Roglic holds on to second Dauphine title in three years

Primoz Roglic had to dig deep during a dramatic finish at the Criterium du Dauphine to hold on and win his second title in three years by eight seconds.

The Bora-Hansgrohe rider entered the final stage with a 62-second lead over Matteo Jorgenson, who was seriously threatened by the American on the final climb of the day.

Spaniard Carlos Rodriguez attacked with 5.5 km to go, followed by Canada’s Derek Gee and Jorgenson of Visma-Lease a Bike, who tried to close his deficit.

Rodriguez ultimately took the stage win for Ineos Grenadiers at the summit finish at Plateau des Glieres, ahead of Jorgenson, and Roglic did enough to ensure he took victory.

Earlier on the 160.6km mountain stage from Thones, the 34-year-old Slovenian looked on course to enjoy a comfortable day and perhaps even challenge for a third straight stage win.

Then Rodriguez, Jorgenson and Gee – all in the top five of the overall standings – made their move.

With 10 bonus seconds still up for grabs for the stage winner, 24-year-old Jorgenson knew he would take the Dauphine title if he crossed the line more than 52 seconds ahead of Roglic.

At one point the leading group trio built their lead to more than 40 seconds and Rodriguez, 23, surpassed the stage win, while Roglic came in 48 seconds later to claim his first victory with his new team Bora-Hansgrohe.

It is expected that Roglic will now fight for his first title in the Tour de France, which starts on June 29.

“[Winning] the Dauphine is one thing, the Tour is another,” he said. “I want to enjoy the moment because it’s not every day that you win these kinds of races. It is beautiful.”

Result stage eight

1. Carlos Rodriguez (Spa/Ineos Grenadiers) 4 hours 18 minutes 2 seconds

2. Matteo Jorgenson (USA/Visma-Lease a Bike) Same time

3. Derek Gee (Can/Israel-Premier Tech) +15 sec

4. Laurens de Plus (Bel/Ineos Grenadiers) +35sec

5. Santiago Buitrago (Col/Bahrain victorious) Same time

6. Primoz Roglic (Slo/Bora-Hansgrohe) +48 sec

7. Giulio Ciccone (Ita/Lidl-Trek) Same time

8. Remco Evenepoel (Bel/Soudal Quick-Step) +58sec

9. Aleksandr Vlasov (Russia/Bora-Hansgrohe) Same time

10. Mikel Landa (Spa/Soudal Quick-Step) +1min 10sec

Final general classification

1. Primoz Roglic (Slo/Bora-Hansgrohe) 25 hours 35 minutes 40 seconds

2. Matteo Jorgenson (USA/Visma – Lease a Bike) +8 sec

3. Derek Gee (Can/Israel-Premier Tech) +36 sec

4. Carlos Rodriguez (Spa/Ineos Grenadiers) +1 min

5. Laurens de Plus (Bel/Ineos Grenadiers) +2min 4sec

6. Aleksandr Vlasov (Russia/Bora-Hansgrohe) +2:06

7. Remco Evenepoel (Bel/Soudal Quick-Step) +2:25

8. Giulio Ciccone (Ita/Lidl-Trek) +2:54

9. Oier Lazkano (Spa/Movistar team) Same time

10. Mikel Landa (Spa/Soudal Quick-Step) +4:13