Derek Gee put on another incredible performance in this year’s Critérium du Dauphiné as he climbed with the favorites to take fourth place at the mountain-top finish on stage 6.
“I’ve never been in this position before, looking around and seeing all these big names in a small group. That was pretty surreal,” Gee explained after catching his breath at the finish line.
“I couldn’t match all the attacks, but I still had a little bit of a kick at the end, and I’m very happy about that! Honestly, I’m really surprised at how today went. It was an unbelievable day out once again.”
Early in the day, Mason Hollyman was quick to join a strong group of riders getting up the road. The break got a six-minute lead at one point, but unfortunately, the young IPT rider crashed on a descent and had to sit up and wait for the peloton. Luckily, Hollyman didn’t suffer any injuries, and he could finish the day with a smile, hearing about Gee’s performance on the final climb.
After today’s big result, Gee is now just three seconds off the overall podium, in fourth place, ahead of the final two big days in the mountains.
“I think now, after this first test, I can just try to see how the next two days go and hopefully get a good result in the general classification,” the 26-year-old Canadian said.
Saturday’s stage 7 sees the riders tackling no fewer than four big climbs before finishing with the HC-climb to Samoëns.
