Ireland's Ryan, Healy on the attack at Critérium du Dauphiné | Video

Archie Ryan and Ben Healy had a go on the opening stage of Critérium du Dauphiné as the biggest names in the field wasted no time (Photo: Luis Angel Gomez-SCA)

Archie Ryan and Ben Healy were both part of the attacking approach taken by EF Education-EasyPost in the final of the near-200km opening stage at Critérium du Dauphiné on Sunday.

As the day's final breakaway rider was being reeled in, some 37km from the finish in Montluçon, it was Healy who got the hostilities properly underway. He attacked on the penultimate ascent of the short and steep Côte de Buffon.

He surged forward on an incline, closely marked by world champion Tadej Pogačar (UAE Team Emirates-XRG), as gaps began to open in the main field behind them. That marked the start of an aggressive final chapter of the stage that would see a general classification group unexpectedly get away.

When Healy was done with his effort, his young team mate Ryan came over the top of him, taking it up with a strong burst as the road continued to kick upwards. Then it was the turn of their British team mate, Lukas Nerurkar, who managed to get clear solo for a time before being caught.

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Though the final was characterised by a number of other attacks - including from Fred Wright (Bahrain Victorious) - it wasn't until about 5.5km to go that the most serious move was made; Jonas Vingegaard (Visma | Lease a Bike) unexpectedly deciding to test his rivals.

He was joined by Pogačar, Remco Evenepoel (Soudal QuickStep), Santiago Buitrago (Bahrain-Victorious) and Mathieu van der Poel (Alpecin-Deceuninck). They eked out a small advantage and decided to cooperate as a frantic chase ensued at the front of the bunch.

Though the peloton latched onto the back of them on the line, the breakaway men sprinted it out for stage honours, taken by Pogačar from Vingegaard, Van der Poel and Evenepoel. Jake Stewart (Groupama FDJ) won the sprint for 5th.

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Ryan and Eddie Dunbar (Team Jayco AlUla) finished in the bunch, in 49th and 61st, on the same time as the winner. Healy dropped back in the final, finishing in 132nd at 3:49, and giving himself the leeway required to go on the attack as he tries to win a stage over the next week.

Tomorrow's stage takes the riders 204.6km from Prémilhat to Issoire and with 2,800 of climbing, it looks set to be a tough day out.

However, the stage is one marked by relatively modest climbs from start to finish, rather than being a big day in the mountains, and could be one for a Healy breakaway.

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