2013 Cycling Thread

[Smallville22]

Joeaar takes overall lead at Tour of Estonia

Home hope Gert Joeaar assumed the overall lead at the Tour of Estonia after winning an evening time trial in Tallinn.
The Estonian stopped the clock at 4m31secs on the 3-kilometre second stage of the race, one second ahead of Swede Fredrik Ludvigsson (People4you-Unaas).
Double Tour de France stage winner in 2008 Stefan Schumacher (Christina Watches-Onfone) completed the top three.
The win saw Joeaar assume a four-second lead in the general classification.
The race continues on Friday with a 185km road stage from Tallinn to Tartu and concludes with a road stage of 150km on Saturday.

Stage 2 result:

1 Gert Joeaar (Estonia) 4:31

2 Fredrik Ludvigsson (People4you) +1

3 Stefan Schumacher (Christina Watches) +4

4 Davide Rebellin (CCC) +8

5 Jaroslaw Marycz (CCC) +9

6 Alo Jakin (Estonia) +12

7 Conor McConvey (Synergy) +12

8 Tomasz Kiendys (CCC) +13

9 Martin Mortensen (Concordia) +14

10 Alexander Gingsjo (People4you) +14

 

[Smallville22]

Furlan takes Tour of Estonia stage two

Angelo Furlan won stage two of the Tour of Estonia afer a sprint finish in Tartu.
Veteran Christina Watches-Onfone rider Furlan, from Italy, came in just ahead of Linus Dahlberg (People4You-Unaas) in a time of 4:55.53.
Konrad Dabkowski (BDC-Marcpol) was third, one hundredth of a second behind and at the top of a main bunch which also contained overall leader Gert Joeaar.
Estonia national team rider Joearr has a four-second lead over Fredrik Ludvigsson of People4You-Unaas.
It was the third stanza of this year's race after a 3km time trial in Tallinn on Friday evening followed the 125km opening stage in Viimsi.
Sunday's final stage is a 150km course in Tartu.

 

[Smallville22]

Wiggins ruled out

Sir Bradley Wiggins has been ruled out of the Tour de France due to a knee injury.

Wiggins, who last year became the first Briton to win the Tour, withdrew from the Giro d’Italia due to a chest infection and then an inflammation in his left knee prevented him from training.
With the three-time Olympic champion not able to ride at this month’s key warm-up races, the Criterium du Dauphine or Tour de Suisse, Team Sky have decided that he will be unable to take on the three-week tour which starts on June 29 in Corsica.
Team principal Sir Dave Brailsford said: “With illness, injury and treatment Brad has gone past the point where he can be ready for the Tour. It’s a big loss but, given these circumstances, we won’t consider him for selection.
“He hasn’t been able to train hard since the Giro and now he needs further rest. Whilst we all know these things happen in sport, it doesn’t take away from the fact that this is a huge disappointment for everyone in the team – and above all for Brad.
"It’s incredibly sad to have the reigning champion at Team Sky but not lining up at the Tour. But he’s a champion, a formidable athlete and will come back winning as he has before.”
The 33-year-old, who looked likely to play a support role for Chris Froome, expressed his disappointment.
He said: “It’s a huge disappointment not to make the Tour. I desperately wanted be there, for the team and for all the fans along the way - but it’s not going to happen.
“I can’t train the way I need to train and I’m not going to be ready. Once you accept that, it’s almost a relief not having to worry about the injury and the race against time.
“I’ve been through this before, when I broke my collarbone, so I know how it works. I’ll get this sorted, set new goals for this season and focus on those.”
This year is in sharp contrast with 2012 for Wiggins, who won the Paris-Nice, Tour de Romandie and Criterium du Dauphine stage races en route to claiming the Tour and Olympic time-trial titles.
Having changed his schedule to target the Giro first, Wiggins failed to record a single individual victory, pulling out of the race after stage 12 because of a chest infection.
Whether the 33-year-old will ride the Vuelta a Espana starting on August 24 is now the question on everyone's lips.
In 2011, the Briton, a four-times Olympic champion, had set his sights on the Tour but pulled out when he broke his collarbone.
He recovered to take third place overall in the Vuelta and second in the road world championships' individual time-trial.

