The good period for LAMPRE-MERIDA continues in France after the positive performances in the Giro d'Italia and in the Tour of Japan.
 

It happened thanks to one of the protagonists of the Pink Race, namely Sacha Modolo who obtained 2nd place in the 1st stage of the Critèrium du Dauphinè, Ugine-Abertville (132km, 6 laps of a circuit with the passage of the Cote du Villard).

The race was led for most part by a 4 riders breakaway which had a maximum advantage of 7' which required the LAMPRE-MERIDA to give its contribution to the chase with Matteo Bono. The attackers were caught suring the final passage of the Cote du Villard (summit 12 km from the finish), but 5 riders counterattacked and one of them, British champion Kennaugh, made a solo action which gave him the victory.

The bunch was 2" too late and so Modolo battled for 2nd place: he beat Boasson Hagen and Benoot.

"It was great to have the same good feelings I had in the Giro d'Italia," Modolo said. "The stage was unusual, being short and with a quite demanding climb but I succeded in being competitive. Unfortunately, Kennaugh was great and so the sprint I won was not for the first place. 
I hope my legs will be as good as today in tomorrow's stage too."

Philippe Mauduit, LAMPRE-MERIDA's sport director, explained why he's satisfied with the team's performance: "It would have been great to begin the Critèrium du Dauphinè with a victory but we are satisfied with the second place of Modolo. 

"In fact, he's the only rider of the team who raced in the Giro d'Italia, while all the other riders have spent the past weeks in hard training in order to be very competitive in July so they were not completely at the top on a short and intense course as the one they covered today.

"Bono was great in working in the front of the bunch, allowing the team to give its contribution to the chase of the breakaway, and Plaza did a good job in supporting Rui Costa and Valls in the stage. Directing our focus to the future weeks, we had good feedbacks."