Soudal - Quick-Step's main goal for opening stage of Dauphiné is to stay out of trouble: "Main thing today is to stay safe and save energy for the upcoming stages"

The opening stage of Critérium du Dauphiné is one of the opportunities for sprinters in the race with a finish on a local circuit in Saint-Pourçain-sur-Sioule. Soudal - Quick-Step's lineup based around Remco Evenepoel and Mikel Landa, lacks a designated sprinter and thus the main job will be to stay out of trouble, while Casper Pedersen might try to throw himself in the mix in the final kilometers.

"It's a kind of flat stage, not very tricky. We do two local laps of 29 kilometers. I expect very very fast race to the finish line. The last 10 kilometers will fly away. Main thing today is to stay safe and save energy for the upcoming stages, because if Remco and Mikel can come out of safely, I would be happy," said Tom Steels in a short video ahead of the start.