Stage 3 of Criterium du Dauphiné 2024 was designed by race organizer A.S.O. as a 181.7-kilometer mountainous ride from Celles-sur-Durolle to Les Estables in southern France. The stage would start with a small Category 4 climb and culminate with four climbs in the final half of the stage. In total, the stage would include two Category 4 climbs, two Category 3 climbs, and one Category 2 climb.

Today’s weather conditions were perfect for cycling. Dry, sunny and somewhat cloudy conditions invited the riders in the professional cycling peloton to engage in active riding from the very beginning of stage 3. Multiple attacks were launched in the first kilometers of the stage, but it was Nicolas Prodhomme (Decathlong-AG2R), Remy Rochas (Groupama-FDJ), and Harry Sweeny (EF Education-EasyPost) who joined forces to form the group that would create the long breakaway of the day.

Uno-X Pro Cycling Team and Ineos-Grenadiers led the chase, and the front group built a lead of approximately three minutes before the main peloton increased its pace.

Primoz Roglic (Bora-Hansgrohe) crashed approximately forty-five kilometers into the stage, but he got back on his bike.

Things were heating up in the main peloton with forty kilometers remaining. The front group now had an advantage of just over one minute. It was now within close reach and Christopher Juul-Jensen (Team Jayco-Alula) launched a solo attack to bridge the gap to the front group. Valentin Madouas also reacted, and the French National Champion likely hoped he would get a free lift to his teammate in the front group.

Juul-Jensen joined the front group while Madouas was still chasing solo from behind. He was 21 seconds behind the front quartet with thirty-four kilometers remaining. Madouas was later caught by the peloton headed by Uno-X Pro Cycling and UAE Team Emirates.

Ineos-Grenadiers sent its riders to the front of the peloton when twenty kilometers remained of today’s stage 3 of Criterium du Dauphine 2024. The riders were now approaching the descent that came immediately before the final climb of the day. 

Lidl-Trek worked hard at the front of the main peloton with seven kilometers remaining. The front group, which was now a trio, had a miniscule advantage of just twenty-two seconds. But with 6.5 kilometers left, the Lidl-Trek team suddenly stopped working and this resulted in a short pause in the chase effort.

The breakaway group was caught with 2.5 kilometers left of the stage. Ineos-Grenadiers and Bora-Hansgrohe moved to the front of the peloton. Race leader Magnus Cort was also still in the mix.

Krists Neilands attacked from the front of the peloton in the final hundred meters. Romain Gregoire launched his sprint for Groupama-FDJ. Team PremierTech’s Derek Gee countered and was first across the finish line.

Gee took the victory in today’s stage 3. Gregoire finished second, while Lukas Nerurkar completed the stage podium. Gee is the new race leader and will wear the yellow leader jersey in Wednesday’s stage 4 – a 34.4-kilometer individual time trial from Saint-Germain-laval to Neulise.

Stay tuned to Roadcycling.com for additional race coverage from Criterium du Dauphiné 2024.

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