With what will be most riders' last race before the Tour de France, we look back at a Critérium du Dauphiné that gave British fans plenty to celebrate.
Critérium du Dauphiné
Where: France
When: June 9-16 2019
Rank: UCI WorldTour
The Critérium du Dauphiné marks the traditional run-in to the Tour de France, and so all eyes are on how the top contenders ride.
Geraint Thomas (Team Sky) won the general classification in 2018, becoming the fifth British rider to win the overall.
Thomas then went on to win the French Grand Tour – once again reinforcing the importance of this warm-up race.
Critérium du Dauphiné 2019 stages
The full route for the Critérium du Dauphiné 2019 is yet to be unveiled, but we’ll update this page with route information when it’s available.
Prologue, Sunday June 9: Prologue
Stage 1, Monday June 10
Stage 2, Tuesday June 11
Stage 3, Wednesday June 12
Stage 4, Thursday June 13
Stage 5, Friday June 14
Stage 6, Saturday June 15
Stage 7, Sunday June 16
About the Critérium du Dauphiné
Lasting for eight days, the Critérium du Dauphiné is a sort of compressed version of the Tour, with a variation of Alpine mountains, time-trials, flat and hilly stages held across France’s terrain that resembles what awaits the riders come July.
This race has in the past been a key focus for Team Sky: not only have the team won six of the past nine editions (twice through Bradley Wiggins in 2011 and 2012 and three times through Chris Froome in 2013, 2015 and 2016 and via Geraint Thomas in 2018), they also tend to dominate the race with imposing performances across the whole team, with their supporting riders often outperforming other teams’ leaders.
Key info: Critérium du Dauphiné live TV guide | Start list | Seven things to look out for
Critérium du Dauphiné: Recent winners
2018 Geraint Thomas (GBr) Team Sky
2017 Jakob Fuglsang (Den) Astana
2016 Chris Froome (GBr) Team Sky
2015 Chris Froome (GBr) Team Sky
2014 Andrew Talansky (USA) Garmin-Sharp
2013 Chris Froome (GBr) Team Sky
2012 Bradley Wiggins (GBr) Team Sky
2011 Bradley Wiggins (GBr) Team Sky
2010 Janez Brajkovic (Slo) RadioShack
2009 Alejandro Valverde (Esp) Caisse d’Epargne
2008 Alejandro Valverde (Esp) Caisse d’Epargne
2007 Christophe Moreau (Fra) Ag2r Prevoyance
Adam Yates powers to Critérium du Dauphiné stage victory as Geraint Thomas takes GC success
There was double British success on the final stage of the 2018 Critérium du Daupiné as Adam Yates won the stage while Geraint Thomas took the overall.
Geraint Thomas extends lead and closes in on Critérium du Dauphiné victory as Pello Bilbao wins stage six
Geraint Thomas took second place behind stage winner Pello Bilbao to extend his overall lead and close in on victory in the 2018 Critérium du Dauphiné.
Watch: Critérium du Dauphiné 2018 stage five highlights
Friday’s stage of the 2018 Critérium du Dauphiné runs from Grenoble to Valmorel and comprises 130km with a hors categorie final climb measuring 12.7 kilometres and with an average gradient…
Dan Martin wins Critérium du Dauphiné stage five as Geraint Thomas moves into yellow jersey
Dan Martin took victory on stage five of the Critérium du Dauphiné as Geraint Thomas, who finished second on the day, moved into the yellow jersey.
Watch: Critérium du Dauphiné 2018 stage four highlights
Catch up on the 2018 Critérium du Dauphiné with video highlights from stage four of the prestigious French stage race
Julian Alaphilippe beats Dan Martin and Geraint Thomas to Critérium du Dauphiné stage four summit finish
Julian Alaphilippe won stage four of the Critérium du Dauphiné as he out-sprinted Dan Martin and Geraint Thomas as Gianni Moscon moved into yellow.
Watch: Critérium du Dauphiné 2018 stage three highlights
Video highlights from stage three of the 2018 Critérium du Dauphiné race in France
Team Sky dominate Critérium du Dauphiné team time trial to put Michal Kwiatkowski back in yellow
Team Sky delivered a dominant performance to win stage three’s team time trial at the Critérium du Dauphiné to put Michal Kwiatkowski back into the yellow jersey. In what was…
Watch: Critérium du Dauphiné 2018 stage two highlights
Video highlights from stage two of the 2018 Critérium du Dauphiné stage race in France
Pascal Ackermann sprints to victory on Critérium du Dauphiné stage two as Impey takes overall lead
Race leader Kwiatkowski crashed with just over a kilometre remaining and was able to get to the finish of stage two
Britain’s James Knox finding his feet among Quick-Step’s star-studded squad
“I’m not going to lie, it’s been very enjoyable” British climber says of his debut season with Quick-Step
Watch: Critérium du Dauphiné 2018 stage one highlights
Catch up with the action from stage one of the 2018 Critérium du Dauphiné, from Valence to Saint-Just-Saint-Rambert
Daryl Impey sprints to Critérium du Dauphiné stage one victory as Michal Kwiatkowski maintains lead
Daryl Impey (Mitchelton-Scott) won stage one of the 2018 Critérium du Dauphiné as Michal Kwiatkowski's fifth place saw him keep the yellow jersey.
Michal Kwiatkowski takes victory in Critérium du Dauphiné prologue as Geraint Thomas crashes
The Pole takes the overall lead ahead of the opening road stage on Monday
Seven things to look out for at the 2018 Critérium du Dauphiné
We look ahead to the 2018 Critérium du Dauphiné, the vital Tour de France warm-up race that attracts big names to race on the French mountain roads.
Critérium du Dauphiné live TV guide
Eurosport will have live coverage of the 2018 Critérium du Dauphiné, beginning on June 3, a chance to see the Tour de France contenders in action.
Critérium du Dauphiné 2018 start list
The eight day Critérium du Dauphiné (June 3-10) represents an important marker in the run-up to the Tour de France, and many of its General Classification winners have gone on…
Vincenzo Nibali explains why he’s bucking the trend and riding the Critérium du Dauphiné instead of the Tour de Suisse
With the Tour de Suisse attracting most of the big Tour de Franc names this year, Vincenzo Nibali is one of the few who will be sticking with the Dauphiné.
Team Sky reveal Critérium du Dauphiné line-up with one big name missing
Team Sky have revealed their squad for the 2018 Critérium du Dauphiné, with Chris Froome not taking part in the race for the first time since 2011.
Critérium du Dauphiné 2018 route revealed: four back-to-back summit finishes in crucial Tour warm up
Details of each stage of the 2017 Critérium du Dauphiné (June 4-11), including profiles
Race organisers reveal wildcard team selections for 2018 Tour de France
Tour de France organisers have announced the teams that will compete in the 2018 edition, with French teams filling three of the four wildcard spots.
‘It’s not something that you forget in a hurry’: Richie Porte still aggrieved by Froome Dauphiné tactics
The Australian says he's all in again for the Tour de France in 2018
‘What makes me the rider I am?’: Critérium du Dauphiné winner Jakob Fuglsang on what’s behind his success
Danish rider Jakob Fuglsang sits down with CW to talk about whether nature or nurture is behind his success, and how he has changed as a rider.
Richie Porte: ‘Chris Froome obviously didn’t want to see me win. You don’t forget that for July’
Richie Porte hints that he could take revenge on Chris Froome and Alejandro Valverde at the Tour de France after losing the Dauphiné on the final stage.