Dauphine Libere Favorites Are Kept At Bay As Cyril Dessel Rides To Stage 4 Win
ANNEMASSE, France, June 12, 2008 (AFP) - Frenchman Cyril Dessel of the AG2R team won the fourth stage of the Dauphine Libere on Thursday, following an impressive solo attack on the first day of four in the Alps.
Dessel, a former stage winner on the Tour de France, where he has also worn the yellow jersey, finished around two minutes ahead of the main peloton which contained all the yellow jersey contenders.
Spain’s Alejandro Valverde, a contender for overall victory both here and in July’s three-week epic, retained the race lead with his 23-second advantage on American Levi Leipheimer intact.
Australia’s Cadel Evans, last year’s Tour de France runner-up, remains third overall at 37sec.
Dutch climber Robert Gesink, of Team Robobank was in good form, taking the initiative on the high steep Saleve route to close in hard on the overall race leader.
“Gesink came at me strongly. His team worked hard, which is proof of their ambitions,” said Valverde.
“He is a little far off in the standings after the time trials. If gets ahead on the Joux-Plane summit he could recover some time,” added the Spaniard as he looked forward to Friday’s difficult 125 km race between Ville-la-Grand and Morzine.
Another Frenchman, Pierre Roland, also attacked on the Saleve climb - the first major climb of the race and 20km from the finish - only for Dessel to pull ahead and soon overtook his younger compatriot.
The 33-year-old Dessel powered his way up the climb and down the descent to claim victory after 193km of racing.
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