On paper, the opening stage of this year's Critérium du Dauphiné was one for the sprinters. Yes, there were spatterings of elevation during the finishing circuit of the 195km stage into Montluçon, but the mountainous tail of the race pointed towards the fastmen having their way on the first day.
That assumption was swiftly shattered when Jonas Vingegaard (Visma-Lease a Bike) powered off the front atop the final ascent of Côte de Buffon with under 7km remaining.