 

[Smallville22]

Wiggins exit clears way for Froome

The health problems that will keep defending champion Bradley Wiggins out of this year's Tour de France could be good news for fellow Team Sky rider Chris Froome who finished second in the race last year.
Despite Froome being chosen as the team's 2013 official Tour leader, Wiggins announced this month that he wanted to go for a Giro d'Italia/Tour de France double.
Wiggins's comments prompted Froome to issue a statement saying he would be leading the team's challenge for the world's most famous cycling road race and not the Olympic time-trial champion.
But with Wiggins now ruled out, potential conflict between the two Sky riders will be avoided and Froome's victory hopes should be boosted.
"It's incredibly sad to have the reigning champion at Team Sky but not lining up at the Tour," Team Sky principal Dave Brailsford said in a statement. "But he's a champion, a formidable athlete and will come back winning as he has before."
In last year's race, Froome often cut a frustrated figure on the bike as he looked capable of beating his team leader.
The 28-year-old Froome has been in good form this year, winning the Tour of Oman, the Criterium International and the Tour of Romandie.
But he will still have plenty of challengers in the Tour de France, with former champion Alberto Contador among his main rivals.
Contador has won the race three times but was stripped of his 2010 victory after testing positive for an ******* substance.
He returned from a two-year ban to win the Tour of Spain last year and has said he deliberately did not enter the Giro d'Italia so he could concentrate on the Tour de France.
Brailsford told Sky Sports News he expected a different style of Tour this year.
"The opposition is very, very tough but we have great competitors, the team is ready and the guys are excited," he said.

 

[Smallville22]

Joeaar takes historic Tour of Estonia win

Home rider Gert Joeaar came through the final stage of the Tour of Estonia unscathed to retain his four-second advantage in the general classification and take the overall win.
Bartlomiej Matysiak (CCC) took the final 150km stage of the three day event in a group finish from Ilya Davydenko (Astana CT) in a time of 3:21:34.
Leonid Krasnov (RusVelo), winner of stage one in Viimsi, made up the podium and with Fredrik Ludvigsson (People4you) and Stefan Schumacher (Christina Watches) finishing alongside Joeaar in the main group, the Estonian was assured of the overall win in the maiden tour.
Joeaar said after the win: “It was an enjoyable ride today. The team did everything it had to do and thanks to the team I won the tour. What makes the victory special is that it is the first tour and I won it. It’s wonderful.”
The stage win saw Matysiak up into fourth in the GC.

Stage result:

1 Bartlomiej Matysiak CCC 3:21:34

2 Ilya Davidenko Astana CT +0

3 Leonid Krasnov RusVelo +0

4 Linus Dahlberg People4you +0

5 Alo Jakin Estonia +0

6 Nikola Aistrup Concordia +0

7 Gert Joeaar Estonia +0

8 Antonio Parrinello Androni Giocattoli +0

9 Omar Bertazzo Androni Giocattoli +0

10 Patrick Facchini Androni Giocattoli +0

 

[Smallville22]

Veilleux solos to stage one win in Criterium

Europcar's David Veilleux claimed the opening stage of the Criterium de Dauphine by soloing to victory in Champery.
The Canadian finished a clear 1 minute 56 seconds ahead of the peloton after leaving his rivals behind with 45km remaining of the 120km stage.
Omega Pharma-Quick-Step's Gianni Meersman won the sprint to lead the peloton home from Tom-Jelte Slagter of Blanco.
Team Sky's Chris Froome, who this week learned team-mate Sir Bradley Wiggins will not contest the Tour de France, placed fifth.
“This is a fantastic feeling”, Veilleux said in Champery, Switzerland. “This is my first time taking part in the Dauphiné.
"The standard of the race is extremely high, that’s why I didn’t have any expectation at this level. It was worth trying.
"I’ve started to believe that something would be possible when our breakaway gained more than nine minutes. But later, it was only in the last 300 metres that I realized I’d won.
"It’s an enormous satisfaction. It comes from a lot of sacrifices and huge amounts of work. I’m happy that it pays off.”
It was the Quebec rider's biggest career win and a 16th victory for Team Europcar this season.

