Chris Froome won his third Critérium du Dauphiné title ©Getty Images

Chris Froome claimed the Critérium du Dauphiné title for the third time in his career as fellow Briton Steve Cummings proved the star performer on the closing day of racing by winning stage seven after a 60 kilometre lone breakaway.

Cummings had formed part of a 20-man move during the early stages of the 151km stage from Le Pont-de-Claix to Superdévoluy, but opted to go solo towards the peak of the Col de Moissière climb after 90km of racing.

The 35-year-old, a Tour de France stage winner last year, impressively built his lead to more than five minutes ahead of the chasing pack.

He was able to hold onto most of his advantage to eventually reach the finish at Superdévoluy in a time of 4hr, 5min and 6sec to earn the stage victory.

Dan Martin was next to finish, 3:58 behind the winner, with the Irishman leading home a group containing France’s Roman Bardet, while Froome came in a further five seconds down.

It was enough for Froome to successfully defend his Critérium du Dauphiné title by 12 seconds from Bardet, who moved up to second place due to Australia’s Richie Porte losing time on the final stage.

Porte’s losses allowed Martin to move into third in the final standings, two seconds ahead of the BMC Racing rider.

Steve Cummings soloed clear to win the final stage of the race
Steve Cummings soloed clear to win the final stage of the race ©Getty Images

“It's a massive satisfaction to win the Dauphiné for the third time, it's a very important race in the calendar,” said Froome, who has won the Tour de France on both occasions that he has previously won the Critérium du Dauphiné.

“It's a boost of confidence ahead of the Tour de France but there's still some work to do before July, I'm not at my best yet.

“I hope to reach that by the start of the Tour de France.

“I've not raced much this year in order to be at my best during the third week of the Tour.”

World champion Peter Sagan claimed the second stage at the Tour de Suisse, another key International Cycling Union (UCI) World Tour race ahead of the second Grand Tour of the season.

The Slovakian won a sprint finish ahead of Argentina’s Maximiliano Ariel Richeze and Australia’s Michael Matthews in a time of 4:35:19, at the close of a 188km route around Baar.

Sagan’s victory was his 12th stage win at the race in his career.

Jurgen Roelandts took over the overall race lead, with the Belgian lying two seconds ahead of Switzerland’s Fabian Cancellara.