CyclingQuotes.com uses cookies for statistics and targeting ads. This information is shared with third parties.
ACCEPT COOKIES » MORE INFO »

Every day we bring you more pro-cycling news

"But I am happy because I went like I expected. Yes I lost my 7th overall, but it showed me that I am in good progression for the Tour [de France] and that is my biggest goal," Zubeldia says

Photo: Trek Factory Racing

CRITERIUM DU DAUPHINE

RACE PROFILE
|
NEWS

HAIMAR ZUBELDIA

RIDER PROFILE
|
NEWS
14.06.2014 @ 20:59 Posted by Emil Axelgaard

Going into today's queen stage of the Criterium du Dauphiné, Haimar Zubeldia was sitting in 7th overall but the Basque lost time and dropped to 13th. With his big goal of the Tour de France coming up in a few weeks, however, he was unfazed by the result.

 

Stage seven lived up to its expectations as the queen stage. With two hors catégorie climbs packed into the final 30 kilometers, and the top three GC separated by seconds, it was the pivotal moment for the eight-day race.

 

Trek Factory Racing, for the first time in the past three days missed out on the breakaway revelry, and did not join the merrymaking at the front; instead, it became a day of survival for four of the team’s five riders. For Haimar Zubeldia, it was a stage to muster his best effort possible. In the end he finished in 21st place and dropped to 13thoverall (+3’41”).

 

“The GC from 7th to 15th was close going into today," he said. "The last climb was very hard. It was steep in the middle and I suffered in this moment. After, I went my own tempo.

 

"But I am happy because I went like I expected. Yes I lost my 7th overall, but it showed me that I am in good progression for the Tour [de France] and that is my biggest goal. I am the strongest climber here for the team, but my role is different in the Tour [de France]. I am good in three-week races, I am always steady, and better in the last week. But it’s still a month away so I need to go slowly, recover, do some work – but today showed me that I will be ready.”

 

The breakaway that formed during the 160-kilometer stage seven at the Critérium du Dauphiné originated as five riders in the early going, and after 53 kilometers were pedaled, it swelled to 14.  With nine riders joining the leading party the day developed into two races: the 14-man breakaway battled for the prized stage win, while behind the festivities erupted to determine the overall victor.

 

On the final Montée de Finhaut-Émosson (10.2kms at 8%) both battles ended with equally ‘edge-of -seat’ thrills.  After finishing a frustrating second from the breakaway yesterday, Lieuwe Westra (Astana) put in an exhillarting come-from-behind effort and stole the win from what appeared to be an assured 1-2 Katusha finish.

 

In the GC battle everything seemed under Sky control. Until Alberto Contador (Tinkoff-Saxo) cracked their armor with a blistering attack that Chris Froome did not, or could not, respond to.  Under the flamme rouge Froome finally set off in pursuit, but it was too late: At the line Contador had enough time to claim the leader’s jersey; Froome, for the first time in the race, was in debt by eight seconds.

 

Everything is set for a similar exciting day tomorrow. The eighth and final stage of the Critérium du Dauphiné will be a scrap to the bitter end with a category one climb to the ski resort of Courchevel to end it all.

 

Haimar Zubeldia will try and better his result of today. He still has an outside chance to sneak into the top 10 GC.

 

“Tomorrow again it will be a nice race," he said. "The last climb is not as hard as today, but the Sky team will for sure do something.  For me it’s the last day and I know theCourchevel climb well. I hope to go better than today. I will do my best.”