Stage One result:

1. David Veilleux (Canada / Europcar) 3:17:35"

2. Gianni Meersman (Belgium / Omega Pharma - Quick-Step) +1:56"

3. Tom-Jelte Slagter (Netherlands / Blanco) +1:57"

4. Richie Porte (Australia / Team Sky)

5. Chris Froome (Britain / Team Sky)

6. Angel Madrazo (Spain / Movistar)

7. Jakob Fuglsang (Denmark / Astana)

8. Alejandro Valverde (Spain / Movistar)

9. Tony Gallopin (France / RadioShack)

10. Leopold Koenig (Czech Republic / NetApp)

 

[Smallville22]

Greipel sprints to win in Ronde van Zeeland

Lotto-Belisol’s Andre Greipel took the sixth edition of the one-day Ronde van Zeeland in a sprint finish.
Jens Debusschere (Lotto Belisol), Maarten van Trijp (Rabobank Development) Robert de Greef (Jo Piels) Sjors Roosen (Jo Piels), Loic Desriac (Roubaix) and Kenneth Vanbilsen (Topsport Vlaanderen) were the early escapees in the 201.4km stage but the lead group were reeled in by the peloton 8km from the finish.
Greipel was led out to take his ninth win of the season ahead of Ramon Sinkeldam (Team Argos-Shimano) and Kenny Van Hummel (Vacansoleil-DCM).

Stage One result:

1. Andre Greipel (Lotto-Belisol) 4:39:11

2. Ramon Sinkeldam (Team Argos-Shimano) +0

3. Kenny Van Hummel (Vacansoleil-DCM) +0

4. Michael Van Staeyen (Topsport Vlaanderen-Baloise) +0

5. Jean-Pierre Drucker (Accent Jobs) +0

6. Maxime Le Montagner (Roubaix Lille Metropole) +0

7. Kristian Sbaragli (MTN Qhubeka) +0

8. Stefan Van Dijk (Accent Jobs) +0

9. Theo Bos (Blanco Pr0) +0

10. Nick van der Lijke (Rabobank Development Team) +0

 

[Smallville22]

BMC sign Erik Zabel’s ***

The BMC Racing Team have signed Erik Zabel’s *** Rick to a contract for the 2014 season.
The 19-year-old is the reigning German under-23 road champion and won the under-23 edition of the Tour of Flanders this season, as well as a stage of the Tour de Normandie.
Erik won more than 200 races as a professional and six consecutive points classification titles at the Tour de France.
"Rick has a long list of results in the last few years to back up his pedigree," BMC performance director Allan Peiper said.
"He has certainly learned a lot from his ******, and, in a lot of ways, they are a little bit the same rider. Rick is a sprinter who can hold his ground on any terrain."

 

[Smallville22]

Viviani wins Dauphiné sprint

Italian sprinter Elia Viviani won stage two of the Criterium du Dauphiné in Oyonnax.
The Cannondale rider beat Gianni Meersman (Omega Pharma-QuickStep) and Tony Gallopin (Radioshack-Leopard) to the line at the end of a hilly 191km stage from Châtel.
A rapid first hour race saw an average speed of 49.8 km/h as the peloton headed west along the Swiss-French border south of Lake Geneva.
But Rudy Molard (Cofidis), Thomas Damuseau (Argos-Shimano) and Arnaud Gérard (Bretagne-Séché) managed to escape after 25km. They were joined by José Mendes (NetApp – Endura) and built up a maximum lead of 4:50.
That advantage began to dwindle as they tackled a classics-like course with five categorised climbs in the final 70.5km and with Omega Pharma-QuickStep pushing the pace on the front, the gap was down to 1:15 with 35km remaining.
Molard attacked from the break but his bid ended with 15km remaining ahead of the second category two climb of the day.
Cofidis' Rein Taaramäe went for a solo counter-****** but he was reeled in with 3.5km remaining to set up a gallop to the line where the 24-year-old from Verona held off Meersman to claim his first victory of the year.
Stage one winner David Veilleux of Europcar finished safely in the bunch to retain the overall lead. He is 1:56 ahead of Meersman who was second for the second consecutive day.

