Videos: Cofidis Vs Katusha headbutting and Bennett Vs Boasson Hagen

The run-in to the sprint at the end of stage 1 of Criterium du Dauphine was old-school for many reasons!

 

At the end of the opening road stage of the Criterium du Dauphine on Monday, Ireland's Sam Bennett (Bora-Argon 18) ended up in 3rd place after leading out the bunch sprint.

However, the gallop into Saint-Vulbas will be remembered for some old-school jockeying for position.

The Katusha and Cofidis lead-out trains barged and headbutted back and forward repeatedly at the head of affairs, with Nacer Bouhanni winning out for Cofidis as he took victory.

And Katusha's protected sprinter Alexander Kristoff could only manage 11th in the dash to the line.

Just behind the scrap between the two teams in red, Bennett was doing the best he could to survive with no lead-out at the very end.

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He took up the wheel behind the row between the two leading teams and at one stage can be seen in these videos protecting his position with a shoulder - gentle, but effective - to Edvald Boasson Hagen (Dimension Data).

A little earlier in the final - just before the bickering started - Chris Froome was sitting second wheel behind his team mate Michal Kwiatkowski at the front of the bunch; clearly trying to stay out of any barging or crashes.

But that plan almost backfired spectacularly when Kwiatkowski pulled over from one side of the road to the other, almost taking down the Tour de France champion who clearly was not expecting the big switch.

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Longer version

Cofidis battle Katusha on front

Bouhanni Vs Kristoff

Froome almost taken out by team mate's switch

 

 

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