le Donne at the Giro d'Italia
Tom Danielson Interview, Before the Giro d'Italia
Inside Scoop with Juan Fuentes: "Saturday I tried to do the Tourmalet"
"I am trying to stay focused on cycling but it has been hard since I am injured." - Raisin Recovering
Inside Scoop with Pinotti: "I feel relaxed"
Critérium du Dauphiné Libéré, France
5 - 12 June
Preview
![Overall Map](javascript:ImagePopup("../../map/2005/DauphineLibere.jpg", 800, 676, "Overall Map");){kind=link}
Stages
June 05, Prologue, Aix-les-Bains - Aix-les-Bains, 7.9K, Map
June 06, Stage 1, Aix-les-Bains - Givors, 224K, Map
June 07, Stage 2, Givors - Chauffailles, 187K, Map
June 08, Stage 3, Roanne - Roanne TT, 46.5K, Map
June 09, Stage 4, Tournon-sur-Rhône - Mont-Ventoux, 182K, Map
June 10, Stage 5, Vaison-la-Romaine - Grenoble, 219K, Map
June 11, Stage 6, Albertville - Morzine-Avoriaz, 155K, Map
June 12, Stage 7, Morzine-Avoriaz - Sallanches, 128K, Map
![Map](javascript:ImagePopup("../../map/2005/DauphineLibere0.jpg", 600, 500, "Stage Map");){kind=link}
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![Map](javascript:ImagePopup("../../map/2005/DauphineLibere2.jpg", 600, 500, "Stage Map");){kind=link}
![Map](javascript:ImagePopup("../../map/2005/DauphineLibere3.jpg", 600, 500, "Stage Map");){kind=link}
![Map](javascript:ImagePopup("../../map/2005/DauphineLibere4.jpg", 600, 500, "Stage Map");){kind=link}
![Map](javascript:ImagePopup("../../map/2005/DauphineLibere5.jpg", 600, 500, "Stage Map");){kind=link}
![Map](javascript:ImagePopup("../../map/2005/DauphineLibere6.jpg", 600, 500, "Stage Map");){kind=link}
![Map](javascript:ImagePopup("../../map/2005/DauphineLibere7.jpg", 600, 500, "Stage Map");){kind=link}
![Iban Mayo Warming Up, 2004 TDF](javascript:ImagePopup("../../photo/rider/MayoIban/Grein2004MayoWarmup2Tdf.jpg", 508, 349, "Iban Mayo, Warming Up, 2004 TDF"); "Iban Mayo, Warming Up, 2004 TDF, photo: Christine Grein, Capture-The-Peloton.com")
2004 Winner, Iban Mayo, photo: Capture-The-Peloton.com
The 57th Critérium du Dauphiné Libéré will be a 8-day slug-fest over French roads. Just like in past years, the 2005 Dauphiné Libéré is a great indicator for Tour de France form. Often riders who can excel at the Dauphiné Libéré go on to success in le Tour. Take a look at the past winners and you see champions names etched: Lance Armstrong, Miguel Indurain, Greg LeMond, Bernard Hinault, Eddy Merckx, Luis Ocaña.
This year will test the riders legs over 6 road stages, a TT and the opening prologue. The first test, a 7.9K prologue around Aix-les-Bains, will set up the leader for the following day's road race. The prologue should suit a specialist, it is not too hilly.
Stage 1 is the longest of the Dauphiné Libéré, a mild-mountainous affair. After some rolling parcours in the first half of the race, look for a sprinter to take out the stage finish. It will be a strong man who can handle the Coôte's and get to the line first. Stage 2 carries on in the same vein, but with a much tougher finish, helping to form a true GC leader.
Stage 3, Roanne to Roanne, is a true TT test at 46.5K. Look for the Tour favorites to lay down their cards and put their legs to a full TT run. It is not a flat run, it looks very similar to the most recent Firenze TT in the Giro d'Italia. The rider donning the yellow leader's jersey at the end of this stage has a good chance at final overall honors.
Stages 4 to 6 are going to be killers. Starting with 4, to the famed Mont-Ventoux. It will knock the air out of the cyclist as they gun for an historic mountain win. Look out for Lance Armstrong, he would love to win on this mountain once before retiring in July. Stage 4 takes the riders to Grenoble in a rough way, covering 6 categorized climbs. A shake up is bound to happen mid-way through this stage, someone with enough panache to go out for glory could be awarded with GC glory.
Stage 6 will be the final killer, taking in three cat 1 climbs, before the Hors Category climb of Col de Joux-Plane. The riders face abut 1000 meters of climbing on this beast of a Col before dropping down to the finish in Morzine. While a GC-man might already be established, the stage will provide plenty of causalities. Giving the viewers a good idea of who is on form for July.
The final stage 7 will be a zapper of a stage. Taking the riders over the Coôte de Domancy, not once, but seven times. This is the perfect stage for a Spring classic type of rider. Every climb on the finishing circuit will provide 300 meters of gain, great for attacks as the GC leader guards his yellow jersey. Depending on the team support, the overall lead could be lost. Stay tuned from the prologue to stage 7, here on BiciRace.com.
Stage 20, Paolo Savoldelli had the Giro d'Italia wrapped up.
Matteo Algeri and BiciRace.com crew was there, flying down the road.
Simoni's Time Gains on Il Falco, Stage 19
Flat Tires at the Giro d'Italia
Stefano Garzelli - "No, Even in Spain I train with some pros in the area. While in Italy, I ride with Nardello, Andriotto, Zanini, Mason, Peron, etc."