 

[Smallville22]

Stage 14 winner Santambrogio fails EPO test

Italian Mauro Santambrogio has been provisionally suspended after testing positive for the ****** ***** booster EPO at last month's Giro d'Italia.
The International Cycling Union said in a statement that Santambrogio, the second Vini-Fantini rider after Danilo Di Luca to fail a dope test at this year's Giro, had returned a positive ***** sample after the first stage on May 4.
"The provisional suspension of Mr. Santambrogio remains in ***** until a hearing panel convened by the Italian Cycling Federation determines whether he has committed an anti-doping rule *********," the UCI added.
The 28-year-old Italian, who won the 14th stage of the Giro, can ask for his B sample to be tested.

 

[Smallville22]

Newton encouraged by qualifying start in Spain

British Cycling endurance coach Chris Newton admits he was encouraged by what he saw from his team as they started the process of competing at the Track World Cup season that begins in Manchester in November.
Both the men and the women headed to Valencia, Spain, for the first track endurance qualification event with the star of the show double Olympic champion Laura Trott, who claimed omnium victory while Dani King was third.
In the men's event Jon Dibben was Great Britain's best finisher in third, one place ahead of Ed Clancy.
And as beginnings go Newton insists he couldn't have asked for much more from his troops in his new role.
"It was really good results from the whole team there," said Newton. "The overall competition was good, the men's was particularly hard fought and very close, with the quality across the field of a very high standard. It was good to see both Ed and Jon really making their mark on the solid competition in all six events.
"Similarly with the girls, it was good to see Laura and Dani showing their form. A lot of the teams had multiple riders; I think the Spanish had five riders there. I think it would have been easy to play tactics, with one working for another throughout the event but I think Dani and Laura both had the desire to do well and be up there and qualify.
"I wouldn't say they didn't help each other out but equally, there weren’t afraid to chase each other down either.
"Laura rode really well in the flying lap as did Dani. They both rode a strong points race and fought hard in the elimination.
"The elimination didn't have the usual digital readout to warn riders to leave the race. That led to a messy finish with riders not pulling out when they should have. Both riders did a solid individual pursuit with them finishing first and third there.
"Ed was head and shoulders above everyone else in the flying lap. Jon was really good in the points race, he has come on leaps and bounds in the last four months, really starting to get a grasp of that event now."

 

[Smallville22]

Ballan to return in Switzerland

Alessandro Ballan will race for the first time this season on Thursday at GP Kanton Aargau-Gippingen.
The former world road champion makes his return to action in the one-day race in Switzerland nearly six months after a bad crash during training.
The Italian rider broke his left leg in two places and fractured a rib in a training ride crash during BMC's training camp in Spain on December 20.
He needed surgery to remove his spleen and later his appendix while recovering.
Ballan said he aims to come back stronger than before.
"I feel like a ***** who has been waiting for a toy for a long time," he said.
"I feel good and have been living and training at altitude for 12 days, so my sensations are good. But I don't know how I will do in the races because of the changes of pace. My goal is simply to finish. I also want to thank all the people who have been close to me in this period, particularly my ******, my friends and the team."

 

[Smallville22]

Team Sky sign Earle

Team Sky have signed Australian rider Nathan Earle for the 2014 season.
The 24-year-old Tasmanian has gained a reputation as a strong climber after a string of impressive results this season both in the domestic Australian National Road Series and abroad, including wins at the New Zealand Cycle Classic, Tour de Taiwan and Tour of Japan.
Earle, who rode with Team Sky’s fellow Tasmanian Richie Porte for two years for the Praties squad (currently Huon Salmon – Genesys Wealth Advisors) between 2008 and 2009, has firmly established himself as a rider ready to make the step up to WorldTour level.
Earle said: “It’s a really good feeling to have signed for Team Sky. This was the next step I was looking to take and I’m lucky enough to be signing with the most well-drilled team in the pro peloton. I’m just excited to get amongst that and work for the team. It’s pretty special and I can’t wait to get started next year.
“I’m just going in with open ears. I want to learn as much as I can, do as I’m told and hopefully do a good job for the team. I want to learn as much as I can along the way.
“To be riding alongside the likes of Bradley Wiggins, Chris Froome and Richie Porte is a real honour. Richie has always been someone I’ve looked up to since riding with him as team-mates. It’s a real inspiration to see how he has progressed whilst at Team Sky and I hope to follow in his footsteps.”

