With one final climb to tackle, Fred Wright (Bahrain-Victorious) held a slender but consistent gap over the Critérium du Dauphiné peloton on the race's opening stage.
Wright had darted off the front with 37km until the line and swiftly bridged across to the remaining breakaway rider Pierre Thierry (Arkéa-B&B Hotels). The Frenchman was subsequently dropped as Wright held an advantage of 30 seconds, yet slowly but surely the gap dwindled.
