Matthew Busche (Radioshack) came tantalizingly close to his biggest ever win in the first mountain stage of this year's Criterium du Dauphiné when he was only caught by big favourite Chris Froome (Sky) with less than 200m to go. Having been in the break all day, the American had to settle for third and came away from the stage with mixed emotions.

American Matthew Busche has won the his national championships in the past but that performance would have been nothing compared to the feat, it would have been, if he had managed to take a win in the first mountain stage of the Criterium du Dauphiné. He came unbelievably close to doing just that today but inside the final 200m he was caught by a fabulous Chris Froome and had to settle for third as he was also picked up by Alberto Contador (Saxo-Tinkoff) just before the line.

The 3rd place is of course an amazing result in its own right but Busche could not stop thinking about what he was just about to achieve.

“ 'Shoot! Go!' Those were the only things I was thinking when I saw Froome approaching at less than 200 meters to go," he said. "There was not much I could do.  I gave all that I had and I come away with real mixed emotions.” 

Busche had joined the day's early 15-rider breakaway and on paper he always appeared to be the strongest climber in the break. However, he had bad sensations at the bottom of the final climb and had to let another talented rider Tim Wellens (Lotto) go up the road.

However, he started to feel better and with 5km to go, he had passed Wellens to move into the lead on his own.

“Just before final climb I had bad legs but when we hit the climb they felt good and I did the climb at my own rhythm," he said.  I caught back one guy (Wellens, ed.) and was left alone in the front.  Dirk (Demol, sports director, ed.) did an amazing job encouraging me and giving me information.  I gave everything I had so I have no regrets.  In the end I got nothing but third is ok.”

The American had shown his good form in the recent Tour of California where he finished 5th overall. He had climbed solidly in the early part of the race but lost a chunk of time in the time trial and so was allowed to go on the attack.

The team's captain Haimar Zubeldia lost a little time today but is still 15th overall and Busche promises to put his services behind the Spaniard while also chasing his own stage win opportunities.

“The best chance for me to win a stage is this way, to come out of a breakaway," he said. "When the team gives me the green light to try again, I’ll do it, but I will be happy to help Haimar get a nice overall result.”

Sports director Alain Gallopin was disappointed by the near-miss and said that claimed that the acceleration from Contador which forced Froome to respond was what denied his rider the win.

“If Alberto had not attacked, Matthew would have won so it’s a pity," he said. "Our tactic was good.  Busche was at 4 minutes on GC so he wasn’t dangerous.  He really deserved to win."

The team will put it forces behind sprinter Alain Gallopin in tomorrow's easier stage before Busche and Zubeldia will get back into the mix in the tough weekend stages. Starting at 12.45, you can follow tomorrow's action on CyclingQuotes.com/live.