Cycling: The Critérium du Dauphiné, which is perhaps the most important preparatory race for the Tour de France in early July, starts next weekend. In addition to last year's winner Chris Froome (Team Sky), Alberto Contador (Tinkoff), Fabio Aru (Astana) and Tejay van Garderen (BMC) will also be at the start. As is typical for Dauhpiné, the route is a case for the strong climbers in the field.
Critérium du Dauphiné: course and stages
The stages at a glance
Date | Stage | Route | Length |
---|---|---|---|
Sunday June 5th | Prolog | Les Gets - Les Gets | 4km |
Monday June 6th | 1st stage | Cluses - Saint Vulbas | 186km |
Tuesday 7 June | 2st stage | Crêches-sur-Saône - Chalmazel-Jeansagnière | 168km |
Wednesday June 8rd | 3st stage | Boen-sur-Lignon - Tournon-sur-Rhone | 187km |
Thursday June 9th | 4st stage | Tain-l'Hermitage-Belley | 176km |
Friday June 10th | 5st stage | Le Ravoire-Vaujany | 140km |
Saturday June 11th | 6st stage | La Rochette-Meribel | 141km |
Sunday June 12th | 7st stage | Le Pont de Claix - Superdevoluy | 151km |
Criterium du Dauphine 2016 - Prologue: Les Gets - Les Gets
Date: Sunday, 5th June 2016
Length: 4km
Profile: mountain time trial
TV broadcast: 5 June 18:15 (Eurosport 1) - recording
Editor's tip: At the Dauphiné, the battle for the overall standings starts with the prologue this year. The mountain time trial in the ski area of Les Gets is very short at 4km but all the more demanding and will put the riders' legs to a hard test right away. The ascent of the Montée du Mont Chéry is 3,9 km long and has an average gradient of 9,7% - however, some passages scratch the 20% mark and we can therefore expect longer time intervals right on the first day. In any case, this will be a matter for the climbers: Froome, Aru, Contador and Bardet will not want to show any weakness.
Criterium du Dauphine 2016 - Stage #1: Cluses - Saint-Vulbas
Date: Monday, 6th June 2016
Length: 186km
Profile: Wavy
TV broadcast: 6 June, 16:00 p.m. – 17:15 p.m. (Eurosport 1)
Editor's tip: Four climbs of the fourth category await the riders on the way to Vulbas. After a slightly more difficult start, the final 186km are mostly flat and we might even see a bunch sprint. A lot will also depend on the outcome of the prologue, because the terrain is also ideal for a strong breakaway group or a courageous soloist. Nevertheless, the sprinters and their teams will do everything to take advantage of one of the few opportunities to win the day.
Criterium du Dauphine 2016 - Stage #2: Crêches-sur-Saône - Chalmazel-Jeansagnière
Date: Tuesday, 7th June 2016
Length: 168km
Profile: Wavy (mountain arrival)
TV broadcast: 7 June, 16:00 p.m. – 17:15 p.m. (Eurosport 1)
Editor's tip: After a probably rather unspectacular 140km at the beginning of the stage, an exciting finale up to the finish in Chalmazel-Jeansagnière should await us here. The 5,6% average climb of the Côte de Saint-Georges-en-Couzan is ideal terrain for late attacks and there is almost 100% certainty that the overall favorites will attack here. Although the final ascent is rather short and crisp, but together with the possible bonuses for a day's victory, it could definitely be worth investing your grains here.
Criterium du Dauphine 2016 - Stage #3: Boen-sur-Lignon - Tournon-sur-Rhône
Date: Wednesday, 8th June 2016
Length: 187km
Profile: Wavy
TV broadcast: 8 June, 16:00 p.m. – 17:15 p.m. (Eurosport 1)
Editor's tip: A stage quite similar in character to the previous day awaits the pros on day four of the Dauphiné 2016. It's undulating and without major difficulties at first in the direction of Tournon-sur-Rhône, before then the steep Côtte de Sécheras (2nd category) almost 30km before the finish line should bring some life and excitement to the field. However, since the steep ascent is followed by a long descent to the finish, the favorites will probably hold back today because the time intervals will not be particularly large. Today is the big opportunity for one or more breakaways to secure a stage win.
Critérium du Dauphine 2016 - Stage #4: Tain-l'Hermitage - Belley
Date: Thursday, 9th June 2016
Length: 176km
Profile: Flach
TV broadcast: 9 June, 16:00 p.m. – 17:15 p.m. (Eurosport 1)
Editor's tip: Before the really big tests await on the following days, there is another opportunity to breathe deeply today during the 176 km in central France around Lyon. One of the few flat stages of the race will certainly bring the few sprinters and their teams back to the scene - but the slightly undulating finish could also be a case for the punchers in the field. The course of today also depends on the overall standings and which teams might want to save their strength for the many meters of altitude in the coming days.
Criterium du Dauphine 2016 – Stage #5: Le Ravoire – Vaujany
Date: Friday, 10th June 2016
Length: 140km
Profile: Mountain Stage
TV broadcast: 10 June, 16:00 p.m. – 17:15 p.m. (Eurosport 1)
Editor's tip: Seven categorized climbs, one category 1 and two category 2 (one of them to the stage finish), will make the pros' thighs burn today. Even if the big test is the climb up to the stage finish in Vaujany, it will be difficult for the riders to economize on their strength during the tough stage - even with the even more difficult stage on the next day in mind. Of the classification drivers, those who have a strong team around them will benefit enormously today.
