Van Moer’s revenge
May 30 th 2021 - 17:18
At 23 years old, Brent Van Moer has already experienced pain and glory on the roads of the Critérium du Dauphiné. The young Belgian talent from Lotto Soudal claimed an impressive solo victory on stage 1 of the 2021 edition, a few months after he crashed out of the 2020 Dauphiné on the very first day. Vant Moer went for the early breakaway, summited first the different climbs around Issoire and eventually dropped all his companions to ride to victory ahead of the raging bunch led by Sonny Colbrelli (Bahrain Victorious) and Clément Venturini (AG2R Citroën). What a way to claim his first professional victory, along with the yellow and blue jersey, the white jersey, the polka-dot jersey, the green jersey and the first combativity award in the history of the Dauphiné!
4 riders in the breakaway
The 147 riders participating in the 73rd Critérium du Dauphiné take the start under the Sun in Issoire. After 5km of battle, the Austrian Patrick Gamper (Bora-Hansgrohe) gets away from the bunch and three more attackers join him at the front: Brent Van Moer (Lotto-Soudal), Ian Garrison (Deceuninck-Quick Step) and Cyril Gautier (B&B-Vital Concept). The four leaders open a 4’ gap at km 28.
Alexander Kristoff’s UAE Team Emirates and Sonny Colbrelli’s Bahrain Victorious are the first teams to react in the peloton. But the breakaway companions push their advantage: 5 minutes atop the first ascent of the day, côte de Bergonne (km 65.7), where Brent Van Moer collects his first KOM point on his way to claiming the first polka-dot jersey of the Dauphiné.
Van Moer takes the polka dots…
The first yellow and blue jersey also attracts lots of ambitions and Trek-Segafredo also work at the front of the bunch but their leader Mads Pedersen struggles in the first ascents of the day. Ian Garrison is dropped from the breakaway and the peloton catch him as they cross the finish line for the first time (km 107.7) with a gap of 4’30’’.
At the front, Van Moer keeps chasing the KOM points and summits the different climbs ahead of his remaining companions. With 7 points under his belt after the second Côte du château de Buron - Col de la Croix des Gardes sequence, he is set to take the first polka-dot jersey if he reaches the finish without trouble… In the 2020 Dauphiné, the young Belgian already went for the first breakaway and he crashed out of the race during stage 1.
And the leader’s jersey!
The leading trio hold on to a 3’05’’ advantage as they enter the final 37.1km lap. Van Moer proves again to be the strongest on the climbs and goes solo inside the last 15km while UAE Team Emirates lose their options with Brandon McNulty (mechanical) and Alexander Kristoff (dropped in the final climbing sequence). Other sprinters can’t keep up like Fabio Jakobsen (Deceuninck - Quick-Step).
Van Moer maintains an advantage of 50’’ over the top of the final climb, with 12km to go. He still leads by 38’’ as he enters the last kilometre. More than enough to fend off the bunch and claim an impressive maiden victory.
