Where: France
When: May 30 to June 6 2021
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.
Daniel Martínez (then EF Pro Cycling) won the general classification in 2020, Jakob Fuglsang (Astana) took victory in 2019, taking the mantle from 2018 winner Geraint Thomas.
Critérium du Dauphiné 2021 stages
The full route for the Critérium du Dauphiné 2021 has yet to be released, but we will update this page as soon as it is.
| Stage one, Sunday May 30 | Issoire - Issoire | 182km hills |
| Stage two, Monday May 31 | Brioude - Saugues | 173km hills |
| Stage three, Tuesday June 1 | Langeac - Saint-Haon-le-Vieux | 172.5km flat |
| Stage four, Wednesday June 2 | Firminy - Roche-la-Molière | 16.4km ITT |
| Stage five, Thursday June 3 | Saint-Chamond - Saint-Vallier | 175.5km flat |
| Stage six, Friday June 4 | Loriol-sur-Drôme - Le Sappey-en-Chartreuse | 168km mountain |
| Stage seven, Saturday June 5 | Saint-Martin-le-Vinoux - La Plagne | 171km mountain |
| Stage eight, Sunday June 6 | La Léchère-les-Bains - Les Gets | 147km mountain |
About the Critérium du Dauphiné
Usually 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.
But in 2020 the race has a different look, every single day sees a summit finish with no sprint days or time trials in sight. It has also been shortened to just five days to fit into the new post-pandemic calendar.
This race has in the past been a key focus for Team Ineos (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
2020: Daniel Martínez (Col) EF Pro Cycling
2019 Jakob Fuglsang (Den) Astana
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
Latest
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Critérium du Dauphiné 2021 start list: All the team's down for the Tour de France build-up race
Confirmed names for the pre-Tour form marker
By Tim Bonville-Ginn •
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Five things we learned from the 2020 Critérium du Dauphiné
Breathless racing builds the appetite for Tour de France
By Stephen Puddicombe •
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'Before yesterday I would have said we were favourites for the Tour,' says Tom Dumoulin
The Dutchman says he is feeling as good as he did when he finished runner-up at the 2018 Tour de France
By Jonny Long •
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'The Tour is one of my objectives but I'm staying calm,' says Martínez after Dauphiné win
The Colombian says he'll keep his feet on the ground despite overhauling Thibaut Pinot to win the French stage race
By Jonny Long •
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Dani Martínez wins the Critérium du Dauphiné 2020
Jumbo-Visma’s Sepp Kuss won the final stage
By Jonny Long •
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Jumbo-Visma hope crash won't disrupt Roglič's Tour preparation as they wait for Kruijswijk news
The team will wait to see how Kruijswijk recovers from his injuries before making a decision on Tour inclusion
By Jonny Long •
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Froome and Thomas have not been good enough at the Dauphiné, says Ineos DS
Gabriel Rasch says the two former Tour de France winners need to step up but that this period of intense racing will have helped ahead of the Grand Départ in Nice
By Jonny Long •
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'It's a disgrace that descent was in a race' says Tom Dumoulin after Kruijswijk crashes out of Dauphiné
The Dutchman didn't mince his words on a difficult day for Jumbo-Visma where Primož Roglič also crashed
By Jonny Long •
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Lennard Kämna takes his first career win as Primož Roglič stays in yellow after stage four of Critérium du Dauphiné 2020
The 23-year-old German went clear of the break with 3km to go
By Tim Bonville-Ginn •
