Dunbar, Ryan hold firm ahead of mountains at Critérium du Dauphiné | Video

Eddie Dunbar, above, and Archie Ryan are doing what they need to do ahead of the mountains at Critérium du Dauphiné (Photo: Massimo Fulgenzi-Sprint Cycling Agency)

Eddie Dunbar (Team Jayco AlUla) and Archie Ryan (EF Education-EasyPost) are doing what they need to do ahead of the mountains at Critérium du Dauphiné; ensuring they are keeping a low profile and not losing any time.

Today's stage 2 was won by Jonathan Milan (Lidl Trek) in a manner that suggests the big Italian is up for the fight at the Tour de France.

He battled back from being dropped when the road kicked up today but got back to and monstered the final sprint; the kind of riding he will need to reproduce on many days at the Tour.

The 204.6km stage from Prémilhat to Issoire, with 3,000m of climbing, saw Ben Healy (EF Education-EasyPost) lose time again today, with the Irish rider finishing just over two minutes down. He now trails new general classification leader, Milan, by 6:06.

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Healy told stickybottle recently was looking forward to the Tour de France and was aiming to take a stage win there rather than entertain any hope of doing a general classification rider. If that is his plan this week, and it appears to be the case, he has already given himself plenty of leeway to go on the attack in the days ahead.

Today, Dunbar - who is also preparing for the Tour - and Ryan finished on the same time as Milan, placing 42nd and 65th respectively ahead of tomorrow's stage 3.

That takes the riders some 207km from Brioude to Charantonnay on terrain similar to today's stage; not exactly flat - with 3,000 of climbing - but featuring no major mountains.

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However, there is an uphill start, with most of the opening 17.5km comprised of two climbs, with a short descent between. And that means if some of the teams want to drop Milan and the other sprinters, and ensure they do not get back on, it could be hard from the start.

On Wednesday's stage 4 the riders will face a 17.4km individual TT, from Charmes-sur-Rhône to Saint-Péray. Dunbar - who did a fantastic TT at Tirreno-Adriatico in March before crashing out - will need to perform if he hopes to take a general classification result.

And that TT should also shed light on Ryan's ability - from both a physical and team tactics perspective - to also ride for general classification this week.

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