"It’s all starting to sink in" - Derek Gee solidifies career-defining performance to secure podium finish at Criterium du Dauphine 2024
Cycling
With all the pre-Criterium du Dauphine debate about whether Chris Froome or Michael Woods would get Tour de France leadership for Israel - Premier Tech, Derek Gee has soundly ended the debate with a sensational podium performance at the prestigious French stage race.
“I think all week I was nervous, waiting for the legs to give out,” Gee reflects post-stage to the official website of the Israel - Premier Tech team, still somewhat in disbelief about his achievements. “After the line I was suffering so much I couldn’t enjoy it but now, it’s all starting to sink in. There will be a lot of reflection after this. Right now I am just enjoying it as it is. But, it’s been really cool."
Even on the final stage Gee impressed, finishing 3rd and dropping the likes of Primoz Roglic and Remco Evenepoel on the summit finish. “I was suffering on the final climb but as soon as I saw Roglic get dropped I thought 'maybe I have good legs today' so I gave it a shot," he details of the final climb. "Matteo Jorgenson said he was on the limit and couldn’t pull through and pulled off and then I was immediately on the limit. Carlos Rodriguez and Jorgenson rode away and I couldn’t do anything about that but I was really happy with the legs.”
“This whole week has been a nice surprise,” added Israel - Premier Tech sports director, Daryl Impey. “Coming into the Critérium du Dauphiné, we believed Derek could do a decent GC result here but he exceeded expectations. Purely because of the hard work he has been putting in prior to this, working hard at camp, but not just him, the whole team. It was great to see everyone rise up and everyone came in with good condition from training camp, they wanted to be there, they believed in themselves, and they believed in the team. We were one of the only teams with four guys left in the end there today so it shows the depth we have in the team and how we are growing.”
“A podium in one of the biggest stage races before one of the most important races of the season is a clear indication of Derek’s abilities and we look forward to seeing what he can do down the line,” added Impey. “But first, we’re really happy with this podium and we will enjoy the success. With a stage win, wearing the yellow jersey, and a GC podium, we have exceeded our expectations here and we really rode to this group’s potential.”
Kieran WoodDeputy Editor-in-Chief
Kieran Wood is a sports journalist based in Wales and has been active in journalism since 2022. He regularly contributes to DartsNews.com and CyclingUpToDate.com, where he covers professional cycling and darts. In cycling, his work includes liveblogs from major races, including the Tour de France, the Giro d’Italia, and La Vuelta a España, alongside race reports and analysis. He has also conducted interviews with professional riders.
His reporting spans the full racing calendar, from one-day classics to stage races, with a focus on accurate, real-time coverage and clear contextual analysis. For statistics, results, and historical context, he regularly uses resources such as ProCyclingStats. To support reporting on rider activity and training context where relevant, he also references Strava.
In his work, Kieran places strong emphasis on careful sourcing, editorial accuracy, and updating articles as new, verified information becomes available.
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𝗔 𝗚𝗲𝗲-𝗖 𝗽𝗼𝗱𝗶𝘂𝗺 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗗𝗲𝗿𝗲𝗸 𝗚𝗲𝗲! Absolute scenes on the final stage of @Dauphine 😍 @DerekGee7 secures his first ever WorldTour General Classification podium with third overall. Take a bow, Derek! #Dauphiné 🇫🇷 #YallaIPT
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