A victory on a mountain stage in the Critèrium du Dauphinè is something for champions. A victory at the end of a 100km breakaway beating talented riders such as Tony Martin, Gallopin, Valverde and overtaking Nibali in the last kilometre is a phenomenal result.

Rui Costa was perfect on the 6th stage of the French race, 163km from Saint Bonnet en Champsaur to Villars de Lans with 6 climbs, including a summit finish. He exploited his talent to join a first breakaway of 19 riders in the early part of the race and he still had enough left on the Col de Grimone (75 km in the race) to be in another attack started by Nibali and including Valverde, Gallopin and Tony Martin.

The breakaway could resist the chase of the group and the five attackers faced the final climb of Villars de Lans (2,2 km at 6,2%) . Thanks to his grind, his legs and his tactical sense, Rui Costa awaited the best moment to chase down Nibali, who had attacked with 1,5 km to go, joining him in the final 500 meters and overtaking him for an impressive victory, the first in 2015.

It was alsoa good performance by Valls, who was 15th at 2’31”, having spent the whole stage in the first chase group.

This success is the 15th for Team Lampre-Merida in the season, the 444th in the history of the blue-fuchsia team. Rui Costa is 2nd in the overall classification, 29″ from the new leader Nibali; Valls is 12th at 2’42”.

“What a joy to take this victory is at the end of such da ifficult stage and beating top riders like Nibali, Valverde, Martin and Gallopin,” Rui Costa said. “Yesterday I tested my condition in the first mountains I faced after many weeks of training and I focused my attention on recovering energy in view of today’s stage.

“We started at a very high average speed under the cold pouring rain, I joined two breakaway attempts and I understood immediately that the second was very good, because all the members were very strong riders. I succeeded in being patient on the final climb, I had the best timing to reach Nibali and overtake him. I share the happiness of the victory with my team, with the sponsors and my fans.

"We knew today's stage would be difficult, difficult. But we didn't know it would rain and be cold in addition to racing on a hard course. It started very fast and it never slowed down. At some stage, the peloton exploded.

"We went too fast in a downhill (col de la Croix-Haute), we saw a gap and we went flat out, after which I believe we've been flat out till the finish line.

"The final climb was hard, maybe less because of its gradient than the speed we rode at all day. Nibali went with two kilometers to go. I preferred to keep my own pace and handle the few strengths I had left. I never gave up my ambitions to win the stage but only with 300 metres to go, and certainly not before, I could foresee the possibility to win.

"Usually I ride the Tour de Suisse but in a discussion with the team, we thought it would be better to do the Dauphiné in order to be less tired at the start of the Tour de France.

"Initially I was supposed to take it easy and just see how my condition is. Yesterday, I wasn't at my best but today I felt better. And being away with top riders like Valverde and Nibali, it's enormous!

"It's important to win my first stage at the Dauphiné. But I don't know if I'll be able to ride GC even though I'm second now. The legs will be tired after today but I'll try to do my best in the last two stages."

Sport director Philippe Mauduit, who’s directing the team with his colleague Mario Scirea, is very satisfied:

“It’s very special to complete the stage with a beautiful victory, Rui demonstrated once again that is a champion who can manage the race situations in a perfect way.

"We had another important feedback: the race started at a full speed and this caused that the bunch was whittled down to 50 riders on the first climb. Lampre-Merida was the only one team with all riders in the front group."