 

[Smallville22]

Cookson to run for UCI president

Briton Brian Cookson is challenging Irishman Pat McQuaid for the presidency of the International Cycling Union, pledging to restore credibility to the sport after the Lance Armstrong scandal.
Cookson has been president of British Cycling since 1996, overseeing high profile Olympic and Tour de France victories that have encouraged many ordinary Britons to take up cycling to keep fit or commute to work.
Cycling globally is struggling to emerge from the shadow cast by Armstrong, the American who was stripped of his seven Tour de France titles last year for doping offences.
"The first priority for the new UCI president must be to change the way that anti-doping is managed so that people can have confidence in the sport," Cookson said.
Critics have accused the UCI of failing to do enough to catch Armstrong during the years when he dominated the sport.
"We must also urgently carry out a fully independent investigation into the allegations of corruption in this area which have so damaged the UCI's reputation," Cookson added in a statement announcing his plan to stand.
McQuaid, who took over as president of the UCI in 2005, the year of Armstrong's last Tour de France victory, has strongly defended the federation's handling of the Armstrong affair.
McQuaid plans to seek a third term as president in an election in the Italian city of Florence in September.
Cookson, who has served on the UCI's Management Committee since 2009, said he told McQuaid that he would challenge him in what sounded like an awkward phone conversation.
"I called him on Saturday and informed him that I was standing," Cookson said. "I think you can guess, he was not particularly happy but there you go."
Cookson said that big companies would be reluctant to invest heavily in cycling until they were convinced that their brands would not be tainted by doping, holding back the sport.
"This is very much an activity whose time has come," he said. "It's great sport, it's good for health, it's good for transport, it's good for the environment."
Cookson said he believed the sport was much cleaner than in the Armstrong era, but still had work to do.
"There has been a huge improvement but I think there are still people out there who are trying to cheat and we've seen evidence of that in the Giro this year," he said. Two Italian riders failed dope tests at last month's Giro d'Italia.
Jaimie Fuller, an Australian businessman who has led the "Change Cycling Now" lobby group, backed Cookson.
"We believe him to be a man of integrity. He has hit the nail on the head with the issue of doping," said Fuller, who is chairman of the SKINS sportswear company, a cycling sponsor.
"He's shown a track record in the UK that he can deliver," added Fuller, who has repeatedly called for McQuaid to quit.
"Change Cycling Now" had previously proposed American Greg LeMond, who won the Tour three times, as an interim head of the UCI.

 

[Smallville22]

Boasson Hagen wins Dauphiné sprint

Team Sky's Edvald Boasson Hagen claimed stage three of the Criterium du Dauphiné in a sprint finish in Tarare.
The Norwegian pipped Michael Matthews and Gianni Meersman to the line at the end of a relatively flat 167km stage from Ambérieu-en-Bugey.
Fumiyuki Beppu (Orica-GreenEdge), Jacob Rathe (Garmin), Juan-Antonio Flecha (Vacansoleil) and Sander Cordeel (Lotto-Belisol) were involved in the break of the day, escaping from the peloton almost immediately after the start.
They had built up a maximum advantage of 6:45 after 40km but Omega Pharma-QuickStep hit the front of the peloton in support of Meersman and the lead was down to one minute with 35km left.
Cordeel persisted with the ****** as his fellow escapees were caught but the Belgian was reeled in with 13km remaining.
A string of counter attacks were foiled in the closing stages and Boasson Hagen was led out by Team Sky and held off the fast finishing Australian from Orica-GreenEdge to take his second stage victory of the year.
“I’m really happy to take the win today. The team did a great job to chase down the two riders on the front in the final kilometres. Peter Kennaugh and Geraint Thomas did lots of work to bring the move back and then gave me a great lead out," he said.
“I felt pretty good in the sprint and I managed to take the win so I’m really happy about that, both for myself and the team. The whole team is really strong and I’m looking forward to the rest of the stages here.
“It’s a good boost. I’m aiming to get in better shape for the Tour de France and it looks like I am heading in the right direction, so I’m happy about that.
"I did a good block of training after the Tour of Norway and then took a few days to relax, and that meant I was good to go here at the Dauphine.”
Stage one winner David Veilleux of Europcar finished safely in the bunch to retain the overall lead. He is 1:56 ahead of Meersman.

