Paul Penhoët (Groupama FDJ) walked away from a tough fought Critérium du Dauphiné stage 2 dash with a 500 CHF nice, relegation to 116th and a yellow card for an “irregular dash”.
The stage to Issoire was the primary alternative for the sprinters on the occasion and Lidl-Trek managed the the run to the road, dropping off Jonathan Milan (Lidl-Trek) with 400m to go earlier than he neatly completed it off to say victory. There was, nevertheless, a substantial battle occurring behind to seize prime place on his wheel,
Penhoët mentioned the strain was excessive as is, “all the time the case within the WorldTour. But it surely’s much more so when there is a man who stands out from the gang like right here. There’s an actual battle to get on his wheel.”
You might like
The French rider didn’t handle to safe that wanted spot behind Milan, however was fifth over the road. Nevertheless, his actions through the dash attracted the eye of the race jury and his yellow card entry cites, “deviation from the chosen line that obstructs or endangers one other rider or irregular dash”.
It was not a name his workforce thought was justified.
“We be aware of the choice even when we’ve problem understanding it as a result of he was primarily making an attempt to defend his place,” mentioned workforce DS Benoît Vaugrenard in an announcement.
“We’re dissatisfied as a result of he would not deserve this. We’ll hold the positives, particularly the nice work of the teammates, and the truth that Paul did not have any issues on a course with a 3,000-meter elevation acquire.”
Penhoët had additionally completed in tenth on stage 1, when Tadej Pogačar (UAE Group Emirates XRG) claimed the win from a favorite packed breakaway that turned what had been anticipated as a dash day right into a GC battle.
“He is going properly, the coin simply must fall in the suitable course, and we consider in it,” mentioned Vaugrenard of Penhoët. “He completed fifth on the pedals. We’re staying the course, there are some nice phases left on troublesome programs, and we’ll attempt to get our revenge tomorrow.”
The 203km stage 3 to Charantonnay is predicted to be a battle between the break and dash specialists, with early climbs and a steep ramp within the closing a part of the stage.
Penhoët was not the one rider to be fined and obtain a yellow card on stage 2 of the Critérium du Dauphiné, with Per Strand Hagenes (Visma-Lease a Bike) and Nils Politt (UAE Group Emirates XRG) each cited for “improper conduct (together with elbow and shoulder) between riders”.
