Ivan Romeo solos into the Maillot Jaune at 2025 Criterium du Dauphiné with breakaway success on stage 3

The breakaway has prevailed on stage 3 of the 2025 Criterium du Dauphiné, with Movistar Team's Ivan Romeo soloing to the victory and into the Maillot Jaune of race leader in the process.

With the racing starting early on stage 3, a big group of 14 riders got up the road to form the breakaway. Best placed on GC of the attackers was the Green Jersey himself Mathieu van der Poel, just 2 seconds off the Maillot Jaune at the start of the day. Also involved at the front were the likes of Florian Lipowitz, Axel Laurance, Max Schachmann, Harold Tejada, Andreas Leknessund and Eddie Dunbar among others.

Given the intense start to the day however, there were also some early struggles with the Maillot Jaune Jonathan Milan the most notable name out the back of the peloton early on. With things calmed down slightly thereafter though, the panic was soon over for Milan as he reattached to the peloton.

The bunch weren't relenting the pace that much however, as they kept the dangerous breakaway on a very tight leash - understandable, given the presence of the likes of Lipowitz, Dunbar and co up the road.

By the time the leaders began the final climb of the day Côte du Château Jaune at around 20km to go however, they still held around 50 seconds advantage over the peloton. On the climb, Milan was pretty quickly dropped out of the back of the bunch yet again, whilst at the front, Lipowitz was looking the strongest of those in the break, although he wasn't yet all alone.

With 10km to go, the peloton had been pushed back to 1:20 down on the break, which had got back together on the flat, meaning it was likely the stage win would be going to the attackers. As the leaders then took turns launching attack after attack, no one was able to gain a telling separation from the chase.

That was at least until just outside 5km to go, Movistar Team's Ivan Romeo stole a march on his rivals. As the rest of the break looked at each other, the Spaniard was soon 15 seconds up the road. By 2km to go, the gap was 17 seconds, and Romeo's stage win looked secured. Another item at play was also the Maillot Jaune given the fact that Romeo had started the day among the large group of riders at 10 seconds down.