Criterium du Dauphiné stage winner and new race leader Jonas Vingegaard (Jumbo Visma) celebrated his victory and issued a message of support for the victims and families of the knife attack near Annecy today.

Four children between the ages of 22 months and 3 years and two adults were reported injured in Annecy, located in the French Alps.

After a strong late attack knocked him off the lead, Vingegaard, clearly emotional, said: "Of course, I'm very happy with the victory. But on a day like today, after what happened in Annecy, I don't think it really matters what happened in cycling. My thoughts are with all the families."

Vingegaard later revealed that his attack late in the Côte de Tesses (category 2) on stage 5 was not planned. Rather, he said, it was an instinctive reaction to an attempt to clear Richard Carapas (EF Education Easy Post).

Whatever his original motivation, after finishing second in the middle-distance time trial on Wednesday and putting his chances of taking the yellow jersey in jeopardy, he escaped 24 hours later at an impressive average speed of 47 km/h.

[19] [20] [20] [21] [22] [23] [24] [24] hours later, after finishing second in the middle distance time trial on Wednesday and putting his chances of taking the yellow jersey in jeopardy, he said. I didn't want to attack today," he said. I just wanted to protect myself, but they attacked and I was working with Richard and he couldn't follow me any more," Vingegaard explained.

Vingegaard added that he did not expect to be in first place, but that it meant he could focus on holding off his rivals in the remaining three days of racing.

Friday's stage from Nantua to Crest-Voland is a very undulating stage with a series of Category 2 and Category 3 climbs that could see more skirmishes before the two showdown stages in the Alps over the weekend.

"Hopefully I can keep up my current form over the next few days," added Vingegaard, last year's overall runner-up and stage winner. I'll be riding defensively from now on."

"Other riders will have to attack. Of course, the race will be different. All my hard work has paid off."