A stage to Primoz Roglic's taste, will he win on Col de la Loge? His team is "looking forward to what's coming next"

The opening of Critérium du Dauphiné around Saint-Pourçain-sur-Sioule didn't bring much drama. The rainy day ended with a bunch sprint in which the biggest favourite Mads Pedersen didn't find anyone able to match his speed. Nothing for the GC-focused BORA - hansgrohe which put protecting Primoz Roglic as their highest priority.

"It was a nice start into the Dauphiné. On the paper an easier one where it (the parcours, ed.) didn't really play in our favour. So it was important to work as a team together to stay safe and not be caught up in crashes. None of that happened to us so therefore we're pretty happy with the day and looking forward to what's coming next," said sports director Rolf Aldag.

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Stage 2 could bring some early GC action, but no major gaps are expected, unless someone cracks due to lack of form. The shallow gradient of Col de la Loge won't favor long attacks, which means a sprint of a reduced group is the likely outcome. An opportunity the prime Primoz Roglic wouldn't pass on. But it'll eventually come down to whether he feels up to it.

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PREVIEW | Criterium du Dauphine 2024 stage 2 - Remco Evenepoel and Primoz Roglic big favourites for uphill sprint stage