"I'm glad I could stay with the front group" - Derek Gee-C thrives again on stage 7 summit finish to move up to Criterium du Dauphine podium

Derek Gee has continued his breakthrough general classification at the 2024 Criterium du Dauphine, sticking with the likes of Primoz Roglic and Matteo Jorgenson on the stage 7 summit finish to move up in the GC standings to 3rd overall.

"That was hard! It was a really hard profile and yeah, the guys were amazing," reflects the Canadian in his post-stage interview, full of praise for the work done by his Israel - Premier Tech teammates during the brutally tough day in the mountains. "They looked after me all day and put me in the best position possible, so I'm glad I could stay with the front group."

Having previously shown immense powers of recovery when he burst onto the scene at the 2023 Giro d'Italia, taking a string of second place finishes from the breakaway, Gee is this time showing his capabilities to climb with the very best in the world. With a Tour de France debut looming later in the month, it is the perfect moment for Gee-C as he is being called to start coming into his own.

"I felt pretty good for the first couple of kilometres, then it really hit me!" Gee recalls of the staggeringly steep final climb, citing advice from the likes of Chris Froome and Jakob Fuglsang. "It is indescribable how valuable that level of experience is within the team. Even the little tips they give me, aside from what they do on the road, it's pretty special."