For the second year in a row, Alessandro De Marchi could step onto the podium on the final day of the Criterium du Dauphiné as he won the mountains jersey after a very aggressive showing in the hardest stages. The win has made the Italian wonder whether he should target similar jerseys in future stage races, maybe already in the upcoming Tour de France.

One year ago, Alessandro De Marchi ended the Criterium du Dauphné on a high when he held off Chris Froome to win the final stage of the 2013 edition of the race. This year he was again a key figure in the mountainous event as he won the mountains jersey after a very aggressive performance.

De Marchi is known as an attacker that climbs solidly and is a strong rouleur but the win in this week's race has given him a new passion. Mountains jerseys may now become a more frequent goal for him and he doesn't rule out that he will target the polka dots in the upcoming Tour de France.

“This King of the Mountains classification is a team award," he said. "I was feeling the fatigue today. I wasn't able to go up the road so my team-mate Kristjian Koren went in the break to do the mathematics.

"It's an enormous satisfaction to win the polka dot jersey. It's not something I experienced before but during this Dauphiné I've discovered a new passion for myself in this kind of goal. I might do it again, why not at the Tour de France, as I realize how important this jersey is for French fans.”