Dauphine: Victory for Brajkovic, Boasson Hagen

With the race pretty well decided, the only remaining question was the winner of the final stage. Edvald Boasson Hagen took care of that answer with an exclamation point. He pulled away from the field on the final laps around the circuit and got himself a stage victory. He rode a strong tour, and certainly capped it off in style. The real story of the day had been decided the day before.

It was just a cruise in the park for Janez Brajkovic, who simply had to stay out of trouble and near the front to gain what he called "the biggest success of his career." He rode a near perfect race, never falling outside of the top 3 and taking the race by the horns after the time trial at stage 3. He took advantage of the resting Contador and struggling Menchov, and with the help of his Radioshack teammates, gained himself a signature victory. He sealed the deal yesterday, when he stayed on top rider Alberto Contador's back wheel for the entire breakaway and did not concede a second of his lead. Contador achieved his purpose, getting a podium finish while tuning up for the upcoming Tour de France. It was also an incredible finish for 3rd place Tejay Van Garderen. The young HTC rider had a second place finish in the prologue, and also did not leave the podium for the entire race. He was not expected by anyone to have as good a run as he did, and should be incredibly proud of his accomplishment.

FINAL PODIUM

1. Janez Brajkovic

2. Alberto Contador -1:41

3. Tejay Van Garderen -2:41

Alberto Contador won the points jersey. He accumulated 2 stage victories, as well as a few other high finishes, to gain himself the points victory. It was not the jersey many expected him to win, but a nice accomplishment none the less.

Egoi Martinez de Esteban won the mountains jersey. He took control of that by winning all 3 checkpoints in the most mountainous stage, stage 6. It was one great day of riding that ended up clinching the mountains jersey for him.

Euskaltel-Euskadi won the team competition, having several riders in the top breakaways throughout the race.

It was a good week of racing, and perhaps a preview of what is to come when the world's best ride a very similar course this July. And again Congratulations to Janez Brajkovic, your 2010 Criterium du Dauphine champion.