The Critérium du Dauphiné consists of eight stages spanning just over 1,200 kilometers. It’s excellent preparation for the Tour de France, offering a chance to make some last-minute adjustments. And the least you could say is that once again, Team TotalEnergies put up a good fight and stuck to its values.
Looking for the break
The best word to describe the Team at this year’s Dauphine might just be “combative.” After a tricky first two days, compounded by the loss of Steff Cras following a spill, the troops quickly remobilized.
Mathieu Burgaudeau led the charge on the third stage, breaking away on his own until he was eventually retaken by the pack. That brawny move won him the day’s individual title as top combatant.
A few days later, Mathieu went for a second breakaway and this time he held on to the end, capturing an impressive second place. So close to the top of the podium!
As the new leader in the mountain classification, Mathieu sported the polka-dot jersey during the next stage – a great reward for his efforts.
Reaction from our Sports Director
Benoit Genauzeau offers his assessment of the 2023 Critérium du Dauphiné:
“We had our ups and downs. Steff [Cras], who was our leader in the general classification, taking a fall right at the start of the race – that was a bit of a blow, but we were collectively able to get back on our feet and get the most out of what the guys were capable of. We saw some great stuff, and came close to a major performance from Mathieu. It was already a big performance for the team as a whole; we came very close to a win. The polka-dot jersey was another one of the interim goals that we were able to achieve. I’m happy with the overall results in terms of our mindset and our collective commitment, because we saw a lot of great work.”
