Description
June 11, 2022
Criterium du Dauphiné 2022 – Stage 7 – Saint-Chaffrey – Vaujany : 134,8 km
This week-long stage-race falls just a couple of weeks before the start of the Tour de France,
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June 11, 2022
Criterium du Dauphiné 2022 – Stage 7 – Saint-Chaffrey – Vaujany : 134,8 km
This week-long stage-race falls just a couple of weeks before the start of the Tour de France, providing riders with one final tune up before the biggest event of the season. With an individual time trial and a handful of gruelling stages through the high-mountains, the Critérium du Dauphiné is, in many ways, a mini Tour de France. Win here and you’ll no doubt go into the Tour as the big favourite to take yellow. The race was created back in 1947 in an attempt to boost sales of a local newspaper, Le Dauphiné libéré. For many years the newspaper organised its own race, carving out one of the most brutal and action-packed week-long stage races on the pro cycling calendar.
Carlos Verona (Movistar) held off a fierce chase from new overall race leader Primož Roglič (Jumbo-Visma) to take the stage 7 victory at the Critérium du Dauphiné in Vaujany.
Verona was the last man standing and the strongest from the day’s original breakaway, and had enough power left in his legs on the final climb to take a solo win by 13 seconds ahead of Roglič and 25 seconds ahead of his Jumbo-Visma teammate Jonas Vingegaard.
Verona was emotional to win his first race, saying, “It’s an incredible and very special day after all my years as a professional rider. This is right up there with the best moments and now it’s great to have a win on my palmares,” he said.
“This win is for my team. We haven’t had the best moment but we will come back, stronger than ever. It’s also for my family, my wife and my kids, we’re also a team. I race here and they support me, too.
“It doesn’t happen very often when you work hard for others in the team but sometimes you get a chance. This was my day and I won. I’m so grateful to the team.”
Verona talked about his race and being in the day’s breakaway in detail, saying, “It was about having the confidence to be up there and go for it on a tough day and riding smart.
“There was a headwind on the Galibier but we got away. Afterwards I knew I just had to go for it because Kenny Elissonde was strong. We were chasing each other all day and it was fast on the descent.
“On the last climb I knew I had to go from the bottom because the bunch was near us too. Near the finish I didn’t have anything left and just went for it, not looking back and ready to accept being caught. I knew that they were there and so had to suffer to my very limits. It all worked out.”
Roglič capitalised on the remarkable show of strength from his Jumbo-Visma team on the final ascent into Vaujany and move into the overall race lead, taking over from his teammate and overnight leader Wout van Aert.
He now leads the race by 44 seconds over teammate Vingegaard and 1:24 ahead of Ben O’Connor (AG2R Citroën Team) as the race heads into the stage 8 finale 138.8km from Saint-Alban-Leysse to Plateau de Salaison.
Roglič was happy to be in the leader’s yellow jersey but not overly confident about going on to win the race on Sunday. “I’m more yellow but I’m used to it,” he said, referring to his usual yellow and black Jumbo-Visma colours.
“Carlos Verona was quite strong and deserved to win the stage. We were not really going for the stage win. We came here to search a bit for the good feelings. I felt good today and that’s why I could go at the end.
“I’m super happy. I came here from a training camp and I didn’t do much intensity. This race has helped me to come back. With the way it’s going, I’m improving and getting my legs back.”
Roglič was cautious about his ambitions, hinting he would be happy even if Vingegaard went on to win during Sunday’s final mountain stage.
“I’ll go all out. It’s still training for me, I don’t care if I win or lose. If we win as a team it’s even better. So we have to be optimistic. With all the guys with what we showed, we’ll go for it,” he said.
“I always say that the stronger we are, the stronger is the team. We have to help each other and do our best. We know that tomorrow is the Queen stage, the final one and we have to be there and do our best.”
Results :
 held off a fierce chase from new overall race leader Primož Roglič (Jumbo-Visma) to take the stage 7 victory at the Critérium du Dauphiné in Vaujany.
Verona was the last man standing and the strongest from the day's original breakaway, and had enough power left in his legs on the final climb to take a solo win by 13 seconds ahead of Roglič and 25 seconds ahead of his Jumbo-Visma teammate Jonas Vingegaard.
Verona was emotional to win his first race, saying, “It’s an incredible and very special day after all my years as a professional rider. This is right up there with the best moments and now it’s great to have a win on my palmares,” he said.
“This win is for my team. We haven’t had the best moment but we will come back, stronger than ever. It’s also for my family, my wife and my kids, we’re also a team. I race here and they support me, too.
“It doesn’t happen very often when you work hard for others in the team but sometimes you get a chance. This was my day and I won. I’m so grateful to the team.”
Verona talked about his race and being in the day's breakaway in detail, saying, “It was about having the confidence to be up there and go for it on a tough day and riding smart.
“There was a headwind on the Galibier but we got away. Afterwards I knew I just had to go for it because Kenny Elissonde was strong. We were chasing each other all day and it was fast on the descent.
“On the last climb I knew I had to go from the bottom because the bunch was near us too. Near the finish I didn’t have anything left and just went for it, not looking back and ready to accept being caught. I knew that they were there and so had to suffer to my very limits. It all worked out.”
Roglič capitalised on the remarkable show of strength from his Jumbo-Visma team on the final ascent into Vaujany and move into the overall race lead, taking over from his teammate and overnight leader Wout van Aert.
He now leads the race by 44 seconds over teammate Vingegaard and 1:24 ahead of Ben O'Connor (AG2R Citroën Team) as the race heads into the stage 8 finale 138.8km from Saint-Alban-Leysse to Plateau de Salaison.
Roglič was happy to be in the leader’s yellow jersey but not overly confident about going on to win the race on Sunday. “I'm more yellow but I’m used to it,” he said, referring to his usual yellow and black Jumbo-Visma colours.
“Carlos Verona was quite strong and deserved to win the stage. We were not really going for the stage win. We came here to search a bit for the good feelings. I felt good today and that’s why I could go at the end.
“I’m super happy. I came here from a training camp and I didn’t do much intensity. This race has helped me to come back. With the way it’s going, I'm improving and getting my legs back.”
Roglič was cautious about his ambitions, hinting he would be happy even if Vingegaard went on to win during Sunday’s final mountain stage.
“I’ll go all out. It’s still training for me, I don’t care if I win or lose. If we win as a team it’s even better. So we have to be optimistic. With all the guys with what we showed, we’ll go for it,” he said.
“I always say that the stronger we are, the stronger is the team. We have to help each other and do our best. We know that tomorrow is the Queen stage, the final one and we have to be there and do our best.”
<strong>Results : </strong>
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