2 Climb: Cat.1 Côte de Mont-Saxonnex (5.5km at 8.6%)

Km 107.5 Sprint: la Grangeat

Km 120.8 Climb: Cat.2 Côte de Domancy (2.5km at 9.3%)

Km 126.7. Climb: Cat.2 Côte de la Cry (2.7km at 7%)

Km 126.2 Finish: Combloux

Five more riders get away, making it a six man group including Van der Poel. But they've only got 10 seconds at most. On a such a short stage like this one and with two really tough mountain stages to follow, everyone's wanting a slice of glory.

Attackers caught

107 kilometres to go

Nearly 20 kilometres in and so far nothing has stuck

That early weather forecast of milder temperatures was not correct, by the way. According to the official website temperatures are now up to 32ºC at the front of the race.

A shot of the short-lived Van der Poel-inspired early break of the day

We're currently powering along at an average speed of 48.5kmh. Riders beginning to get shelled at the back, including Mountains leader Paul Ourselin (Cofidis)

Abandon

Alessandro De Marchi (Jayco-AlAla), riding his last season, has reportedly abandoned.

100 kilometres to go

Another five-man attack. It's non-stop out there.

Eight riders moving ahead now.

To say the Domancy and the finish at Combloux are deeply embedded in cycling history would be a major understatement. The Côte de Domancy was where Bernard Hinault took off to win the World Championships in one of the most legendary editions, and that climb leading to the finish at Combloux were where Jonas Vingegaard won the key time trial of the 2023 Tour de France.
It's not entirely clear if this is the exact same ascent, and the final Cat.2 climb inside Combloux didn't feature back in 2023, but certainly it'll bring back good memories for Jonas Vingegaard.

In the break of eight: local rider Alex Baudin (EF Education-EasyPost), Mathieu van der Poel (Alpecin-Deceuninck), Romain Bardet (Picnic PostNL), Michael Leonard (Ineos Grenadiers), Bruno Armirail (Decathlon AG2R La Mondiale), Andreas Leknessund (Uno-X Mobility), Pierre Thierry (Arkea-B&B Hotels) and Anthony Turgis (TotalEnergies).

Gap is rising to over a minute now.

The eight will shortly face the first climb of the day, the Cat.4 Côte de Villy-le-Peloux (0.8km at 8.4%)

It's a short climb and French National TT Champ Armirail gets the lone point on offer. 2:00 the gap

Reports that the bunch has split and Evenepoel has been caught behind. UAE are, predictably enough, driving hard in the front group

Bunch regrouped after that scare for Evenepoel. Meanwhile we've got a second abandon for the day: Poland's Kamil Gradek (Bahrain Victorious).

85 kilometres to go

1:55 for the break

The bunch in full flight on stage 6

We've just completed the first hour of racing, which has been run off at a very brisk 46.2 km average speeed. 1:40 the gap.

Mountains leader Ourselin, incidentally, is in a group that's nearly six minutes down on the break and four behind the main bunch, so there's a good chance of a new rider in the top spot of that classification this evening.

Mathieu van der Poel leads the break

Blink and you'll miss it: Romain Bardet is riding his last road race as a pro here in the Dauphiné, and he's currently in the break. Here's colleague Dani Ostanek's report on the reception Bardet got in his home town of Brioude when this year's race started there on stage 3.

'It makes sense to me that it ends here this year' – Romain Bardet enjoys home crowd sendoff at Critérium du Dauphiné

70 kilometres to go

And we're onto the second of five classified climbs of the day, the Cat.3 Col des Fleuries (5.6km at 4.4%)

Armirail picks up the two points maximum on offer at the summit of the Col des Fleuries to add to his one from Côte de Villy-le-Peloux. Could he be looking at a crack at the mountains title?
Meanwhile the bunch has picked up its pace (if it ever actually slowed down) even more and has slashed the eight's lead to just 1:20 as they tear down the Fleuries.

