Critérium du Dauphiné (2011) Photos June 5 - 12

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Ivan Basso is downplaying his chances this week. Last month, he crashed on Mount Etna while training (not while competing in the Giro) and took 15 stitches to his eye and eyebrow	The 2010 Paris-Nice prologue winner, Lars BOOM (Rabobank), came through with the best time of 6'18" for the 5.5 km course	Lars Boom and the late finishers benefited when the rain stopped and the sun came out
Alexandre VINOKOUROV (Astana) laying down the 2nd best time just two seconds back	3rd Bradley WIGGINS (Sky) + 0'05"	Touted as the next big name time trialist, HTC's John DEGENKOLB was 4th + 0'08"
Awesome ride by France's Blel KADRI (Ag2r-La Mondiale). 5th + 0'08"	6th Cadel EVANS (BMC) + 0'09"	Last year's overall winner Janez BRAJKOVIC (RadioShack) was 17th + 0'14"
24th Samuel SANCHEZ (Euskaltel - Euskadi) + 0'15"	Garmin's David ZABRISKIE, who regained the USA time trial title last weekend, was 54th + 0'22"	Way down was Ivan BASSO (Liquigas-Cannondale) in 102nd position, + 0'34"
The prologue winner, Lars Boom (Rabobank)	which, of course, makes him the race leader

Stage 1:  Albertville → Saint-Pierre-de-Chartreuse, 144 km  Full Results and Report

Jurgen Van Den Broeck (Omega Pharma-Lotto) leading the way with 3 km to go on the 12 km cat 2 finishing climb to Saint-Pierre-de-Chartreuse.	The modest pace of today's stage, set up for a flurry on the relatively easy finishing climb. Joaquin Rodriguez (Katusha) leading the chase of Jurgen Van Den Broeck...	followed by Edvald Boasson Hagen (Sky) and
and R-to-L: Alexandre Vinokourov (Astana), Rob Ruijgh (Vacansoleil-DCM), Nicolas Roche (AG2R La Mondiale), Thomas Voeckler (Europcar), Cadel Evans (BMC)	Race leader Lars Boom (Rabobank) was dropped on the finishing climb and finished 82nd + 2:27	Jurgen Van Den Broeck (Omega Pharma-Lotto) wins stage 1 by 6 seconds over Joaquin Rodriguez (Katusha) in the distance
An ugly victory salute; clearly not used to winning	A good 2nd place result for Joaquin Rodriguez (Katusha) considering he's coming off the Giro d'Italia and it wasn't a steep finish	Cadel Evans (BMC) moved up to finish third (+ 7s) in the final km followed by Alexandre Vinokourov (Astana) and Nicolas Roche (AG2R La Mondiale)
"I’ve been away from home for five weeks training in the big mountains for the Tour de France. My legs didn’t feel super but I felt strong when I attacked.” (cyclingnews)	Your Stage 1 winner, Jurgen Van Den Broeck (Omega Pharma-Lotto) celebrates his first pro win	Fifth overall last year at the Tour de France, it's surprising it has taken him seven years to get his first pro win
Alexandre Vinokourov (Astana) is the new race leader by 5s over Jurgen Van Den Broeck

Stage 2:   Voiron → Lyon, 179 km  Full Results and Report

Thomas VOECKLER (Europcar) attacked when the road went up with 1 km to go, but Cofidis was setting up for Samuel DUMOULIN just behind	Thomas VOECKLER looking to add to his already impressive eight wins so far this year	Race leader Alexandre VINOKOUROV (Astana)
When the climb eased up around the final bend with 100m to go, John DEGENKOLB (HTC) easily leaped to the front		Close-up of the entertaining finish on the outskirts of Lyon
John DEGENKOLB (HTC) wins stage 2 followed by Samuel DUMOULIN (Cofidis)	John DEGENKOLB celebrates his fifth win of his rookie season and his first World Tour win
	Get used to seeing this guy on the podium for years to come and maybe he'll reinvigorate cycling in Germany. John DEGENKOLB, your stage 2 winner.	Race leader Alexandre VINOKOUROV (Astana) finished at the back of the lead group of 14 and gained 6s on some of the other GC contenders who didn't make the split

