Team Argos-Shimano’s Thomas Damuseau (FRA) has won the polka-dot jersey of the King of the Mountains competition at the Critérium du Dauphiné in France.
 
Damuseau recently completed the Giro d’Italia, finishing in 53rd place and went straight into the French World Tour race in an attacking mood.
 
From the first stage, Damuseau showed that he left Italy with some great form, driving the breakaway and starting his tally of KOM points along the way.
 
He continued this on the second stage and took the jersey by the end of the day. Since the second stage he hasn’t looked back and has continued to valiantly add more and more points to his total, getting into the breakaway on five of the eight stages, one of which was an individual time trial.
 
"It comes as quite a surprise to win this jersey, and of course I did not win the jersey because I was the best climber, but because I was in the attack," said Damuseau after the final stage.
 
"We raced hard this week - I was in the break on five out of the eight stages.
 
"My form was good after the Giro. I was a bit sick after Italy because of the hard efforts and the weather, but I recovered well and felt strong before the Dauphiné.
 
"It was a great week, I was feeling good climbing and it helped also that I lost a bit of weight at the Giro.
 
"I got the mountains jersey after the second stage where I got into the break; it was of course not our goal but once we had it we made a good plan to keep the jersey. I had to be active every day, you cannot take an easy day. It was difficult to stay focused every day. Going into the break not for the stage win but for the jersey was a new experience that’s for sure. It was made a lot easier thanks to our teamwork; my teammates did everything to help me out. I am happy, for myself and for the team. It is not an easy race, yet we showed that we can do something in a race like this, even if you do not come with climbers.  A race like the Dauphiné, in France, is really important for me.”
 
Damuseau has no intention of resting on his laurels. "My next focus is the French championships in two weeks. It could be a good one for us, and I want to be strong there. It’s not an easy circuit with lots of climbing, but we will start with four guys and do not have the pressure that the French teams have."
 
Damuseau finished the race with a long break on the final stage to Risoul where he took the early mountain points to secure the jersey, leaving him with a 32 point buffer over second place by the end of the stage.
 
Final King of the Mountains Standings

1. Thomas Damuseau (FRA) Team Argos-Shimano 109
2. Kevin Seeldraeyers (BEL) Astana 77
3. Christopher Froome (GBR) Sky Pro Cycling 46