Thomas De Gendt leads Criterium du Dauphine after winning first stage

Thomas De Gendt claimed the early lead with victory on stage one of the Criterium du Dauphine in Saint-Etienne.

De Gendt was part of an early seven-man break but by the time he came to the end of the 170km opening stage, he was the only man left.

The Lotto Soudal all-rounder broke his sole remaining rival Axel Domont (AG2R) on the last of three testing circuits and went on to solo his way to the line some 44 seconds ahead of the Frenchman.

Diego Ulissi (UAE Team Emirates) won a three-man sprint for third place, 57 seconds behind De Gendt, with the key general classification contenders - Chris Froome, Richie Porte, Alberto Contador, Alejandro Valverde and Romain Bardet - finishing in the peloton two further seconds behind.

Froome finished in 15th place in his first outing since the Tour de Romandie at the end of April.

Stage 1 result:

1 Thomas De Gendt (Bel) Lotto Soudal 4hr 17m 04s
2 Axel Domont (Fra) AG2R La Mondiale +44s
3 Diego Ulissi (Ita) UAE Team Emirates +57s
4 Pierre Latour (Fra) AG2R La Mondiale same time
5 Emmanuel Buchmann (Ger) Bora Hansgrohe same time

Overall standings:

1 Thomas de Gendt (Bel) Lotto Soudal 4hr 16m 54s
2 Axel Domont (Fra) AG2R La Mondiale +48s
3 Diego Ulissi (Ita) UAE Team Emirates +1:03
4 Pierre Latour (Fra) AG2R La Mondiale +1:07
5 Emmanuel Buchmann (Ger) Bora Hansgrohe same time