The build up to the Tour de France begins in earnest at the start of June with the Critérium du Dauphiné giving the likes of Chris Froome (Ineos), Richie Porte (Trek-Segafredo), Romain Bardet (Ag2r La Mondiale) and Nairo Quintana (Movistar) a chance to test their legs before battling for the maillot jaune the following month.
Stage one gets the climbing underway from the get-go, with riders tackling the Puy Mary before heading onto a lumpy finishing circuit ahead of the finish in Jussac.
The next day, the 180km stage two from Mauriac to Craponne-sur-Arzon will provide a rolling ride through the Auvergne region, with plenty of punchy ascents to split the bunch
Stage three provides a chance for the sprinters to shine before stage four's 26.1km time trial, offering up a near carbon copy of the route for the Tour de France stage 13 time trial in Pau.
After that, another day for the sprinters, before stage six's ascent of the Col de Beaune, followed by a technical descent into Saint-Michel-de-Maurienne.
The 133km stage seven accumulates an elevation gain of 4150 metres,including the slopes of Prapoutel-Les-Sept-Laux, not climbed by the pro peloton since the Tour de France in 1980.
The final stage, on Sunday June 16, will visit many of the towns known to the Critérium du Dauphiné and its riders. However, in a different order, with the climbs of Les Gets and the Col du Corbiernappearing en route to the final in Switzerland’s Champéry.
As usual, each stage will be shown live on Eurosport, with daily highlights each evening to recap on the day's action.
Critérium du Dauphiné website and social media
Twitter: @dauphine
Website: www.letour.fr/criterium-du-dauphine
Sunday 9 June
1230-1415 LIVE stage on Eurosport Player (online)
1900-2000 Stage highlights on ITV4
2200-2300 Stage highlights on Eurosport 2
Monday 10 June
1400-1545 LIVE stage two on Eurosport 1
1900-2000 Stage highlights on ITV4
2000-2130 Stage highlights on Eurosport 1
Tuesday 11 June
1400-1545 LIVE stage three on Eurosport 1
1900-2000 Stage highlights on ITV4
2000-2130 Stage highlights on Eurosport 1
Wednesday 12 June
1400-1545 LIVE stage four on Eurosport 1
1900-2000 Stage highlights on ITV4
2000-2130 Stage highlights on Eurosport 1
Thursday 13 June
1400-1545 LIVE stage five on Eurosport 1
1900-2000 Stage highlights on ITV4
2100-2200 Stage highlights on Eurosport 2
Friday 14 June
1400-1545 LIVE stage six on Eurosport 1
1900-2000 Stage highlights on ITV4
2000-2105 Stage highlights on Eurosport 1
Saturday 15 June
1420-1620 LIVE stage seven on Eurosport Player (online)
1900-2000 Stage highlights on ITV4
1800-1900 Stage highlights on Eurosport 2
Sunday 16 June
1420-1620 LIVE stage eight on Eurosport Player (online)
1900-2000 Stage highlights on ITV4
1700-1800 Stage highlights on Eurosport 1
-
-
Five turbo sessions hand-picked by the pros
We sent out a distress call to pro riders pleading for their favourite turbo sessions
By Stephen Shrubsall •
-
Seven reasons the Stages Bike is the perfect upgrade from a smart trainer
Stages Bike SB20 gives you a better indoor riding experience
By Paul Norman •
-
Here's why Jumbo-Visma are riding blue tyres at the Tour de France 2021
Jumbo-Visma could be spotted using blue tyres at the Critérium du Dauphiné and Tour de France 2021, but why?
By Jonny Long •
-
‘It’s never felt so easy on the bike’: Mark Padun doubles Dauphiné win tally and takes polka dot jersey for good measure
The Ukrainian took his second win in as many days at the French stage race
By Jonny Long •
-
Richie Porte ‘would love to repay Geraint Thomas’ at Tour de France after taking Dauphiné victory
The Tasmanian secured the yellow jersey, a nice bonus, before the real maillot jaune his Ineos team are after at the Tour later this month
By Jonny Long •
-
Richie Porte seals Critérium du Dauphiné title as Mark Padun wins second stage in a row
Mark Padun won the final stage of the Critérium du Dauphiné as Richie Porte sealed the overall win
By Jonny Long •
-
'I'd love to finish it off,' says Richie Porte after taking Critérium du Dauphiné lead
Richie Porte was the strongest of the GC guys as he attacked on stage seven to take the race lead
By Jonny Long •
-
Richie Porte powers into Critérium du Dauphiné race lead as Mark Padun wins mountainous stage seven
Mark Padun wins stage seven of the Critérium du Dauphiné as Richie Porte takes the race lead
By Jonny Long •
-
Alejandro Valverde says ‘everything I manage to do now is special’ after Critérium du Dauphiné stage win
At 41, Valverde is the oldest ever stage winner in the Dauphiné
By Alex Ballinger •
-
Alejandro Valverde outsprints Tao Geoghegan Hart to win stage six of Critérium du Dauphiné 2021
The Spaniard waited for the final moment before bridging across and sprinting past Geoghegan Hart
By Alex Ballinger •
