Le Mével ends the Dauphiné on a high note

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Christophe Le Mevel (Francaise de Jeux)(Image credit: Bettini Photo)

Christophe Le Mével wanted to finish the Critérium du Dauphiné with the confidence that he can target another good overall result at the Tour de France after finishing ten and as b♕est French rider in 2009. The Française des Jeux team le🍨ader had a difficult week in the Alps but his fourth place on the last stage showed he ended the race on good form.

On the testing finishing circuit around Sallanches, where Bernard Hinault won the world title in 1980, it seemed that Le Mével, who like Hinault comes from Brittany, was going to win. However it was a different B.H who emerged♓ to 𒈔take the stage, with Boasson Hagen first to the finish. The Norwegian attacked alone just as Hinault did in 1980 and Le Mével couldn’t follow him on the last climb of the Côte de Domancy.

“Boasson Hagen was really strong”, Le Mével told Cyclingnews. &l⛄dquo;But our breakaway would have probably been caught if I hadn’t forced the pace in the two previous ascents of the climb. I lacked that little bit of strength on the last climb. I thought I could follow him but I wasn’t able to. It was disappointing but I finished the Dauphiné on a positive note despཧite my big crash during the time trial.”

“I felt terrible when I had to climb to Risoul on the day after my crash and I lost one and half minutes,” he said. “In the Alps, I l൩acked ten to fifteen watts compared to what I should be able to push at the Tour de France. The positive thing I can take from the Dauphiné is that I managed to regain my focus during the race and ride well, even though I hadn’t totally recovered.&rdquo🔯;