Is the 2017 Critérium du Dauphiné heading for an Alpe d’Huez decider?
Pre-Tour stage race set for penultimate day finish on the Alpe for the first time since 2010
Alpe d’Huez may have missed out on inclusion on the Tour de France route for the second year in succession, but reports suggest that the French ski station is likely to host the finish of the penultimate stage of the Critérium du Dauphiné WorldTour race, which will take place on June 4-11.
>>> Tour de France 2017 route revealed
Although the route of the 70th anniversary edition of the Dauphiné won’t officially be unveiled by race organisation ASO until March 16, rumours of Alpe d’Huez’s inclusion on the route have been spreading since July 2016, when the resort’s mayor, Jean-Yves Noyrey, admitted he was already canvassing ASO for a 2017 Dauphiné stage finish.
French website Cyclism’Actu has now reported that ‘behind the scenes sources’ have confirmed to it that stage seven of the Dauphiné will finish at Alpe d’Huez on June 10.
If the Dauphiné does head for Alpe d’Huez in France’s biggest pre-Tour event, it will be only the second time that the race has finished on cycling’s most iconic climb.
In 2010, Alberto Contador and Janez Brajkovic fought a tightly contested duel on its slopes, the Spaniard taking the stage win as the Slovene hung on to the leader’s jersey.
The race returned to Alpe d’Huez in 2013 during a stage that went up to and through the resort to reach the Col de Sarenne as a dress rehearsal for the Tour de France’s double encounter with the Alpe that occurred a few weeks later.
Get The Leadout Newsletter
The latest race content, interviews, features, reviews and expert buying guides, direct to your inbox!
On that occasion, Belgium’s Thomas de Gendt led the way at Alpe d’Huez and Spaniard Samuel Sánchez won the stage at SuperDévoluy.
According to Cyclism’Actu, the Dauphiné will begin with a stage starting and finishing in Saint-Étienne on June 4.
ASO have already confirmed that Cofidis, Delko-Marseille, Direct Énergie and Wanty-Groupe Gobert will join the 18 WorldTour teams on the start line.
Thank you for reading 20 articles this month* Join now for unlimited access
Enjoy your first month for just £1 / $1 / €1
*Read 5 free articles per month without a subscription
Join now for unlimited access
Try first month for just £1 / $1 / €1
Peter Cossins has been writing about professional cycling since 1993, with his reporting appearing in numerous publications and websites including Cycling Weekly, Cycle Sport and Procycling - which he edited from 2006 to 2009. Peter is the author of several books on cycling - The Monuments, his history of cycling's five greatest one-day Classic races, was published in 2014, followed in 2015 by Alpe d’Huez, an appraisal of cycling’s greatest climb. Yellow Jersey - his celebration of the iconic Tour de France winner's jersey won the 2020 Telegraph Sports Book Awards Cycling Book of the Year Award.
-
Among market turmoil, Colnago boasts €55 million in sales: CEO shares the brand’s secret
Colnago’s growth has tripled since the brand’s acquisition by new majority stakeholders in 2020 and seems impervious to the downturn. Here's why.
By Anne-Marije Rook Published
-
Why e-bike torque numbers matter more than you think
You should choose an e-bike based on torque, not just power
By Paul Norman Published
-
Chords to cols: How Jonas Vingegaard went from guitars to Grand Tours
If he'd followed a music teacher's advice the 2022 Tour de France winner might have ended up starring on a different type of stage
By Tom Thewlis Published
-
Roll on the Tour de France: Jonas Vingegaard ready after dominant Critérium du Dauphiné win
Tadej Pogačar is seemingly the only man in the world in between the Dane and a second Tour title
By Adam Becket Published
-
From doubts to a first pro win: Mikkel Bjerg takes stage four and yellow jersey at Critérium du Dauphiné
Jonas Vingegaard most impressive of general classification contenders on hot day in the Loire
By Adam Becket Published
-
Christophe Laporte doubles up at Critérium du Dauphiné with 'unexpected' stage three win
Frenchman proves his form and outfoxes Sam Bennett and Dylan Groenewegen to take second stage victory in three days
By Tom Thewlis Published
-
‘I surprised myself’ - Julian Alaphilippe back to winning ways on stage two of Critérium du Dauphiné
Former world champion rediscovers form ahead of the Tour de France
By Tom Davidson Published
-
Jonas Vingegaard to David Gaudu: Eight riders to watch at the Critérium du Dauphiné 2023
Stacked GC field also includes Adam Yates, Richard Carapaz, Mikel Landa and Jai Hindley
By Tom Thewlis Published
-
After 'fighting with the best guys', Ben O'Connor is proud of his Critérium du Dauphiné podium
Australian heads into Tour de France with best WorldTour stage result in his pocket
By Adam Becket Last updated
-
Can anyone stop the Jumbo juggernaut? Five talking points from the Critérium du Dauphiné
Wout van Aert and Primož Roglič are the best at the French race, but the Tour de France is another level up
By Adam Becket Published