2017 Critérium du Dauphiné Race Preview
The details of this year's 2017 Critérium du Dauphiné are falling into place. Find the latest route profiles and maps below, followed by our strategic preview of the race.
The Critérium du Dauphiné has long served as one of the most reliable indicators of form ahead of the Tour de France, and the 2017 edition promises to be no exception. The eight-day race through the Alpine foothills and high mountain passes of southeastern France will once again attract a stellar field of riders using the race as a final tuning exercise before cycling's greatest event.
Chris Froome arrives as one of the leading favourites, having used this race to great effect in previous years. The four-time Tour de France champion will be looking to sharpen his climbing legs and test his Team Sky machine against the best in the world. His presence alone elevates the race considerably, and his rivals will be watching his performances closely for any sign of weakness or exceptional form.
Nairo Quintana represents perhaps the most significant threat to Froome's ambitions both here and at the Tour. The Colombian climber from Movistar thrives on steep gradients and has shown he can match Froome at altitude, making the mountain stages of this race particularly compelling. Alongside him, Alejandro Valverde adds further firepower to the Movistar lineup.
Richie Porte is another name to watch closely. The Australian has established himself as a genuine stage race contender in his own right and will be motivated to demonstrate his credentials on home roads of sorts, given how comfortable he has become in these French mountain races.
Alberto Contador, despite no longer being considered a frontline Tour contender in the way he once was, remains a dangerous and unpredictable presence in any stage race. His attacking instincts and willingness to take risks can disrupt even the most carefully laid team strategies.
The race features several crucial mountain stages that will sort the contenders from the rest of the field. The high passes of the Alps will provide a genuine examination of climbing ability and team tactics, with the overall classification likely decided across brutal consecutive days in the mountains rather than by any single decisive stage.
Younger riders will also be eager to make their mark, knowing that performances here can define expectations and shape public perception heading into July.
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