Stage 3:  Grenoble, 43 km ITT  Full Results and Report

After a slow start to this year's Dauphine, Tony MARTIN got it rolling today	Tony Martin's (HTC-Highroad) TT profile	Tony MARTIN (HTC-Highroad) won the 43 km ITT around Grenoble in 55' 27"
Bradley WIGGINS (Sky) was the only rider close to Martin's time throughout the day	Bradley Wiggins' (Sky) TT Profile	Bradley WIGGINS (Sky) was 2nd + 11s and is the new race leader by a healthy 1:11 over Cadel Evans
Wiggin's teammate Edvald BOASSON HAGEN (Sky) was 3rd + 43s	Last year's TT and overall winner, Janez BRAJKOVIC (RadioShack) was 5th + 1:21	6th Cadel EVANS (BMC) + 1:20
Pre-stage race leader Alexandre VINOKOUROV (Astana) was 14th + 2:18 and slips to 4th overall	Tony Martin (HTC-Highroad) celebrates another ITT win
Your new race leader, Bradley Wiggins (Sky) by 1:11 over Cadel Evans (BMC)	Young rider leader, Rui Alberto FARIA DA COSTA (Movistar) is 5th overall

Stage 4:  La Motte-Servolex → Mâcon, 172 km  Full Results and Report

Race leader Bradley Wiggins with Benard Hinault and Bernard Thevenet, the new race director of the Dauphine when the ASO took over the event last year	Bradley Wiggins in the Yellow (and Blue) race leader's jersey	Race director Bernard Thevenet, Race leader Bradley Wiggins and ASO's Benard Hinault
The jersey leaders at the front of the rollout in La Motte-Servolex	Jeremy Roy (FDJ) and Adriano Malori (Lampre-ISD) rolled away at km 4 and were caught with around 4 km to go	Jeremy Roy (FDJ) and Adriano Malori (Lampre-ISD)
Edvald BOASSON HAGEN (SKY) leading the sprint finish with 200 m to go	The action with 50m to go	A close finish coming up
Edvald BOASSON HAGEN and John DEGENKOLB (HTC-HIGHROAD)
John DEGENKOLB (HTC-HIGHROAD) wins a close one in Macon ahead of Edvald BOASSON HAGEN.	The second win in three days for John DEGENKOLB	Degenkolb finished ahead of pure sprinters JJ Haedo (3rd) and Tyler Farrar (6th) so he isn't just a power sprinter. We won't overlook him next time.
RadioShack riders Matthew BUSCHE and Janez BRAJKOVIC are now looking forward to the big mountain stages coming up this weekend	Your stage 4 winner, John DEGENKOLB (HTC-HIGHROAD)	What's the podium girl looking at?
Nice to see a new kid on the block enjoying his win	No changes at the top of the GC. Bradley Wiggins (Sky) will take his healthy 1:11 lead into the mountain stages