Critérium du Dauphine 2016 – Stage #6: La Rochette – Méribel
Date: Saturday, 11th June 2016
Length: 141km
Profile: Mountain Stage
TV broadcast: 11 June, 16:30 p.m. – 17:45 p.m. (Eurosport 1)
Editor's tip: Today the decision for the overall victory will be made. Five difficult climbs, three of the first, and one each of the second and the highest category will ensure large time gaps and have the potential to turn the overall ranking upside down again on the penultimate day. As on the day before, it will be crucial which of the favorites can still rely on their helpers - because there will certainly be enough attacks and whoever is on their own with such a profile will undoubtedly lose time in the end.
Criterium du Dauphine 2016 - Stage #7: Le Pont-de-Claix - Superdévoluy
Date: Sunday, 12th June 2016
Length: 151km
Profile: Mountain Stage
TV broadcast: 12 June, 13:45 p.m. – 15:15 p.m. (Eurosport 1)
Editor's tip: This year's Dauphiné starts with a bang and the last day isn't expected to be easy. A difficult profile with six categorized climbs could possibly lead to shifts again if the gaps in the overall ranking are small. With such a constellation, we should expect an enormously gripping final day.
Criterium du Dauphiné 2016: starters and favourites
WorldTour
- Ag2r La Mondiale (FRA)
- Astana Pro Team (KAZ)
- BMC Racing Team (USA)
- Cannondale Pro Cycling Team (USA)
- Etixx-Quick Step (BEL)
- FDJ (FRA)
- IAM Cycling (SUI)
- Lampre-Merida (ITA)
- Lotto Soudal (BEL)
- Movistar Team (SPA)
- Orica GreenEDGE (AUS)
- Team Dimension Data (RSA)
- Team Giant - Alpecin (GER)
- Team Katusha (RUS)
- Team Lotto NL - Jumbo (NED)
- Team Sky (GBR)
- Tinkov (RUS)
- Trek - Segafredo (USA)
ProContinental
- Bora-Argon 18 (GER)
- Cofidis, Solutions Credits (FRA)
- Direct Energy (FRA)
- Wanty – Groupe Gobert (BEL)
Chris Froome (Team Sky)
On paper, Chris Froome is undoubtedly the top favourite, again this year. After his victory in 2015 and the subsequent Tour triumph, the Brit has had some problems getting into step this season - but it was similar last year and the outcome is known. With the recovered Mikel Landa and probably also Geraint Thomas, Froome will also have two extremely strong helpers in the mountains who could play a decisive role, especially in the last three stages. After the rather disappointing performance at the Giro and in California, it would also be of great importance for the team that Froome builds on the results from the previous season.
Alberto ContadorTinkoff
The Giro winner in 2015 skipped the Tour of Italy this year in order to concentrate fully on the Tour de France - Contador will certainly also be aware of the importance of the Dauphiné for the performance at the Grand Boucle - not in vain did the Dauphiné winners end up on the podium at the Tour in recent years. In any case, the form of the Spaniard seems to be right: After two second places at Paris-Nice and the Tour of Catalonia, the Spanish veteran won the overall ranking of the Tour of the Basque Country in April.
Fabio Arau
After the quite disappointing performance at the Giro last year, when his teammate Landa outstripped him during the tour, the Italian was able to console himself with the overall victory at the Vuelta at the end of the season. He's had similar teething problems as Chris Froome lately this season, but he can also count on a strong team and should he find the form that gave him the red jersey in Spain in time, the Astana pro will undoubtedly be one of the big favourites at the Dauhpiné - especially since he calculates a lot for the tour.
Top 5 of the last year
Tour Locations | Driver | Country | Team | Time |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Christopher Froome | GBR | TeamSky | 30:59:02 |
2 | Tejay Van Garderen | USA | BMC | 00:00:10 |
3 | Rui Costa | POR | Lampre Merida | 00:01:16 |
4 | Benat Intxausti | ESP | Movistar Team | 00:01:21 |
5 | Simon yates | GBR | Orica GreenEdge | 00:01:33 |
Winner of the last 5 years
Year | Driver | Country | Team |
---|---|---|---|
2015 | Christopher Froome | GBR | TeamSky |
2014 | Andrew Talansky | USA | Garmin Sharp |
2013 | Christopher Froome | GBR | TeamSky |
2012 | Bradley Wiggins | GBR | TeamSky |
2011 | Bradley Wiggins | GBR | TeamSky |
Criterium du Dauphiné 2016: live streaming and TV broadcast
Apart from the prologue, the finals of all stages can be seen on Eurosport 16 Live from 00pm.
Those who prefer to follow the race via the Internet can either click on the Eurosportplayer fall back on, or from the free offer Zattoo Make use of which Eurosport is also part of the offer. Cycling fans who access the internet from outside of Germany can look forward to www.cyclingfans.com look around where a corresponding live stream is listed for almost every major country.
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