Lukas Postlberger of Bora-Hansgrohe won a hilly second stage of the Criterium du Dauphine on Monday to claim the
overall leader's yellow jersey.  

The Austrian was the sole survivor of a long-range breakaway but clung on
by 11 seconds for the win after a 172km slog over five verdant hills from
Brioude to Saugues.

Overnight leader and surprise winner of Sunday's opening stage Brent Van
Moer finished three minutes down on the peloton, which sped up the final
incline trying to catch Postlberger.

"When I saw the start list for the race I thought i had a chance on one of
the two first stages as there was not that many sprinters around," a delighted
Postlberger said after the race.

"But I wasn't expecting this really, ad it was awful in the last kilometre,
it was suffering all the way," said Postlberger, the first Austrian to ever
have worn the Giro d'Italia pink jersey back in 2017 and now has a yellow one
to go with it.

Sonny Colbrelli was again second and lies 12sec off the overall lead while
Alejandro Valverde is in third at 20sec.

"I'll try again tomorrow," said a disappointed Colbrelli. "But it isn't
easy winning a stage on the Dauphine."

Four-time Tour de France winner Chris Froome was dropped in the final chase
on an incline of just 6.4 percent gradient as he continues to struggle for
form.

The eight-day stage race is a warm up for the Tour de France which starts
from Brest in four weeks time. Ineos appear to have the strongest team in the Criterium to support Geraint
Thomas but the field also contains Colombians Nairo Quintana, and Miguel Angel
Lopez with Jumbo's Dutch climber Steven Kruijswijk also a threat.

"I thought about attacking near the end of the race but Ineos were well
positioned," said French climber Guillaume Martin, eighth overall and expected
to challenge at the weekend. All of these finished around 11 seconds behind Postlberger Monday.

The third of eight stages on Tuesday takes the peloton through the Puy
hills avoiding any serious inclines before a 16.4km time-trial on Wednesday.
Two hilly stages then precede a weekend of challenging mountain ascents
with Saturday's finish at over 2000m at the ski resort La Plagne the highlight.