Still to come on stage 6 of the Critérium du Dauphine:

Km 87.2 Climb: Cat.1 Côte de Mont-Saxonnex (5.5km at 8.6%)

Km 107.5 Sprint: la Grangeat

Km 120.8 Climb: Cat.2 Côte de Domancy (2.5km at 9.3%)

Km 126.7.Climb: Cat.2 Côte de la Cry (2.7km at 7%)

Km 126.7 Finish: Combloux

With less than 60 kilometres to go, we're now well over halfway on this 126.7 kilometre stage.

In what is very much a statement of intent by Tadej Pogačar about today's stage, UAE's Domen Novak leads the chase of the break ahead of a cohort of Soudal-QuickStep racers, with Evenepoel in fifth place in the string behind.

A reminder that Evenepoel had a crash at the end of yesterday's stage, and though he brushed it off as minor, given he was only a kilometre from the finish, today will be a sterner judge of that.
Colleague James Moultrie had Evenepoel's comments on his own crash and the one which saw key Tour de France domestique and teamamate Louis Vervaeke quit with a broken collarbone in this story here:
'Nothing bad, just some skin off' – Remco Evenepoel uninjured in Critérium du Dauphiné crash, but loses Tour de France domestique to earlier incident

After De Marchi and Gradek, news of the third abandon of the day: young French racer Louis Rouland (Arkea-B&BHotels)

50 kilometres to go

A reminder of the eight breakaways: Alex Baudin (EF Education-EasyPost), Mathieu van der Poel (Alpecin-Deceuninck), Romain Bardet (Picnic PostNL), Michael Leonard (Ineos Grenadiers), Bruno Armirail (Decathlon AG2R La Mondiale), Andreas Leknessund (Uno-X Mobility), Pierre Thierry (Arkea-B&B Hotels) and Anthony Turgis (TotalEnergies). 1:30 the gap.

Dropped early on, the current mountains leader Ourselin has made it back into the main bunch, by the way. Next climbing challenge is the fast-approaching Côte du Mont-Saxonnex.

An interesting development: a delegation of Visma-Lease a Bike riders have taken over from UAE and Soudal at the front of the bunch.

Time for the first cat climb of the 2025 Critérium du Dauphine: the Côte de Mont-Saxonnex (5.5km at 8.6%)

No less than five Visma-Lease a Bike riders are driving at the front of the bunch, Jonas Vingegaard amongst their number...

Antony Turgis (TotalEnergies) dropped from the break and the bunch is splitting. Evenepoel reportedly caught behind.

If Evenepoel was caught out, he's coming back up very fast. Bardet dropped from the break.

Less than a kilometre on the climb and the gap between break and bunch has already shrunk to 53 seconds. Victor Campenearts leads the chase for Visma.

Armirail, Baudin and Leonard are the only three riders left at the head of the break.

Attack by Sepp Kuss , Pogačar instantly on his back wheel. Evenepoel comes across, also Vingegaard.

The group spreads across the road, and GC threat Florian Lipowitz (Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe) makes a move, Matteo Jorgenson chasing him down for Vingegaard.

3.3 kilometres from the top, Lipowitz is going clear.

Santiago Buitrago and Lenny Martínez, Bahrain's top two climbers, both reported struggling. Meanwhile Lipowitz is gaining ground.

Baudin and Michael Leonard have now dropped Armirail and have gone clear, Baudin setting the pace.

Lipowitz storms past early breakaway Van der Poel, his advantage rising to eight seconds.

A UAE teammate now chasing for Pogačar in the main GC group of around 10 riders. Visma, meanwhile, have four riders in the same group.

Lipowitz about to be caught by the yellow jersey group. Fourth overall on GC, he was too dangerous to have too much of a margin.

40 kilometres to go

Over the top of the Saxonnex, Leonard and Baudin have a gap of just under a minute on the main group led by UAE's Tim Wellens.

Just ten riders in the main GC group, three of them Vismas: Lipowitz (Bora); Vingegaard, Jorgenson and Tulett (Visma); Pogačar and Wellens (UAE); Evenepoel (Soudal-QuickStep); Seixas (Decathlon); Enric Mas (Movistar) and Eddie Dunbar (Jayco-AlUla).

