Primož Roglič claimed his first general classification (GC) victory for Bora-Hansgrohe at the 2024 Critérium du Dauphiné, winning two mountaintop finishes with his powerful sprint. Despite finishing third in the time trial, Roglič showed his capability against the clock remains strong. His performance was slightly conservative, indicating a need to improve endurance and resistance to race pace.
Roglič’s main competitors included Remco Evenepoel and Juan Ayuso. Evenepoel, fresh off a crash in the Itzulia Basque Country, downplayed his GC chances initially but managed a commendable seventh-place finish and a victory in the time trial. He tested his limits by racing harder towards the end of stages, aiming to refine his form ahead of the Tour de France. Ayuso’s recent win at the Itzulia Basque Country added to the competition, though his retirement due to weather conditions was less than ideal for form refinement.
Carlos Rodríguez finished just off the podium but won the final stage, showcasing his recovery ability over multi-day events. Despite a less stellar time trial, Rodríguez’s performance, especially in warm, dry conditions, boosts his morale and that of the Ineos team. Ineos saw strong performances from Laurens De Plus as well, leaving leadership for the Tour de France still open, pending the performance of Tom Pidcock and Egan Bernal in Switzerland.
The Dauphiné’s unpredictable weather played a significant role, with rain turning the race into a survival test. Visma-Lease a Bike faced a tough season with the losses of Dylan van Baarle and Steven Kruiswijk. Ayuso and Tao Geoghan Hart also retired, affecting their form-building efforts.
Matteo Jorgenson showed promising progress, especially with his performance near Roglič in the mountains and the time trial. His victory at Paris-Nice earlier this year confirms his growing talent, potentially positioning him as Visma’s lead if Jonas Vingegaard is absent from the Tour.
A notable breakthrough came from Derek Gee, known for his breakaway wins, who clinched a stage victory from a reduced peloton sprint and proved his strength in the mountains. Gee’s podium finish after eight stages signifies a significant shift for the Israel Premier Tech rider.
As the race concluded, Roglič’s form, much like Evenepoel’s, still requires refinement ahead of the Tour de France. With Tadej Pogacar setting a high bar this season, the development of riders like Jorgenson and Rodríguez will be closely watched. Expectations are high for Juan Ayuso, Jai Hindley, the Yates twins, Sepp Kuss, and Richard Carapaz as the cycling world turns its attention to the Tour.
