Tony Gallopin is once again performing strongly at the Criterium du Dauphiné and overcame late cramps to sprint to a fine third place in today´s 2nd stage. That was enough to move him into the lead in the young riders' competition and despite some initial disappointment, the Frenchman is happy to perform well in his first race since the Liege-Bastogne-Liege.

Tony Gallopin was one of the revelations in the early part of last year's Tour de France where he performed impressively in the first hilly stages of the race. This year he once again targets the French grand tour and today he showed that he is riding himself into some solid form for the world's biggest race.

The Frenchman finished 9th in yesterday's stage and today the fast finisher improved on that performance by sprinting to 3rd behind Elia Viviani (Cannondale) and Gianni Meersman (Omega Pharma-Quick Step). White jersey Tom-Jelte Slagter (Blanco) had been dropped on the day's final climb and so the performance was not just moving Gallopin into third on GC, he also took over the jersey to signal his position as the best young rider in the race.

After a solid spring campaign where he rode both the cobbled and the Ardennes classics, the Dauphiné is his first race after a long break from competition. Hence, he still lacks a little race rhythm and the result came despite his cramps near the end of the stage.

 "It was a bit crazy in the finale", he described. "I was missing some team-mates and there was a head wind to finish. Since I was a bit too far when I launched my sprint at 500 metres, there was no way I could overtake those two excellent sprinters who were already ahead of me. Today’s course is what I enjoy in cycling. It wasn’t easy. I lack competition and I was cramping towards the end. But I was still up there, that’s how I get the white jersey after Tom-Jelte Slagter who didn’t finish with us."

The final descent was tackled at a furious pace as the peloton was in full pursuit of the lone Rein Taaramae (Cofidis). Actucally, Gallopin was about to be caught out on that occasion but some solid work by teammate Thomas Rohregger brought him back into contention.

“In the descent towards the finish there were some gaps in the peloton, but Thomas brought me back," Gallopin explained. "He did a nice job.  With the headwind it was a bit of a strange sprint, but I managed to find an opening and finished third.  It’s not bad but I am disappointed when I see how close to victory I am.  On the other hand, it’s not so bad when I remember that this is my first race since Liège. I just miss some rhythm on the small climbs.”

The team's main objective at the race is to work for Haimar Zubeldia who finished 10th last year and went on to take 6th at the Tour de France. However, sports director Alain Gallopin knew that today's lumpy course and a possible reduced bunch sprint would suit his young Frenchman perfectly.

“A sprint for Meersman is also a sprint for Tony," he said. "I insisted this morning that we had to protect our leader Haimar but also Tony as he can win this kind of sprint. Thomas did a great job. I am happy about how our team raced today."

Gallopin will get another chance in tomorrow's stage that once again has a couple of climbs near the finish and could be another sprint opportunity. Starting at 12.45 you can follow the action on CyclingQuotes.com/live.