Daniel Moreno equals Joaquim Rodriguez at the Criterium du Dauphine
Joaquim Rodriguez of Team Katusha was a big absentee during the Criterium du Dauphine 2012.
Daniel Moreno replaced Rodriguez at the race and the Spaniard rode brilliantly to bag two stages at the race.
He succeeded during the second and the seventh stages at the French race and helped his side with a much needed victory at the event.
While commenting on the race, Moreno told the media, "Purito and I are always in contact”.
“He congratulated me after I won earlier in the week and he sent me a message again today, we're not just teammates, we're friends".
Although Daniel worked really hard to grab the stage 2 win at the race but his win during the final stage of the race is rated higher than the first one.
He completed the 126 kilometre pursuit to Chatel in a quickest time of 2 hours, 59 minutes and 37 seconds and occupied the top podium spot.
Luis-Leon Sanchez of Team Rabobank finished second with Cadel Evans of Team BMC, Edvald Boasson Hagen of Team Sky and Rinaldo Nocentini of Team AG2R La Mondiale holding the next three positions.
The race had no less than five mountains and Moreno started his winning sprint right from the final climb of the race.
Daniel briefed, "I had marked this stage in my road book, and I know that it was going to be important to keep some strength for the finale".
"From there, I just benefited from some great work from my team, and I managed to beat Luis Leon Sanchez by a hair's breadth".
"Luis Leon was my reference. I spoke with him during the stage and I knew he had real intentions of winning the stage, but thankfully fortune smiled on me".
The 30-year-old finished the 13th overall spot after the final general classifications at the Criterium du Dauphine.
He finished 4 minutes and 34 seconds behind the race leader Bradley Wiggins of Team Sky Procycling.
Micheal Rogers of Team Sky, Cadel Evans of Team BMC and Christopher Froome of Team Sky claimed the second, the third and the fourth spots.
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