Ag2r-La Mondiale have no sprinter in this year's Criterium du Dauhiné and so they need to ride aggressively in the flat stages. Today Blel Kadri seized an opportunity by joined the early breakaway but his efforts were ultimately in vain.

Blel Kadri is known as a real escape artist and as his win in last year's Roma Maxima proves, he is strong enough to finish it off in the most spectacular fashion. Hence, he was ready to go in today's fourth stage of the Criterium du Dauphiné when his team gave him carte blanche to give it a try.

Kadri joined up with Cesare Benedetti and Natnael Berhane in the break but a fierce headwind made it impossible for them to make it to the finish. With 25km to go, they decided to stop their effort but the Frenchman was glad to have been part of the action.

"The team has no sprinter in this Critérium du Dauphiné but we have the heart to seize all opportunities," he said. "We selected several riders that should try to join the break and attack in the first kilometres.

"We were only three in the group but we tried to control the gap to the peloton. We quickly realized that FDJ and Trek would not let the gap increase. At the bottom of the descent we had no more than a minute ahead and I knew it would be complicated, especially as we were would have a headwind for the last 35 kilometers. We stressed a bit but I decided to stop at 25 kilometers from the line.

"I'm glad I spent the day in the break and I have no regrets. We knew that on paper this step was for sprinters but ultimately there are not many big teams that are capable of controlling the race. It was necessary to seize the opportunity. There will be others, there is plenty to do and the team is motivated for it."