Cofidis rider Nacer Bouhanni snatched victory from Irish cyclist Sam Bennett on stage one of the Critérium du Dauphiné as Dan Martin maintained his overall position of fourth.
The 25-year-old Bora-Argon rider edged past Bouhanni and Jens Debusschere in the final kilometre of the 186km stage that took the cyclists from Cluses to Saint-Vulbas, but the Frenchman attacked in the final 50 metres to take the win.
Dan Martin, who finished fourth in the race’s opening prologue time trial yesterday, maintained his position and trails overall leader Alberto Contador by 21 seconds.
BMC Racing’s Richie Porte is in second place, seven seconds ahead of Team Sky’s Chris Froome.
The two-time Tour de France winner wore the polka dot jersey after the prologue, averted crisis twice in a matter of seconds, nearly clashing with riders either side of him as his team tried to keep him safe at the end.
Sky leader Froome is looking to win a third Criterium in four years after success in 2013 and 2015 and his battle with Contador is likely to be fought all week as the twice Tour winners prepare to battle for the yellow jersey again next month.
Overall race classification
1. Alberto Contador (Spain / Tinkoff) 4:39:29"
2. Richie Porte (Australia / BMC Racing) +6"
3. Chris Froome (Britain / Team Sky) +13"
4. Daniel Martin (Ireland / Etixx - Quick-Step) +21"
5. Julian Alaphilippe (France / Etixx - Quick-Step) +24"
