Michael Leonard had a fantastic stage six in the mountains at Criterium du Dauphine after his breakaway heroics, while Carlos Rodriguez moved up the GC.
Leonard managed to make the seven-man break inside the first 30km of the race after an attacking start. The break tackled the first two of the five categorised climbs of the day, before it was reduced to two up the Côte de Mont-Saxonnex, with Leonard and Alex Baudin (EF Education-EasyPost) staying away inside the final 50km.
The Canadian rider continued to maintain his lead of a minute and a half with 25km remaining, while Rodriguez was in the chasing group behind alongside the GC favourites.
After a fantastic effort, Leonard was unable to hold the pace inside the final 10km. As attacks came thick and fast from the peloton behind in the fight for the yellow jersey, Rodriguez managed to hold on and come home 14th to move up to 11th on the GC.
🗣️ “I’m very excited to be able to show myself this way.”
— INEOS Grenadiers (@INEOSGrenadiers) June 13, 2025
Hear from Michael Leonard after the first day in the mountains at @dauphine 👊 pic.twitter.com/sD08DyATEB