French rider Alex Baudin took the biggest win of his career on stage 1 of the renamed Critérium du Dauphiné – now the Tour-Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes – surviving in front after more than 120km in the day's early breakaway and 28km solo.
Baudin was part of a 10-rider group that emerged on the first uncategorised climb out of Vizille on Sunday, but emerged as the strongest on the final climb of the day, easily dropping George Bennett (NSN) and Clément Braz Afonso (Groupama-FDJ United) as he went alone.