After the first mountain stage of the Criterium du Dauphiné, things were looking extremely promising for Haimar Zubeldia who was sitting in seventh going into the final weekend. Not yet at 100%, however, the Basque faded and ended the race outside the top 20.

A bomb went off for the final day at the Critérium du Dauphiné. When the dust settled a new leader was crowned - Andrew Talansky of Garmin-Sharp rode himself inside out to take the overall win - Chris Froome faded out of the top 10, and Alberto Contador barely held onto the podium for second. It was the most unorthodox and unexpected of endings, but exhilarating to the core.

Trek Factory Racing concluded the last day with five riders.  Although they missed out on the nail-biting action of the 131.5-kilometer stage eight, they were not alone. The day belonged solely to the top climbers and GC contenders; the rest of the peloton was left behind from the first climb onwards.

Director Alain Gallopin rationalized the day and the week for the team:

“It was a short stage but very difficult. The first breakaway started in the côte de Domancy right from the start and you have all the best climbers there. We were not strong enough to be there. Then the second group was Froome and Contador and the rest of the GC leaders. At this moment Haimar [Zubledia] was not able to follow, same as yesterday.

"The only solution would have been to have Haimar in the first breakaway. But this was not the plan. Our plan was to wait. We could never imagine that we would find this situation today. I don’t think anyone did.

“Today was a big explosion in a lot of teams, although not with us. In the end it was a very hard Dauphiné. If I came here with [Julian] Arredondo it would be perfect, but we did a great Giro [d’Italia] before this and after that we do not have a strong team for the Dauphiné. It was part of the plan – I knew this before coming here.

“It was simply not possible for anyone to do anything today. The first break went in the first climb, second break in the next climb. We came here to focus on building the riders for the Tour de France, and possibly win a stage. Unfortunately we started very well, but the end it was too difficult for the riders we had here.

“The focus was to win the second stage with Giacomo [Nizzolo]. And Bob [Jungels] was third in the prologue and made a good attempt at the stage win so we started with promise. But the last part of this race was too hard for the riders we have here.  Haimar is in good form, but not enough to follow the best.

“I think for the Tour de France the Dauphiné was good preparation. All the guys here know themselves well; Haimar, Markel [Irizar] and Popo [Popovych] will be ready for the Tour, even Jens, possibly. We have to wait until after the Tour de Suisse to decide the final team but Haimar and Markel will go directly to the mountains now to be ready for the Tour. They are pros, they know exactly what to do."