Omega Pharma - Quick-Step Cycling Team rider Tony Martin, currently highest on the team in the GC, saw an opportunity to win, or perhaps get in the top five by attacking on the finishing climb of the 160k Critérium du Dauphiné Stage 2 on Tuesday.
Martin attacked late on Saint-Félicien, a category 4, 2.5km, 4.4% average gradient climb to the finish. He gained a small gap quickly, but the peloton jumped right on his wheel, determined for the race to come down to a bunch sprint. Omega Pharma - Quick-Step Cycling Team placed three riders on the front in the earlier kilometers to bring back a four rider break, which became five when a rider bridged, and then just a lone rider as all others were caught. The team helped give Martin the chance to get aggressive late in the race.
Despite the solid team effort, Daniel Moreno (Katusha Team) pulled off the bunch sprint victory, with Julien Simon (Saur-Sojasun) taking 2nd and Tony Gallopin (Radioshack-Nissan) placing third. Martin finished 11th.
Martin remains in 5th place in the GC, just 4" back. Sylvain Chavanel is 7th, 5" back. The team will once again hope to protect its GC riders in stage 3, a 167km race with just three categorized climbs.