Kevin Vermaerke "pretty disappointed" after missing out on Critérium du Dauphiné

In Monday's second stage of the Critérium du Dauphiné, Kevin Vermaerke came oh-so-close to winning his first pro race. The rider from Team DSM from the United States slipped into the day's winning move, and the break narrowly held off the pack to compete for the victory.

Vermaerke was upset at the finish line as his legs ran out of energy and he finished fourth in the stage. “I am pretty disappointed, to be honest. We had a plan to get me into the break and we thought it would be a good stage for the break to go. The team set me up to be in there and the break cooperated all day.I am really disappointed I didn’t have a sprint there in the end, because you don’t get many chances to win a stage at the Dauphiné, I let that one fall through my hands. That’s going to sting for a while.” he told to Velonews.

“We knew it was pretty technical coming into the last ‘K’ and maybe if I started in the back I could have come in better, but it was touch and go in the moment, I am just disappointed right now. There was a headwind, it was pretty hard in the last 20km. We knew it was going to be close when we had one minute. We just made it, but it wasn’t good enough for the win,” Vermaerke said at the line.

With the mountains looming later this week in the Alps, the Team DSM rider knew his best chance to help himself was to go on the march. The cyclist was not only pursuing a stage victory, but also a chance to start the Tour de France. Vermaerke has said that he is on the long list to the Grand Boucle.

Vermaerke did get some consolation in the form of the best young rider shirt, which he will wear in the third stage on Tuesday.