Cycling: Thomas pipped at the post as Contador avoids crash to lead

Grega Bole wins the race to the line in the first stage of the Dauphine Criterium yesterday. The Slovenian edged out Peter Velits and Britain's Geraint Thomas of Team Sky.

The race leader Alberto Contador, who is using the event to prepare for next month's defence of his Tour de France crown, avoided a multi-rider crash to retain the No 1 spot reuters