Stage three at the Critérium du Dauhphinè saw the bunch take on a hilly opening section as they left Langeac before a flatter finale and a slight ramp up to the line in Saint-Haon-Le-Vieux. It was a steady start to the stage as a two rider breakaway managed to get clear on the opening climb of the day, quickly building up their advantage three minutes, before the sprint teams took control at the front of the bunch and began to pace.

With all Team DSM riders in the peloton, focus remained on saving as much energy as possible and staying safe. As the kilometres ticked by the advantage to the duo ahead diminished and with 20 kilometres to go the race was all back together. The team did well to move forward as a group at that point but things became more hectic on the fast and sweeping run in before the final kick up to the line, with the team losing each other a little bit in the finale. The puncheurs and sprinters did battle on the short ramp with white jersey wearer, Ilan Van Wilder, leading the team home at the finish; holding onto the jersey ahead of tomorrow’s time trial.

“Today we had the plan to go for the sprint with Kevin,” explained Van Wilder after the stage. “It was clear that it would be a sprint today from early on as there was control in the peloton. Then it started to become quite hectic in the bunch in the last 50 kilometres. We tried to move up in the group and position Kevin for the final but it was really hectic and I think we lost each other a little bit. In the end we didn’t get a result but at least we tried.”

Team DSM coach Wilbert Broekhuizen added: “We had two plans today. We wanted to be in the break if it was going to be a big and strong group that could make it to the finish, or go for the uphill sprint with Kevin. After less than ten kilometres, two riders went on the attack and the sprint teams blocked the road so they were gone for the day. It was pretty quiet in the beginning but got really nervous in the last 30 kilometres with a tailwind. It was really hard to stay together in the nervous moments and we’ll take some good learning points from that. Ilan managed to keep in a good position and could do a sprint, staying on the same time as the rest of the GC riders to hold onto the white jersey for us, which is nice for tomorrow’s TT.”