A late jump from a track rider accustomed to sudden pace changes gave British road race champion Peter Kennaugh (SKY) him the victory in a short, intense stage one in the Critérium du Dauphiné, over 131.5km starting in Ugine and finishing with a circuit in Albertville, five laps over the Côte de Villard (Cat-3). The Manxman attacked with two kilometers from the line from a five-rider group, created by Daniel Oss (BMC) with an attack on the final climb and joined by Gorka Izagirre, the most active of the Movistar Team riders in the stage.

Despite the fact that the three attackers along with Grivko (AST) and the early break's last survivor Björn Thurau (BOA) never got more than ten seconds, Kennaugh's acceleration - just before Izagirre was caught - allowed him to keep a bunch with no real sprint trains at bay. Alejandro Valverde, focused and well-protected by the likes of Alex Dowsett and Rory Sutherland, even tested himself in the bunch sprint, claiming the 8th spot.

Ninety riders - including Blues Intxausti, Izagirre, Gadret, Herrada, Castroviejo and Valverde - were part of an elite bunch that will see its chances increased on Monday at the finish in Villars-les-Dombes (173km). The Cuvéry (Cat-1) climb, halfway through the course, will be the biggest difficulty.