British Cycling Podium Programme rider Bradley Wiggins finished safely with his Team Sky colleagues on the final stage to claim back-to-back victories at the Criterium du Dauphine.
The Brit held on to the yellow jersey which he took on only the second day of racing to secure his third stage race victory of the season by an impressive margin of one minute and 17 seconds.
Following Wiggins home was Team Sky team-mate Michael Rogers to complete a famous 1-2 at one of the toughest races on the cycling calendar.
The pair were both present on the steep ramp up to Chatel, along with fellow Team Sky rider Chris Froome, who backed up an already amazing result with fourth overall.
Fourth was also where the team finished on the stage, with Edvald Boasson Hagen making it up the day’s tough climbs to demonstrate his current form.
Richie Porte had arrived on the front in the closing stages to keep the pace high and he became the fourth Team Sky man in the top 10 in ninth. That show of strength ensured a commanding victory in the team classification by 13:34.
Final test
In Chatel it was Daniel Moreno (Katusha) who edged out Luis Leon Sanchez (Rabobank) on the line to take his second stage victory of the prestigious race.
Cadel Evans (BMC Racing), lying third overnight, had looked threatening in the closing stages but was unable to take enough time to dislodge compatriot Rogers from second spot.
Katusha and BMC Racing pushed hard in the closing stages to shut down the remains of the day’s break, Jerome Coppel (Saur-Sojasun) and Pierre Rolland (Europcar) having proved strongest on the stage’s major test, the Col du Corbier.
Earlier a number of groups attacked off the front following a fast descent out of Morzine, nine riders eventually combining out on the road ahead of five categorised climbs.
With such a short stage it was no surprise to see the move quickly pegged at a maximum advantage of 2:35.
Result
Criterium du Dauphine Stage 7: Morzine - Châtel 126km
1 Daniel Moreno Fernandez (Spa) Katusha Team 2:59:37
2 Luis-Leon Sanchez (Spa) Rabobank Cycling Team
3 Cadel Evans (Aus) BMC Racing Team
other
11 Christopher Froome (GBr) Sky Procycling
19 Bradley Wiggins (GBr) Sky Procycling
Final General Classification
1 Bradley Wiggins (GBr) Sky Procycling 26:40:46
2 Michael Rogers (Aus) Sky Procycling
3 Cadel Evans (Aus) BMC Racing Team
other
4 Christopher Froome (GBr) Sky Procycling