 

[Smallville22]

Olympic and Giro stars set for Smithfield Market

Excitement is mounting as a world-class field assembles for the IG London Nocturne at Smithfield Market on Saturday night.
Movistar Team's Beñat Intxausti is the latest high-profile recruit, joining British time trial champion and Movistar team-mate Alex Dowsett to race the NORGLIDE Elite Criterium, while Wiggle Honda Pro Cycling are poised to make their first team outing on British soil.
Laura Trott, Dani King and Joanna Rowsell (team pursuit champions at the London 2012 Olympics) top the bill in a fearsomely strong Rapha Elite Women's Criterium field.
Mayor of London Boris Johnson said: "This is a chance for Londoners to rekindle the Olympic spirit of last summer, with three Team GB cycling champions riding the IG London Nocturne at Smithfield Market.
"The summer of 2013 is going to be huge for cycling and a night of professional racing at such an iconic location should help inspire even more people to get on their bikes."
Penny Farthings, folding and fixed gear bikes will all feature in a packed race programme. With hot weather forecast a large crowd is expected, and as night falls across the city, the pro riders will do battle on the demanding 1.1km circuit.
Dowsett and Inxtausti of Movistar Team starred at last month's Giro d'Italia: Dowsett won the individual time trial on Stage 8 while the Spaniard wore the leader's maglia rosa and won Stage 16.
Rapha Condor JLT will bring a strong team for the NORGLIDE Elite Criterium featuring Ed Clancy, James McCallum and Kristian House with Madison Genesis, Team IG Sigma Sport and Team Raleigh also vying for honours in the prestigious elite race.
Other races include the Schwalbe Track Bike Criterium, the Brooks Penny Farthing Race and the IG City Criterium. Riders will also do battle in the Time Out London Folding Bike Race across two heats and the final.
The IG London Nocturne is free to attend.

 

[Smallville22]

Boasson Hagen out to serve Froome

In-form Norwegian Edvald Boasson Hagen knows his Tour de France priority remains serving Team Sky stablemate Chris Froome.
Boasson Hagen won two stages in the 2011 Tour and played a key role in Bradley Wiggins’ historic success last year, but after claiming another 2013 stage win on day three of the Criterium du Dauphine on Tuesday, he admitted it is unlikely he will stand out this time around.
“You know, the number one objective is winning the yellow jersey and I am going to do everything possible to do that,” Boasson Hagen told L’Équipe.
“Beyond that, if I have a chance to contest some sprints, I’ll try my luck. Of course, it would be a ***** to win more Tour stages.”
The Norwegian national champion does not feel the absence of Wiggins from the 2013 edition, confirmed by Sky last week, will have any effect on Froome’s attempt to become the second consecutive Brit to win the Grand Tour.
“I don’t think it will have any consequence,” Boasson Hagen explained. “We’re going to ride for Chris to get the yellow jersey.
“It’s sad that we won’t have Bradley but it’s still a strong team. The yellow jersey is the objective this week at the Dauphiné too – not for me, but for Chris.
“I hope that he can take it and I’m going to help him.”

 

[Smallville22]

O’Grady to retire after 2014 race

Veteran Stuart O’Grady will retire after the Tour de France next year.
O’Grady, who turns 40 on August 6, has re-signed with ORICA-GreenEDGE for the 2014 season but plans to bow out mid-campaign.
He said. “I’m quite relived to have settled it. I’ll race next year, and, if all goes to plan, my last race will be at the Tour de France. I wanted to finish off my career at a race that’s meant a lot to me throughout my time as a professional. The Tour has probably made my career. To retire on the Champs-Élysées would be a symbolic way to close things out.”
The South Australian has appeared in every Tour de France since he made his debut at La Grand Boucle in 1997.
In 16 Tours, he has 14 finishes and enjoyed two stage wins and nine days in the yellow jersey
“Next year would be my 18th start if I make the team and get to next year’s Tour healthy. This year, I’ll tie the all time record for Tour de France starts. I would set a new record next year, which would be a pretty cool achievement," he commented.
“I’m not sticking around for myself. I’m riding because I want to give back to this team. It’s important to me that I make the time and effort to pass along my information and experience to someone who can step up and fill the road captain role. We’ll be working on that intentionally in the next year.”

