Tadej Pogacar Wins Opening Stage Criterium du Dauphine in Sprint

Tadej Pogacar won the opening stage of the Criterium du Dauphine in a surprise sprint finish against top rivals Jonas Vingegaard and Mathieu van der Poel. After a star-studded breakaway formed with 6km to go, Pogacar timed his sprint perfectly to accelerate past Van der Poel in the final meters, claiming the first yellow jersey and 10 bonus seconds. The five-rider break included Vingegaard, Van der Poel, Remco Evenepoel, and Santiago Buitrago, with Vingegaard initiating the late attack. Pogacar, known for his Tour de France victories, shifted focus to the sprint in the last 2km, acknowledging Van der Poel as the fastest but confident in his own speed after a challenging day. The eight-stage race serves as preparation for the Tour de France starting July 5, with stage two set for a 204.6km ride. Pogacar's victory highlights his strong form ahead of the upcoming major race.