"Christophe was simply better" - Matteo Trentin praises Laporte after missing out on stage win at the Critérium du Dauphiné

On the opening stage of the 2023 Critérium du Dauphiné, Matteo Trentin was one of two riders to finish ahead of the breakaway. Sadly for him, Christophe Laporte would take the win.

"It was a super tough day, especially with a rider like him, you know it will be very difficult to get back at him," says the UAE Team Emirates rider, full of praise for Rune Herrogodts who was the last man standing from the breakaway and was caught heartbreakingly close to the finish line as Trentin and Laporte launched their sprint from the peloton. "'He is very good and even finished third."

"'I did a good sprint myself, but Christophe was simply better," continued Trentin, again full of praise for his opponent. “The run-up to the sprint was very chaotic. Hardly anyone had a lead-out anymore."

"Everyone was dead at the end. I took the wheel from Stannard who started early. He was a perfect lead-out for me, but probably even better for Christophe," he concludes. "We are also here for the standings. The team supported me well on the climbs, but after that I had to find my own way."