Greig Leach

Why the early break was allowed to get away from the peloton that contained the Yellow and Green Jerseys will long be debated, but Alberto Contador (Tinkoff Saxo) set about doing what had to be done. He had started the day with 8 seconds on Chris Froome (Team Sky) who he left struggling at the base of the previous climb and with 39 seconds on Andrew Talansky (Garmin Sharp) who was up the road about to summit the final climb of the 66th Criterium du Dauphine. Contador knew that he had to ride as hard as only he can to catch the American and keep his coveted fleece of yellow. Jakob Fuglsang (Astana) knew he had a good wheel to follow that would carry him up the mountain and up the GC. Ultimately, Contador couldn't close the gap quick enough to hold the lead ceding a minute a six seconds on the stage, thus allowing Talansky to claim the Malliot Jeune by a mere 27 seconds. Fuglsang managed to move himself into the final slot of the top ten