Valentin Paret-Peintre our top finisher at the race formerly known as the Critérium du Dauphiné.
Rebranded as the Tour Auvergne - Rhône-Alpes from this year, the eight-day race got underway on Sunday with a brutal opening day, something never before seen in the modern history of the event won by the likes of Jacques Anquetil, Raymond Poulidor, Luis Ocaña, and Eddy Merckx.
The five classified climbs and more than 3000 meters of elevation made for a stern test for the GC men, creating the first gaps of what promises to be an exciting 78th edition. The victory and yellow jersey went to Alex Baudin (EF Education-EasyPost), the lone survivor of the original breakaway, who managed to hold off the chasers on the last descent.
Valentin Paret-Peintre, who made his first appearance since the Tour de Romandie, was well-positioned the entire time throughout the stage, and concluded it with the favorites’ group, which came home around 40 seconds behind the winner. Naturally, the Frenchman is now Soudal Quick-Step’s best placed rider on the overall standings ahead of the longest stage of the week, 235 kilometers from Saint-Martin-le-Vinoux to Le Puy-en-Velay.
Photo credit: ©Dario Belingheri / Getty Images