Although likely more riders will get back on to the GC group in the flat before the final two Cat.2 ascents, it's notable that Evenepoel is completely isolated -and that Visma are currently in a majority. Also a shout-out for Seixas, just 18 years old and punching several kilograms above his weight.

Just Baudin and Leonard remain from the original break now, and their gap is around a minute. But it's looking increasingly like a GC day.

An acceleration by Enric Mas on the downhill. He's 2:04 down on GC so perhaps has a bit of a margin before the top GC names start to react.

30 kilometres to go

Leonard and Baudin remain with a 1:10 gap. Mas, meanwhile, has sat up.

A shot of the Evenepoel group prior to it blowing apart on the Mont-Saxonnex

On the flatter section before the final climbs, a much larger group of chasers has refused with the GC group

Still to come in stage 6 of the Critérium du Dauphiné:

Km 107.5 Sprint: la Grangeat

Km 120.8 Climb: Cat.2 Côte de Domancy (2.5km at 9.3%)

Km 126.7.Climb: Cat.2 Côte de la Cry (2.7km at 7%)

Km 126.2 Finish: Combloux

Amongst the reinforcements in that bridging group for the top GC names: Pavel Sivakov and Jonathan Narváez for Pogačar, Kuss for Vingegaard. Nobody, though, for race leader Evenepoel.

A reminder of the GC as we head into the decisive section of the stage

And here's what to come in terms of the climbs...

21 kilometres to go

1:23 the gap for Baudin and Leonard. Can they start to dream of a stage win?

Riding for UAE's Pogačar, Narvaez mops up the last point and bonus second in the intermediate sprint behind Baudin and Leonard.

Leonard has a stage win in the Tour de l'Avenir in 2024 and Baudin a stage and the overall in the Tour de Limousin, but at the moment they're pushing for their first victory in the WorldTour.

UAE continue to lay down a strong pace on the flat roads approaching the final Cat.2 climbs.

14 kilometres to go

1:09 the gap. It's going to be touch and go.

Bahrain duo Martínez and Buitrago are back in the main group as well, by the way, but their struggles on the punishing Saxonnex don't bode well for the big climbs the peloton will face this weekend.

9 kilometres to go

And we're onto the final climbs of the day. Leonard and Baudin reach the climb ahead but the peloton are not far behind.

UAE are powering onto the lower slopes of Domancy with Sivakov on the front of the bunch.

Eight kilometres from the finish and Baudin leaps away from Leonard.

Still some 50 riders in the main bunch but it's lining out fast...

Baudin has 55 seconds on the fast-disintegrating bunch

Lenny Martínez dropped again.

The UAE shredding has reduced the front group to eight riders in no time at all...

Evenepoel dropped as Narvaez piles on the power.

Pogačar attacks 7 kilometres from the finish. ONly Vingegard can follow.

And now Pogačar drops Vingegaard. Not waiting for the weekend then...

Evenepoel meanwhile, is taking a steady pace at the head of a small group including Jorgenson

Pogačar catches Baudin even before the summit of the Domancy.

6.1 kilometres to go

At the summit of the Domancy, Pogačar has 20 seconds on Vingegaard, and 40 on the Evenepoel group.

Still to come: the Cat.2 Côte de la Cry (2.7km at 7%)

Pogačar's gap on Vingegaard is inching open to 25 seconds and beyond.

As things stand, it looks as Pogačar will be heading into his first Dauphiné lead as well as the stage win.

Trailed by Baudin, Vingegaard is not cracking, but the tide is still drifting remorsely in Pogačar's favour.

Vingegaard leaves Baudin behind and heads off to try and limit the gaps on Pogačar. But the margin is 37 seconds now.

Further down the twin climbs, Lipowitz meanwhile, is putting in his own spectacular display, dropping Evenepoel and Jorgenson.

Three kilometres to go

44 seconds the gap between Pogacar and Vingegaard, as the UAE team car flies past the Dane in search of their rider. Barring major upsets, the Slovenian is in the lead as well as taking the stage.

