The 69th edition of the Critérium du Dauphiné takes place from June 4–11 and will feature a stage finish on Alpe d’Huez with a different approach.
The race is one of the traditional ‘tune up’ events ahead the Tour de France and often includes portions from that year’s Le Tour parcours.
This year that will occur on stage six, the first truly climbing stage — 145.5km from Parc des Oiseaux Villars-les-Dombes to La Motte-Servolex. The last 50km over the HC Mont du Chat are in this year’s Tour de France. The next day Alpe d’Huez looms at the finish, but without its iconic ascent.
Instead of the traditional climb from Bourg d’Oisans the race will tackle the Col de Sarenne (15.3 kilometers at 6.8% ) before heading up the final 3.7 kilometers of the Alpe d’Huez. This is the side Le Tour used as a descent when it climbed Alpe d’Huez twice.
The 115-kilometer-long final stage will feature more than 4,000 metres altitude, finishing on the Plateau de Solaison, a 11.3km climb averaging 9.2%.
Stages
Sunday, 4 June — Stage 1: Saint-Étienne > Saint-Étienne (170 km)
Monday, 5 June — Stage 2: Saint-Chamond > Arlanc (171 km)
Tuesday, 6 June — Stage 3: Le Chambon-sur-Lignon > Tullins (184 km)
Wednesday, 7 June — Stage 4: La Tour-du-Pin > Bourgoin-Jallieu (23.5 ITT)
Thursday, 8 June — Stage 5: La Tour-de-Salvagny > Mâcon (175 km)
Friday, 9 June — Stage 6: Parc des Oiseaux Villars-les-Dombes > La Motte-Servolex (145.5 km)
Saturday, 10 June — Stage 7: Aosta > Alpe d’Huez (167.5 km)
Sunday, 11 June — Stage 8: Albertville > Plateau de Solaison (115 km)