 

[Smallville22]

Martin storms to TT win at Dauphine

German Tony Martin won the individual time trial at the Criterium du Dauphiné.
The Omega Pharma-Quick Step rider clocked a time of 36:55 on the flat 32.5km fourth stage from Villars-les-Dombes to Parc des Oiseaux.
The world individual time trial champion was 47 second quicker than Rohan Dennis (Garmin-Sharp), the Australian edging Chris Froome (Team Sky) into third place by five seconds.
Britain Froome can be content with his performance, having finished 34 seconds behind Martin in an 18.5km individual time-trial at the recent Tour de Romandie.
Dennis takes over the race lead from stage one winner David Veilleux (Europcar) ahead of the mountain stages.
The Canadian saw his healthy 1:56 advantage on GC eroded and drops to seventh, 1:09 behind the 23-year-old from Adelaide.
Froome is second, at five seconds, with team-mates Edvald Boasson Hagen (+32'), Richie Porte (+33'), Geraint Thomas (+55') filling fourth, fifth and sixth respectively.
Thursday's fifth stage sees a summit finish at Valmorel while the race concludes on Sunday with another mountain top finale at Risoul.

 

[Smallville22]

Froome puts down Tour marker with Dauphiné victory

Chris Froome produced a devastating turn of speed to win stage five of the Criterium du Dauphiné at the ski resort of Valmorel.
The Team Sky rider, who started the day just five seconds behind Rohan Dennis, took the lead on general classification after catching and passing Alberto Contador in the final kilometre.
It was heartbreak for Matthew Busche who was in a day-long break only to be overtaken by the Brit in the final 200m. He had to settle for third.
But it will be a massive confidence boost for Froome as he tunes up for his assault on the Tour de France, which starts later this month, by defeating former Tour champion Contador on a mountain top finish.
An escape group featuring Busche (RadioShack-Leopard), Matteo Gavazzi (Astana), Tim Wellens (Lotto Belisol), Tom-Jelte Slagter (Blanco), Daniel Teklehaimanot (Orica-GreenEdge), Pelo Bilbao (Euskaltel), Kevin Reza (Europcar), Frantiske Rabon (Omega Pharma-QuickStep), Cayetano Sarmiento (Cannondale), Imanol Erviti (Movistar), Bert-Jan Lindeman (Vacansoleil-DCM), Bartosz Huzarski (NetApp-Endura), Brent Bookwalter (BMC), Thomas Damuseau (Argos-Shimano) and David de la Cruz (NetApp-Endura) formed shortly after the start of the 139km stage from Grésy-sur-Aix.
They built up a maximum lead of 5:15 as they crossed a lumpy terrain but Katusha and Garmin-Sharp came to the front before Team Sky, with four riders in the top six on GC overnight, stepped up the pace to reduce the deficit to 2:15 at the foot of the 12.7km climb to the finish in the Rhône-Alpes.
The escape group had begun to split by then and Teklehaimanot and Wellens were out ahead with 10km remaining before the 22-year-old Belgian pushed on alone and he still had a one minute lead over a Team Sky-led elite group with 5km left.
American Busche, riding at a steady tempo behind, then caught and ****** Wellens as Garmin-Sharp's Dennis dropped out of the group behind inside the final 2km with Froome's team-mate Richie Porte setting a relentless pace.
Contador (Saxo-Tinkoff) had a point to prove after one of the worst time trials of his career on Wednesday when he finished 61st, 3:37 back and the 30-year-old double Tour de France winner made a characteristic ****** with 1400m remaining.
But as the Spaniard jumped out of the saddle, Froome calmly rode up to him and then past him to take his fifth stage win of the year.
He now holds a 52-second lead on GC from Porte with Dennis two seconds further back in third as he looks to his follow up his stage-race victories in the Tour of Oman, Critérium International and Tour de Romandie with another World Tour success.
The race concludes on Sunday with another mountain top finale at Risoul.

Stage 5 result

1 Froome

2 Contador +4

3 Busche +4

4 Valverde +10

5 Rogers +12

6 Moreno +12

7 Taaramae +12

8 Navarro +21

9 Rogers +24

GC

1 Froome

2 Porte +52

3 Dennis +54

4 Rogers +1:37

5 Moreno +1:47

6 Navarro +1:49

7 Taaramae +1:52

8 Kwiatkowski +1:58