BiciRace.com :: 2006 Critérium du Dauphiné Libéré

2006 Critérium du Dauphiné Libéré, Preview

Critérium du Dauphiné Libéré, France

4 - 11 June

Preview

Overall Map
Startlist
Photos
2005 Results

Stages
4 June, Prologue, Annecy - Annecy, 4.1K, Map
5 June, Stage 1, Annecy - Bourgoin-Jallieu, 207K, Map
6 June, Stage 2, Bourgoin-Jallieu - Saint-Galmier, 203K, Map
7 June, Stage 3, Bourg-de-Péage - Bourg-de-Péage TT, 42K, Map
8 June, Stage 4, Tain-l’Hermitage - Le Mont-Ventoux, 186K, Map
9 June, Stage 5, Sisteron - Briançon, 155K, Map
10 June, Stage 6, Briançon - La Toussuire, 169K, Map
11 June, Stage 7, Saint-Jean-de-Maurienne - Grenoble, 131K, Map

2005 Podium: 2-Botero, 1-Landaluze, 3-Leipheimer, photo: UCI

The Giro d'Italia is officially over and the cycling world's attention now centers on all things French. The Dauphiné Libéré, along with the Tour de Suisse, has traditionally been preparation races for the Tour de France and this year is no different. But make no mistake, the Dauphiné is a race that any cyclist would give his hand to have in his palmarès.

The 58th running of the Critérium du Dauphiné Libéré is set to start on Sunday the 4th of June with a 4.1K prologue. As is the case with most prologues, it will be an opportunity for the big heads of state to lay down the gauntlet and show the others that they are spot on.

Stages one and two are sprinter stages and therefore will have little effect on the general classification. Stage three is the individual time trial. This should offer the first glimpses of a possible overall winner. There will be some time gaps opened up on this stage, but at 42K it is shorter and more undulating than the Pontedera TT in the Giro so don't expect time differences to be as big.

The Parcours, photo: Le Dauphiné

The following day the peloton finds itself in the Provence region where the riders will get a taste of the much feared Mont Ventoux. The mountain theme carries on the next day, but this time it's in the French Alps. Stage 5 will see the riders head from Sisteron to Briançon via the Col d'Izoard.

Stage 6 should decide the race. Starting in Briançon, the peloton will first tackle the Col du Galibier. After a long, cold descent the peloton will then face the Col de la Croix de Fer by way of the Col du Glandon. The final test of the day will take the riders up to 1700 meters elevation to the ski resort of La Toussuire.

Lining up with the 20 ProTour teams will be the only wildcard entry, Agritubel. With the exception of Ivan Basso and Jan Ullrich, pretty much anybody with any aspirations of winning the 2006 Tour de France will be present. It is a field stacked deep with talent. I have to say that the Yankees are going to trounce the opposition. There's No-Fuss Floyd Landis, Leipheimer and Zabriskie. Furthermore, Hincapie will be coming back after letting his wrist heal so he should be very fresh. They can all TT and climb with the best of the peloton and that is what it will take to triumph. Stay tuned to BiciRace.com for daily coverage and analysis.
- Paco