Stage 5:  Parc des Oiseaux → Les Gets, 208 km  Full Results and Report

Yellow jersey Sky team's Bradley Wiggins (R) of Britain smiles as white jersey Movistar's Rui Alberto Costa (L) of Portugal feeds a parrot at the start in Parc des Oiseaux	Jumping ahead to the final of three cat 2 climbs: After Europcar set the pace at the base of the 10.7 km @ 4.8% finishing Les Gets, Christophe Kern rolled off with around 3 km to go	Christophe Kern scooping up of the air
Behind him was the unmistakable riding style of Chris Anker Sörensen (Saxo Bank Sungard)	Sammy Sanchex with Kern's Europcar teammate Thomas Voeckler (Fra) about to get on his wheel followed by all the GC contenders	Christophe Kern (Fra) Team Europcar celebrates his biggest win to date
	“It’s really super, I’d been waiting too long,” a delighted Kern said afterwards. “I was injured for a long time at the start of the season, and I only came back to racing two weeks after Paris-Nice. But all that time, everybody on the team supported me and let me come back steadily. If I won today, it’s also thanks to them.” (cyclingnews)	2nd Chris Anker Sörensen (Den) Saxo Bank Sungard + 0:07
3rd Thomas Voeckler (Fra) Team Europcar followed by the GC contenders + 0:09	It looked like Europcar was setting up for a win by Thomas Voeckler at the base of Les Gets, but in the end Voeckler was just as thrilled for his teammate	Your stage 5 winner, Christophe Kern (Fra) Team Europcar, was also happy to know his win secured him a Tour de France roster spot
No meaningful change on GC, Bradley Wiggins (Sky) will take his 1:11 lead into the two difficult mountain stages this weekend which will decide this year's Dauphine

Stage 6:  Les Gets → Le Collet d’Allevard, 185 km  Full Results and Report

Joaquin RODRIGUEZ (KATUSHA) soloing the final kms of the 11km finishing climb to Le Collet d’Allevard	500m to go: Robert GESINK (RABOBANK) jumping away from Christophe KERN (EUROPCAR) and Jurgen VAN DEN BROECK (OMEGA PHARMA-LOTTO)	Alexandre VINOKOUROV (ASTANA) trying to get a gap on race leader Bradley WIGGINS (SKY)
Cadel EVANS (BMC RACING) dangled behind Wiggins and Vinokourov and placed 9th + 1:09. He remains 2nd overall but slips to + 1:26	Joaquin RODRIGUEZ (KATUSHA) does what he wasn't able to do at the Giro d'Italia last month... win a mountain stage	2nd Robert GESINK (RABOBANK) + 31s
3rd Jurgen VAN DEN BROECK (OMEGA PHARMA-LOTTO) + 39s and 4th Christophe KERN (EUROPCAR) + 41s	This was the small gap Alexandre VINOKOUROV (ASTANA) had on Bradley WIGGINS (SKY) at the line to shave 4s off his lead which is now 1:52 between the two riders	Last year's overall winner Janez BRAJKOVIC (RADIOSHACK) finished well back in 16th + 3:55
Race leader Bradley Wiggins still looked pretty focused post-stage	Praise the lord, Team Katusha gets its first win since Pavel Brutt's Stage 1 Tour of Romandie win at the end of April	Race leader Bradley Wiggins (Sky) is amassing a nice collection Crédit Lyonnais prizes

Stage 7:  Pontcharra → La Toussuire, 118 km  Full Results and Report

La Toussuire, finishing climb panoramic with ski resort development	La Toussuire	Stage 5 winner and domestique Christophe KERN (EUROPCAR) was once again impressive on the finishing climb leading the GC contenders
Cadel EVANS (BMC) and Joaquin RODRIGUEZ (KATUSHA)	Joaquin RODRIGUEZ (KATUSHA) jumped clear on a steep section of La Toussuire with 2 km to go	Joaquin RODRIGUEZ (KATUSHA)
This shot shows you Joaquin RODRIGUEZ (KATUSHA) 7s margin of victory	Bradley WIGGINS (SKY) celebrates his pack finish behind 2nd overall Cadel EVANS (BMC) and last year's winner Janez BRAJKOVIC (RADIOSHACK)	Joaquin RODRIGUEZ (KATUSHA) wins both of the weekend big mountain stages
Steady throughout the week, Bradley WIGGINS (SKY) is your overall winner	Your overall podium...	3rd Alexandre VINOKOUROV (ASTANA) + 01' 49", 1st Bradley WIGGINS (SKY) 26h 40' 51" and 2nd Cadel EVANS (BMC RACING) + 01' 26"
On behalf of Didi the Devil, thanks for tuning in. (We'll see him again at the Tour de France, of course)