Rune Herregodts "can't be disappointed" after giving everything at the Critérium du Dauphiné

Rune Herregodts spent almost the whole day in the breakaway on stage 1 of the Critérium du Dauphiné before being caught agonisingly close to the finish line.

"I knew the breakaway was promising. The Dauphiné usually offers opportunities, especially with a course like today," said the Intermarché-Circus-Wanty rider in his post-stage interview. "We rode away with a strong group, but we didn't get much space. They all gave 100 percent. That is also the only way to stay ahead."

Despite the heartbreaking finale, Herregodts is determinedly positive about his ride. "In the final, my only goal was to make that last steep climb, and then to sprint in a thinned peloton," he explains. "However, I still had a ten second lead and noticed that I still had some left."

"At two kilometres I was told I had fifteen seconds left. Then I thought: this is possible. I gave everything to the finish," he continues. "That's why I can't be disappointed. I'm happy with the performance, but unfortunately, it wasn't enough." The stage was eventually won by Christophe Laporte with Herregodts holding on to finish 3rd.