For Alberto Contador, there was nothing to gain but a lot to lose in today's tricky finale at the Criterium du Dauphiné but the Spaniard was well-protected by his teammates and finished safely within the bunch. His sports director Philippe Mauduit expects a breakaway to make it in tomorrow's stage to Gap where Contador tried to attack Froome on the descent in last year's Tour de France.

After two days of GC action in the Dauphiné, it was time today to leave the sprinters with an opportunity to shine at the end of the 194 kilometer long stage from Ambert to Le Teil. That meant Tinkoff-Saxo’s Alberto Contador was given a chance to recover after yesterday’s mountain battle with Chris Froome (Sky).

However, Blel Kadri (AG2R-La Mondiale), Natnael Berhane (Europcar) and Cesare Benedetti (NetApp-Endura) worked up a lead to the peloton after escaping in the hilly first part of the day. Towards the finale, the terrain flattened out and soon the front trio was in sight. With 24 kilometers to go, they were in fact reeled back in and Sky took control. Tinkoff-Saxo were constantly near the front of the field to keep Contador out of trouble.

As everyone expected a textbook bunch sprint, the German veteran, Jens Voigt (Trek Factory) decided to have a go and he dragged 7 riders along with him. Behind, Omega-Pharma Quick Step and Giant-Shimano went into panic mode and started their engines to drag everyone back. But the pace wasn’t high enough so Katusha joined forces on the front and with 6 kilometers to go, the stage was neutralized again.

It was a frantic and technically demanding final kilometers with sharp turns and road furniture but Alberto Contador was brought safely across the finish line where Niklas Arndt (Giant-Shimano) won the bunch sprint.

DS Philippe Maudiut was content with the outcome of the stage:

“Our main concern was bringing Alberto safely through the stage and especially through the very tricky finale," he said. "With ten kilometers to go, we decided to move to the forefront of the field as we knew the finale contained a number of roundabouts, speed bumps and nasty turns in the finish town and fortunately, none of our riders were involved in crashes.

"We know tomorrow’s stage pretty well. It’s the usual finale in Gap with a climb and descent towards the finish line and I believe that a breakaway will have their way tomorrow."