2024 Critérium du Dauphiné Race Preview
The details of this year's 2024 Critérium du Dauphiné are falling into place. Find the latest route profiles and maps below, followed by our strategic preview of the race.
The roads of the French Alps are set to provide the perfect canvas for one of cycling's most prestigious pre-Tour warm-up races, as the world's best stage racers converge on the Critérium du Dauphiné for its 2024 edition. Taking place across eight stages, the race once again serves as an essential barometer for form ahead of the Tour de France, and the startlist reflects that status with a collection of riders who have their eyes firmly fixed on what lies ahead in July.
Tadej Pogačar arrives as the overwhelming favourite, continuing what has been an extraordinary season for the Slovenian. Having already claimed victories at Strade Bianche, Tirreno-Adriatico, and the Tour de France, his ambitions in the Dauphiné will be closely watched. Whether he is using the race as a genuine test of his condition or simply maintaining his rhythm, his presence alone elevates the entire event.
Jonas Vingegaard makes his long-awaited return to racing here after suffering serious injuries earlier in the season following a crash at the Volta a Catalunya. The two-time Tour de France champion has been absent for an extended period, and there is enormous intrigue surrounding how he will manage his return. His team Visma Lease a Bike will need to carefully manage his workload while also gathering vital data on his readiness for the Tour.
Remco Evenepoel is another major presence, bringing with him the confidence of a rider who has already demonstrated his climbing capabilities and time trialling excellence. The Belgian world champion will be eager to lay down a marker in the mountains and stake his claim among the very best on the hardest terrain.
The race itself features a route that rewards complete riders, with summit finishes and testing mountain stages providing the terrain where the general classification will be decided. The time trial component will also play a role in shaping the final outcome, giving the pure specialists an opportunity to gain ground on the puncheurs.
Beyond the headline names, the supporting cast is formidable. Carlos Rodríguez, the talented young Spaniard, will be looking to build on his promising recent performances and assert himself among the top tier of stage racers. Adam Yates, Enric Mas, and Guillaume Martin are among those who could play significant roles depending on how the race develops.
The Dauphiné has a long tradition of offering clues about Tour de France outcomes, and while form can shift dramatically between June and July, the signals sent out over these eight days will be pored over by analysts and fans alike. The battle between Pogačar and Vingegaard, assuming the Dane can return to anything close to his best, promises to be one of the most compelling narratives not just of this race but of the entire summer. All eyes turn to the mountains of southeastern France for what promises to be a captivating week of racing.
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