2023 Critérium du Dauphiné Race Preview
The details of this year's 2023 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 returns once again as one of the most important preparatory races on the cycling calendar, serving as a crucial final tune-up for many of the sport's biggest names ahead of the Tour de France. Taking place across the roads of the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region in southeastern France, the 2023 edition promises to deliver the kind of challenging terrain and high-quality racing that has made this event a beloved fixture among fans and riders alike.
The startlist reads like a who's who of stage racing talent, with defending Tour de France champion Jonas Vingegaard set to lead Jumbo-Visma in what will be one of his first major outings of the season. The Danish climber will be keen to assess his form and build competitive sharpness ahead of his title defence at the Tour, and the Dauphiné's mountain stages will give him exactly the kind of examination he needs. Alongside him, Primož Roglič adds further firepower to what is arguably the strongest team in the race.
Tadej Pogačar is expected to be one of the primary challengers, and the Slovenian superstar will be looking to use the race as a statement of intent before what promises to be another enthralling rivalry with Vingegaard at the Tour. His UAE Team Emirates squad will be working hard to support their leader through the climbs that define this race.
The route itself features the kind of brutal Alpine gradients that suit pure climbers, with several summit finishes and punishing mountain passes ensuring that no rider can hide their true condition. The final days in particular are expected to be decisive, with high-altitude terrain separating the genuine Tour contenders from those still finding their legs.
Beyond the headline names, the race also serves as an important opportunity for riders targeting the Critérium as an end in itself, and the opening stages on more rolling terrain may give the classics specialists and puncheurs a chance to shine before the mountains take over. The time trial element of the course will also be closely watched, as it could prove significant in the overall standings.
With so many of the sport's elite riders converging on the roads of the Dauphiné, the 2023 edition shapes up to be a compelling and important race that will offer valuable insights into the likely dynamics of the Tour de France just weeks later.
Get our full coverage of the Critérium du Dauphiné and every race we cover with our mobile app! The apps have over 100 additional exclusive features, including our award-winning Time Machine feature that lets you pause/rewind/replay the entire app to sync with delayed race video, integrated Fantasy Cycling, push notifications, an integrated news feed, live GPS tracking, world-class commentary, and our animated interactive maps and profiles.
