Critérium du Dauphiné 08/12 > 08/16/20

[red_flanders]

I find myself wondering if this course is so hard it's not actually going to be a great thing to go full bore here if one's form is already good (Roglič, Bernal)...

 

[VayaVayaVaya]

Training experts keep me honest, but on the flip side it seems potentially like a godsend to folks like Froome, GT, and Dumoulin who are still a ways off right?

 

[Escarabajo]

I find myself wondering if this course is so hard it's not actually going to be a great thing to go full bore here if one's form is already good (Roglič, Bernal)...

This. I was thinking the same thing.
But maybe it is OK in this packed schedule where cyclist could spread out the kilometres. It is like the riders have to choice but to pack all the kilometres together. Remember that if a rider lacks depth, no matter how good you are now, you will pay during the third week.
We'll find out later.

 

[yaco]

This could be a race which gives opportunities for the breakaway - Jumbo and Ineos will race each other and not be so concerned with the overall result.

 

[jaylew]

This could be a race which gives opportunities for the breakaway - Jumbo and Ineos will race each other and not be so concerned with the overall result.

Possibly, but I don't think that'll happen. It's the Dauphiné. I don't think you pass on a chance to win it, especially when there's still no guarantee we make it through the GTs.

 

[sir fly]

Breakaways, yes.
But not because of TJV-Ineos battle, but because the route's so inviting.

Despite all 5 stages finishing uphill, only sprinters are handicapped here, imo.
A little bit of something for everybody.
Though the star-studded lineup might not leave much to the rest of the field.

 

[Laplaz]

Roglic won't leave this to anyone. Dauphine is one of the few one-week races he has not won so far.

 

[Ranagazoo]

Am I the only one not a massive fan of this route? It's pretty much the same stage raced 5 times, 90% of riders are there to make up the numbers. A couple of lumpy/medium mountain stages or downhill finishes would be better.

Better than 5 sprint stages I suppose.

 

[gregrowlerson]

Am I the only one not a massive fan of this route? It's pretty much the same stage raced 5 times, 90% of riders are there to make up the numbers. A couple of lumpy/medium mountain stages or downhill finishes would be better.

Better than 5 sprint stages I suppose.

For the spectacle it is good, but yeah, it's a bit over the top.

One of the uphill finishers could even have been an ITT for practise for PDBF.

 

[rghysens]

Am I the only one not a massive fan of this route? It's pretty much the same stage raced 5 times, 90% of riders are there to make up the numbers. A couple of lumpy/medium mountain stages or downhill finishes would be better.

Better than 5 sprint stages I suppose.

I don't like it either. Lacks a bit of variety. And then that double finish at Megeve altiport...
1 high mountain stage with mtf, 1 high mountain stage with descent finish, 1 lumpy stage, 1 stage like the one to St Etienne in the tour last year and 1 tt wouldn't be less exciting.
Now it's probably going to be an Alaphilippe victory on day 1 and 4 consecutive days of ineos/JV trains.

 

[Red Rick]

Am I the only one not a massive fan of this route? It's pretty much the same stage raced 5 times, 90% of riders are there to make up the numbers. A couple of lumpy/medium mountain stages or downhill finishes would be better.

Better than 5 sprint stages I suppose.

With the Dauphine, I don't really care much about the route tbh. At least I don't give one *** about balance.

Dauphine routes just need to take care they don't make most of their MTF too big, which is what they did well here.

 

[Red Rick]

Not joking I like the Madeleine stage better than the one in the Tour.

 

[18-Valve. (pithy)]

I much prefer the classic Albertville finish. Would have worked nicely as the final stage.

 

[gregrowlerson]

Not joking I like the Madeleine stage better than the one in the Tour.

We might only think you were joking if you said that you liked something Tour related more than something that was anything else related.

 

[Blanco]

Roglic won't leave this to anyone. Dauphine is one of the few one-week races he has not won so far.

I would go easy in this race if I were Roglic. Let Kruijswijk and Bennett chase the overall. In fact I would be in Italy right now...

 

[RedheadDane]

I would go easy in this race if I were Roglic. Let Kruijswijk and Bennett chase the overall. In fact I would be in Italy right now...

You want a guy who isn't even there to chase the overall?

 

[Lequack]

Teejay Van Garderen will win this.

 

[BlueRoads]

You want a guy who isn't even there to chase the overall?

That's something that only Remco could pull off.

I am actually not too excited about this route. It really has too many similar stages for me, but I understand that in these times and with that Tour route this year the riders just need this to get mountain ks into their legs.

The rider I am rather curious about is Buchmann, because we have not seen anything from him after the "lockdown" (or have we?) Also seeing how Pogacar and Higuita fare compared to the others and what their approach is will be interesting.

 

[BlueRoads]

Teejay Van Garderen will win this.

Bet taken! What's at stake for you? (I am willing to give almost everything...)

 

[Lequack]

 

[Escarabajo]

I went to " https://www.procyclingstats.com/race/dauphine/2020/startlist " to check the starting list and I saw that the only team without a check mark is EF Education.

My question is there something to always submitting the team roster last that Jonathan Vaughters does not want to tell us? why does he always do that?

 

[pink_jersey]

Roglic, Bernal, Quintana podium as in L'Ain...
Curious to see what Buchmann and A Yates will do. Hope, Yates goes thermonuclear again like in UAE. IF he's in form the route really suits him.

Also, Ines and Jumbo teams...Astana 2009 reloaded

 

[Earns1985]

Because Bennett is not here, it´s possible that the superiority in the mountains from Jumbo Visma will not be as great as in the tour de l´Ain.
Also expecting Ineos with Sivakov stronger then in the tour de l'Áin.

 

[Bonimenier]

Because Bennett is not here, it´s possible that the superiority in the mountains from Jumbo Visma will not be as great as in the tour de l´Ain.
Also expecting Ineos with Sivakov stronger then in the tour de l'Áin.

Featherweight and mountain goat Van Aert will ride though.

 

[Lequack]

Uran looking pretty lean