On Tuesday 10th of June, Louis Barré secured the first World Tour podium of his career on the roads of the Critérium du Dauphiné, finishing third in the stage after a long breakaway.
The 25-year-old Frenchman showcased the colours of Intermarché-Wanty at the front of the race from the very start of this third stage between Brioude and Charantonnay. He launched the decisive attack that led to the formation of a thirteen-rider breakaway. The puncher won the intermediate sprint and then three out of five mountain classification sprints.
The breakaway maneuvred with a maximum lead of two minutes and held off the peloton to contest the stage victory. Louis Barré skillfully managed his efforts in the tactical finale, ultimately climbing onto the third step of the stage podium at the end of the 207 kilometer race. This performance also moved him into second place in the provisional general classification, mountain classification, and youth classification.
Thanks to his performance today, Louis Barré will wear the white jersey at the start of the fourth stage, which will be a 17 kilometer individual time trial between Charmes-sur-Rhône and Saint-Péray. He takes over the jersey worn by his compatriot and teammate Hugo Page, who finished sixth in the inaugural stage and has now worn a distinctive jersey in the event for the third time in four participations.
"I'm proud to have contended for the stage win and to wear the white jersey in such a prestigious race. I launched my first attack on the initial climb, about 10 kilometers into the stage, but the peloton reeled me back in. I tried again before the intermediate sprint, and my persistence paid off, as several riders joined me shortly after. It was a tough start to the stage; it took nearly an hour to form the day's breakaway. I was part of a strong leading group, surrounded by powerful riders, and we had a serious chance of making it to the finish. But since we never gained a significant gap, we weren't sure if we'd be racing for the win. That's why we pushed the pace incredibly hard all day. In the final hour, I was at my limit, partly because of the heat. So, in the tactical finale, I gambled on waiting until the last two kilometers to make my move. It was the right decision, because when I attacked, I broke clear with Tejada and Lipowitz to fight for the podium."
