Critérium du Dauphiné - End of the winlessness: Alaphilippe wins second stage

Former road cycling world champion Julian Alaphilippe has ended his dry spell and celebrated his first World Tour victory in over a year.

The Frenchman won the second stage of the Critérium du Dauphiné ahead of Olympic champion Richard Carapaz from Ecuador and Natnael Tesfatsion from Eritrea.

Top German talent Marco Brenner put in another good performance at the end of the 167.3 kilometre stage to La Chaise-Dieu, finishing ninth. The winner of the opening stage, Christophe Laporte, is still in the lead in the overall standings, but is tied with his compatriot Alaphilippe.

Alaphilippe, who has been repeatedly set back by serious crashes, last won the elite World Tour at the Tour of the Basque Country in April 2022. This spring, the 30-year-old was publicly criticised by his team boss Patrick Lefevere for his lack of success. His star had only won the insignificant Faun-Ardèche Classic in February.

The pure sprinters should have the best chances on Tuesday. The 194-kilometre stage from Monistrol-sur-Loire to Le Coteau offers only one major obstacle on the second half, the Cote de Pinay. The stage race, in which Tour title defender Jonas Vingegaard from Denmark is taking part, ends on Sunday in Grenoble.

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