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Jorgenson battles to second place in queen stage Critérium du Dauphiné

Jorgenson battles to second place in queen stage Critérium du Dauphiné

Matteo Jorgenson finished second in the queen stage of the Critérium du Dauphiné. After a tough final climb of Samoëns 1600, the 24-year-old American eventually had to trail GC leader Primoz Roglic. Jorgensen will start Sunday's final stage as second in the overall classification and wearer of the white jersey.

On the penultimate day of the French eight-day race, the peloton set off from Albertville for a short but tough 155-kilometre stage. Three first-category climbs awaited along the way, including the Col de la Ramaz. The finish line was at the top of Samoëns 1600, an hors-category ascent.

On the Col des Saisies, the first climb of the day, the breakaway was formed including Koen Bouwman. The leading group of eleven did the second climb together, but later the group split on the penultimate climb, the Col de la Ramaz. Only Marc Soler almost managed to stay ahead of the group of favourites on the final climb, but he was caught. In the group of favourites, Jorgenson again made a good impression. The Team Visma | Lease a Bike leader competed with five others for the stage win. In an exciting finale, the American only had to trail Roglic.

“Today everything went well for me”, Jorgenson said. "Before this final weekend, I thought these stages might be too tough. I have little experience in stages with more than four thousand altimeters. I tried to reach the foot of the final climb as economically as possible. So I was relieved there was still something in the legs in the final. It's all new to me, but I keep pushing my limits. I keep surprising myself a bit."

"I only thought about the stage win in the last kilometre"

Matteo Jorgenson

“I only thought about the stage win in the last kilometre”, Jorgenson continued. "Throughout the day I was only concentrating on energy saving, so I wasn't thinking about a possible stage win. In the last kilometre I realised it was still possible, but it was hard to beat Roglic on a finish like this. I got the maximum out of it today. I'm very satisfied with that."

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