Another good ride overall by the Movistar Team in this year’s Critérium du Dauphiné led Beñat Intxausti back onto the GC podium after the Queen stage - 155km from Montmélian to Saint-Gervais, over five Cat-1 ascents and a final, intense effort over the cols of Amerands and Béttex. The Basque climber managed his energies fantastically well to cross the line after Chris Froome (SKY), Van Garderen (BMC) - new race leader - and Louis Meintjes (MTN) after a remarkable performance from the whole telephone squad.

26 riders got together at the front after the first two climbs, Tamié and La Forclaz, a break which was initially joined by Gorka Izagirre and later got company from Jonathan Castroviejo. It was the latter's task to stay calm against early attacks - a move by Navarro (COF) and Zoidl (TFR) opening a serious gap on the final descent - and try his move later. After jumping away from the pursuit in Amerands, he got back to the lead with 9km to go, and ultimately, he tried to ride on his own with two further accelerations that made him dream of the win.

Though Castroviejo was chased down by Froome’s acceleration in the finale, the Basque still had energy left to briefly help Intxausti - a good progression by the latter saw him lose only 40” at the line - and also Valverde, who struggled after his moves on Friday and finished 2’ behind the winner. The GC, pending tomorrow’s showdown in Modane Valfréjus (157km), sees Intxausti in 3rd place, 45” behind van Garderen and 27” behind Froome, with Costa (LAM) trailing by 25” in 4th, Simon Yates (OGE) at 44” and Valverde in sixth, 54” after the Basque. Movistar comfortably leads the teams' overall, with more a gap of more than 12'.