Evenepoel, meanwhile, is now 1:20 back. If this is the kind of damage Pogačar can inflict on two short climbs, what can he do on the major ones?

Pogačar now starts the Côte de la Cry. 2.2 kilometres to go.

After the events of the TT stage in Combloux in the 2023 Tour de France, Pogačar is certainly turning the tables today....

Vingegaard is not looking great, slumping in and out of the saddle. Gap now up to 50 seconds.

Pogačar, meanwhile, is riding at a very steady pace, despite the intense heat.

Jorgenson moves ahead of Evenepoel. 48 hours after his big time trial victory, not a great day for the World TT Champion.

Into the final kilometre and Pogačar's advantage is still rising to nearly a minute. Plus there's time bonuses on offer.

Pogacar moves into the barrier-ed off segment of the finish. The win and lead are both about to be his.

Tadej Pogačar (UAE Team Emirates-XRG) wins stage 6 of Critérium du Dauphiné

Vingegaard battles on resolutely, finally crossing the line 1:01 down.

Next up is Florian Lipowitz (Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe), 1:25 back and likely moving onto the podium behind Vingegaard and Pogacar.

Evenepoel is 1:50 back. The race lead is now officially lost to Pogačar.

For those who felt Pogačar was on the back foot after the time trial where he lost more time than expected, this has been quite the turnaround for the Slovenian.

And here's a first shot of Pogačar taking the stage win and lead

Some quotes from the winner: "We had our own plan, but then Visma started to go full gas on the first cat climb [the Saxonnex]. Before the start I didn't know if I knew this climb before but for sure it brought back some memories from good times.
"The team were super-strong today, Pavel [Sivakov] and Johnnie [Narváez], all the team actually, and in the end, I felt good.
"Then we said we'd go from the bottom of the climb, the steepest part, and we committed. We had nothing to lose. It was a hot day and a hard day and I had to hurry up to see the finish of Urška [Žigart-AG Insurance-Soudal] in the Tour de Suisse, so I was just in time - all good."

Here's the top ten for the stage for today, courtesy of FirstCycling

And here's the new top ten on GC

The full Cyclingnews report on the dramatic events of stage 6

Critérium du Dauphiné: Tadej Pogačar decimates field on stage 6 to take overall race lead

A photo of Vingegaard crossing the line. This isn't the end of his GC bid in the Critérium du Dauphiné by a long shot, but it's definitely a major setback and it puts Pogačar firmly back in the driving seat. Worth remembering, though, that this race still has its two hardest stages to come.

History fans will be pleased to note that if Pogačar was already the first winner of a Dauphiné stage in the rainbow jersey since Bernard Hinault took four in 1981, thanks to his victory on the opening day, he's now taken a triumph on the same climbs where Hinault forged his World Championships victory back in 1980 in Sallanches - the town at the foot of the valley.

In terms of the different classifications, while Pogačar has now moved into the overall lead with his ninth win of the season, Van der Poel remains in control of the points jersey. Lipowitz, whose stunning ride has kept him on the provisional podium, albeit a spot behind Vingegaard, is now heading the Best Young Rider's classification and EF breakaway Alex Baudin is the new leader in the mountains ranking. Visma are still ahead in the teams classification.

The new man in control of the Dauphiné GC...

And what about tomorrow's stage?

Three Hors Categorie climbs jammed into 131.6 kilometres on stage 7 make this the toughest day in the mountains of the 2025 Criterium du Dauphiné by a long way. Starting in the town of Grand-Aigueblanche, it's straight up one of the best-known ascents of the Alps, the 24.6km Madeleine, then straight afterwards the equally mythical Croix de Fer. A long descent and small section of flat will be the only respite for the riders prior to the 16km Valmeinier1800 ascent - the easiest climb of the three. Pogačar is already dominating the race, but if he's still in yellow on Saturday evening and Vingegaard hasn't made any inroads, then his first ever Dauphiné victory will be all but certain.

That just about wraps it up for the Critérium du Dauphiné live today, Cyclingnews will have more news and analysis throughout the evening, and we'll be back again on Saturday with more live coverage.