A route for the sprinters but with so few of them in the race it could give others a chance to get away knowing not enough teams will chase. Once again don’t get caught out by the early finish.
Dauphiné
Dauphine Stage 1 Preview
Start as you mean to go on. In this Alpine stage race Stage 1 starts in the heart of the mountains with a hilly circuit to give the sprinters and puncheurs a chance to get the double of the stage win and the yellow jersey while the eight climbs will give someone the chance to wear the mountains jersey for a couple of days. Beware the early afternoon finish.
Who Will Win The Dauphiné?
Last year’s race was one of the best races of 2014 and coming on the back of a thrilling Giro means this year’s Critérium du Dauphiné has a lot to live up to. But all the ingredients are in place with a varied, mountainous route and startlist packed with big name contenders for the Tour de France.
2015 Critérium du Dauphiné Route
More than the race resembles a mini-Tour de France, this race as an Alpine dress-rehearsal for the Tour, complete with an identical mountain stage and a comparable team time trial. Held between the 7 and 14 June, here’s a look at the stages and what to expect along the way.
Highlights of 2014 – Part I
I’m going to pick five moments from 2014. They are a personal choice. With any list you often omit more than you include but I’ll explain each moment. They’re presented in no particular order.
First up is the Critérium du Dauphiné, we got the duel between Alberto Contador and Chris Froome but it was Andrew Talansky who won with the suspense lasting until the last minute of the last day.
The Moment The Race Was Won: The Dauphiné
Andrew Talansky leads the breakaway on Stage 8 of the Dauphiné. He’d gone clear in a maxi-breakaway early in the stage and became the virtual race leader on the road. By now Alberto Contador was chasing and eating into the lead but Talansky was driving the pace almost as if in a solo breakaway. This was the moment the race was won.
Dauphiné Stage 8 Preview
All to play for. In recent years the final stage has been a bit of a let down, a fight for the stage win but a procession for the overall classification. This year it’s different with just eight seconds separating Alberto Contador and Chris Froome and time bonuses on the finish line.
Dauphiné Stage 7 Preview
The Queen Stage of the 2014 Critérium du Dauphiné promises to settle this month’s duel between Chris Froome and Alberto Contador although it’s so close we might still need Sunday’s final stage. This is a tough day with the two hardest climbs saved for last. If that’s not hard enough the hot weather could break into thunderstorms for the finish.
Note today’s stage is forecast to finish later than usual.
Dauphiné Stage 6 Preview
Glance at the profile and it looks like a day for the sprinters but look more closely and the final 30km include some disruptive roads that promise a tense finish with several sharp climbs including a 15% wall with two kilometres to go.
Dauphiné Stage 5 Preview
Many riders have marked today as the obvious day for a breakaway. With over 100 riders now over 10 minutes down on GC riders there are a lot of riders with a ticket to ride but only one winner awaits in La Mure.