"I've come second enough times" - Derek Gee takes first European win and moves into overall lead at 2024 Criterium du Dauphine

Ever since he burst onto the scene at the 2023 Giro d'Italia, Derek Gee has come close time and time again to a first European win. On the 3rd stage of the 2024 Criterium du Dauphine, the Canadian's hard work was finally rewarded.

With 2.5km to go the breakaway were finally reeled in. There was still much action to come though with a steep and punchy uphill finale and with just over 800m to go, Krists Neilands launched the first attack although he was quickly caught. The next move was another Israel - Premier Tech man though, as Gee countered his teammate and despite Romain Gregoire seemingly having taken the victory, Gee fired back again with his second win to take the stage.

"It's unbelievably special to win here, I've been waiting for a win in Europe. I've come second enough times and it was nice to finish it off," Gee, who famously finished second in both the points classification and the King of the Mountains classification at the 2023 Giro, as well as four second placed finishes from the breakaway over the course of his Grand Tour debut.

"I think a massive part of it was Krists attacking with a kilometre to go and I was in a good position. He just strung it out and as soon as he came back, I wasn't planning on going there, it was just a lull when Krists came back and I had to take advantage of it," the Canadian concludes, having received the added bonus of the Maillot Jaune as new race leader in the process. "That's pretty special, that's going to be quite the feeling I think."