MORE NEWS:

VIEW SELECTED

Bycykling 101: Navigering i byens gader og cykelvenlige... 27.11.2023 @ 12:11The Best Danish Cyclist To Bet On At 2022 Tour De France 13.01.2022 @ 15:262022 Upcoming Tournament Overview 03.01.2022 @ 09:45Best Place to Find Stand-Up Paddleboards 16.06.2021 @ 08:16What are Primoz Roglic’s Chances to Win 2021 Tour de Fr... 17.03.2021 @ 08:37Amazing victory by young champion Sarah Gigante 04.02.2021 @ 14:21Three reasons why cycling is one of the best ways to ex... 28.09.2020 @ 12:03Why do businesses use meeting room managers? 14.09.2020 @ 13:42Five things that you can do, if you want to gain more f... 20.08.2020 @ 15:38One for the road 09.06.2020 @ 15:25List of CyclingQuotes previews 07.05.2020 @ 13:20Blue Energy: room for all interests 26.08.2019 @ 12:56Get your daily dose of exercise at home 08.07.2019 @ 10:443 good advice to be able to afford your favorite bike 25.02.2019 @ 12:32Cycle through gorgeous landscapes 22.10.2018 @ 21:41Balance Your Economy and Diet and Start Saving Money 08.10.2018 @ 11:18Stay Safe: 3 Helmets That Can Keep Your Head Protected... 20.07.2018 @ 07:59Planning to bet on Tour De France - Bet types and strat... 24.05.2018 @ 14:18Basics of cycling betting 25.10.2017 @ 13:10Bauer moves to ORICA-SCOTT 28.08.2017 @ 10:45End of the road for CyclingQuotes 08.01.2017 @ 16:00Rui Costa confirms Giro participation 07.01.2017 @ 12:55Van Avermaet: I am not afraid of Sagan 07.01.2017 @ 09:45Unchanged course for E3 Harelbeke 07.01.2017 @ 09:32Jenner takes surprise win at Australian U23 Championships 07.01.2017 @ 08:53No replacement for Meersman at Fortuneo-Vital Concept 06.01.2017 @ 19:14Barguil with two goals in 2017 06.01.2017 @ 19:06More details about French Vuelta start emerges 06.01.2017 @ 14:16Kristoff to start season at Etoile de Besseges 06.01.2017 @ 14:10Ion Izagirre announces schedule for first year at Bahrain 06.01.2017 @ 12:40JLT Condor optimistic for Herald Sun Tour 06.01.2017 @ 09:19Haas leads Dimension Data trio in fight for Australian... 06.01.2017 @ 09:15Sagan spearheads Bora-hansgrohe at Tour Down Under 06.01.2017 @ 09:12Henao and Thomas lead Sky Down Under 06.01.2017 @ 09:09Bauer crowned New Zealand TT champion 06.01.2017 @ 08:33Van der Poel ready to defend Dutch title 05.01.2017 @ 21:00Pantano ambitious for first Tour with Trek 05.01.2017 @ 20:41Landa with new approach to the Giro 05.01.2017 @ 20:36Sunweb Development Team sign Goos and Zepuntke 05.01.2017 @ 20:27Dumoulin confirms Giro participation 05.01.2017 @ 20:19Bauer targets victories in Quick-Step debut 05.01.2017 @ 20:16Gaviria and Boonen lead Quick-Step in San Juan 05.01.2017 @ 20:13Team Sunweb presented in Germany 05.01.2017 @ 20:09ASO take over major German WorldTour race 05.01.2017 @ 11:01Team Sunweb unveil new jersey 05.01.2017 @ 10:54Reactions from the Australian TT Championships 05.01.2017 @ 08:27Dennis defends Australian TT title 05.01.2017 @ 08:21Scotson takes back to back U23 TT titles in Australia 05.01.2017 @ 08:15Utrecht on track to host 2020 Vuelta 04.01.2017 @ 18:28Pre-season setback for Talansky 04.01.2017 @ 17:56Kristoff: It's not impossible for me to win in Rou... 04.01.2017 @ 17:49Boom close to first cyclo-cross win in LottoNL debut 04.01.2017 @ 17:40UAE Abu Dhabi make late signing of Arab rider 04.01.2017 @ 17:36UAE Abu Dhabi unveil new jersey 04.01.2017 @ 17:30BMC unveil race schedule 04.01.2017 @ 17:21

Currently no news in this list

Matic VEBER
28 years | today
Kevin MOLLOY
54 years | today
Petr VACHEK
37 years | today
Inez BEIJER
29 years | today
Timo ALBIEZ
39 years | today

© CyclingQuotes.com