Sánchez climbs into Dauphiné top ten

Samuel Sánchez ended his first part of the season on a high by jumping into the top ten overall on the Critérium du Dauphiné's final stage on Sunday.

Cannondale's Alessandro De Marchi was the eighth stage's surprise winner, holding off a late Sky offensive to crown a long day in the main break by clinching easily the greatest win of his career.

Mikel Astarloza, Egoi Martínez and Mikel Nieve were all on the offensive during the 155,5km leg from Sisteron to Risoul, but neither of them were on their best day and eventually had to look to yesterday's victor, the dependable Samuel Sánchez, for a top result.

Sánchez appeared to be sitting on the Sky train's tail quite comfortably for large parts of the final climb, but, just like everyone else, had no response whatsoever when Froome and Porte went in search of the stage win with some two and a half clicks to go.

'Samu' eventually came across the line in 12th, a minute in arrears, but leaped ahead of Stef Clement, Alberto Contador and Rein Taaramae on GC to finish ninth.

Mikel Nieve continued on his upward trajectory by placing 15th on the day and concluding the race in 17th overall.

Results:

• (1, Alessandro De Marchi (Cannondale), 4:28:09)
• 12, Samuel Sánchez, 1:04
• 15, Mikel Nieve, 1:55
• 45, Egoi Martínez, 10:48
• 55, Gorka Izagirre, 13:29
• 58, Mikel Astarloza, s.t.
• 60, Romain Sicard, s.t.
• 61, Peio Bilbao, s.t.
• 99, Ricardo García, 24:40

Final general classification:

• (1, Chris Froome (Sky), 29:28:46)
• 9, Samuel Sánchez, 4:25
• 17, Mikel Nieve, 10:39
• 37, Mikel Astarloza, 36:48
• 43, Gorka Izagirre, 41:31
• 44, Egoi Martínez, 41:43
• 73, Peio Bilbao, 1:07:58
• 83, Romain Sicard, 1:15:14
• 102, Ricardo García, 1:38:11

Teams:

• 3, Euskaltel Euskadi

Photo: Euskaltel Euskadi