"The team did everything they could" - Christophe Laporte praises teammates after dramatic opening stage win at the Critérium du Dauphiné

Jumbo-Visma's Christophe Laporte took the win on the opening stage of the 2023 Critérium du Dauphiné in a dramatic finale that saw the remainder of the breakaway hold on to finish 3rd.

“It was a tough stage. The team did everything they could to guide me to the stage victory," praises the 30-year-old Frenchman in the immediate aftermath of the stage in a post-race interview. "It was a very suitable stage for me on paper, but you still have to finish it. I am happy that I was able to reward the team with this stage win."

Intermarché-Circus-Wanty rider Rune Herregodts was the last man standing from the day's breakaway and after a truly heroic effort, he began to tire and look behind him as the peloton came roaring back. Still, it seemed as if he had done just enough to take the win but Laporte had other ideas, snatching the victory within the final few metres as Herregodts held on for third.

"It's nice to wear the yellow and I'll try to do justice to the jersey," concludes Laporte who of course now leads the general classification of the race after taking the opening stage.