Greig Leach

There are many ways Romain Bardet (Picnic-PostNL) could be hoping this would play out. Naturally he was hoping for a final stage victory to end his career tomorrow. But that would require the GC riders to watch each other on the final climb, not exactly Pogacar's skill set. Instead, they hit the final climb with fire. About four kilometers into the ascent to Valmeiner 1800, Bardet saw the inevitable and waved to the camera as he pulled the pin on his effort. At the end of the day, with his father standing beside him on the podium, he was awarded the Most Combative rider of this stage. I won't be surprised if he gets that honor for the entire Criterium du Dauphine. I am sure he will give it one more go tomorrow. Not a bad way to end one's racing career.