Critérium du Dauphiné 2025, June 8 - 15

[rghysens]

Recent Dauphins have much more climbing than they did in the 80s and 90s. For me it's the climbing and other adverse conditions (ramps, cobbles, etc) that makes races interesting. I don't get all the "route's a joke" posts we often see on hehere.

Don´t really agree with that. I seem to remember some Dauphinés in the ´90s with a midweek Ventoux mtf and two proper mountainstages the final weekend.

 

[fenns]

And before there was Lemond, Fignon, Hinault, who could all TT on long courses. The climbers had to make up ground, thus attack, so the races were very interesting. The point is if you take the attrition aspect out, then all you have are junior races where short duration power counts. Up to 200 km the pros are, more or less, even, but after 230-250 km the really big engines come to the fore. It has nothing to do with taste, but physiology.

Some Dauphines didn't have TTs at all. This year's TT is short compared to the normal 35ish km. So a GC second losing by 20 secs might be able to say "I could have won with a longer time trial". But otherwise this years race is pretty much the same as normal - I can't remember many stages of 230km+ ever to be honest.

 

[Heston]

Pog will want to win because that's how he races.

As opposed to who? Everyone wants to win.

 

[Savant12]

As opposed to who? Everyone wants to win.

It was more of a response to the question of maybe Pog won't give it his all because Jumbo might try to tire him out before the Tour.

 

[Tricycle Rider]

It'll be a fierce battle between Campenaerts and Cort for the best mustache in the peloton, right now it's too hard to call because it all depends on how well the mustache is maintained throughout the race.

But other than that Bardet for the win! (Cause saying Pog would be just boring and predictable.)

 

[Extinction]

Some Dauphines didn't have TTs at all. This year's TT is short compared to the normal 35ish km. So a GC second losing by 20 secs might be able to say "I could have won with a longer time trial". But otherwise this years race is pretty much the same as normal - I can't remember many stages of 230km+ ever to be honest.

I'm not taking about the Dauphine specifically, but WT stage racing in general. We don't even have 30 km TTs any more it seems. The point is it used to be the "race of truth", but now is a race of seconds between the favorites. You need long TTs and mountain stages to test weaknesses.

 

[tp4493]

Is stag one a sprint stage?

 

[Didinho]

Mathieu is riding!

 

[Berniece]

Mathieu is riding!

Great news. Definitely some chances for him if he's willing to just race and go for it

 

[Heston]

Is stag one a sprint stage?

First 3 stages all look like guaranteed sprints. Maybe in slightly reduced groups but a lot of the fast guys should be there.

 

[Cookster15]

Don´t really agree with that. I seem to remember some Dauphinés in the ´90s with a midweek Ventoux mtf and two proper mountainstages the final weekend.

There was the MTT on Ventoux in 2004. Iban Mayo beat Armstrong by nearly two minutes.

Critérium du Dauphiné Libéré 2004 Stage 4 (ITT) results

Critérium du Dauphiné Libéré 2004 Stage 4 (ITT) from Bédoin to Le Mont Ventoux was won by Iban Mayo before Tyler Hamilton and Óscar Sevilla. Iban Mayo was leading the general classification.

www.procyclingstats.com

Despite that Lance destroyed everyone, including Mayo, in July.

 

[search]

Stage 1 doesn't really look like a sprint stage to me. There also seem to be hardly any sprinters in this race.

I know the start list is still provisional, but currently PCS lists Jeannière as 2nd best.

 

[Monsi]

Stage 1 doesn't really look like a sprint stage to me. There also seem to be hardly any sprinters in this race.

I know the start list is still provisional, but currently PCS lists Jeannière as 2nd best.

I won't be surprised if Pogacar attacks on the short 600 m 8.6% climb with like 6-7 km left on that stage.

 

[Sciatic]

There was the MTT on Ventoux in 2004. Iban Mayo beat Armstrong by nearly two minutes.

Critérium du Dauphiné Libéré 2004 Stage 4 (ITT) results

Critérium du Dauphiné Libéré 2004 Stage 4 (ITT) from Bédoin to Le Mont Ventoux was won by Iban Mayo before Tyler Hamilton and Óscar Sevilla. Iban Mayo was leading the general classification.

www.procyclingstats.com

Despite that Lance destroyed everyone, including Mayo, in July.

Lesson learned . . . never assume exceptional Dauphine performances will translate to Tour success. It was disappointing!!

 

[Unterlenkerfahrend]

Lol I think 2004 has plenty of questionable doubts about how Dauphine to Tour form translates that are not sporting related.

 

[Oldman]

It was more of a response to the question of maybe Pog won't give it his all because Jumbo might try to tire him out before the Tour.

As good as each of these guys are there are others that really need to win a race, pre Tour. Pogacar isn't one of them and he's not going to overextend himself if his team is vacant. Prep for a big 3 week race doesn't bode well if every stage is a hammerfest.
There is also some fakery and mock fatigue on display. If it's easy to win; the competitors will throw down on a particular stage but not if you're serious about week 3 of the Tour.
I recall just like it was yesterday....Simon Yates might be in the podium picture; but most thought he couldn't climb with Del Toro. He couldn't...until the day before the promenade finish.

 

[fenns]

I won't be surprised if Pogacar attacks on the short 600 m 8.6% climb with like 6-7 km left on that stage.

He will I believe Maybe MVDP will have a go as well from mid-range. I was surprised to see him entered given his recent crash - I can only think he finds some of the stages too tempting to miss.

 

[Monsi]

He will I believe Maybe MVDP will have a go as well from mid-range. I was surprised to see him entered given his recent crash - I can only think he finds some of the stages too tempting to miss.

I think MVDP will just ride this race to get some racing in his legs before the Tour, not necessarily to go for a stage win. I would like to see him challenge for one though.

 

[fenns]

I think MVDP will just ride this race to get some racing in his legs before the Tour, not necessarily to go for a stage win. I would like to see him challenge for one though.

yeah some of the Tour stages have a real Classics feel about them that should suit him

 

[Krzysztof_O]

Mathieu is riding!

Can he win the whole thing? We should ask Contador.

 

[Cycling111]

Skjelmose won't be at Dauphine

Injury, illness, Switzerland?

Edit: LIDL confirms on Twitter that he´ll go to Switzerland.

 

[danielovichdk2]

Skjelmose won't be at Dauphine

Injury, illness, Switzerland?

illness. He is riding Switzerland

 

[Dazed and Confused]

Skjelmose won't be at Dauphine

Injury, illness, Switzerland?

Edit: LIDL confirms on Twitter that he´ll go to Switzerland.

Good decision. Much better chance of getting a top result in TdS rather than being a passenger in France. Other 2nd tier GC riders should do the same.

 

[QueenStagiaire]

Wait, why is Pogačar starting this race without competent climbing domestiques?

 

[Peyroteo94]

Wait, why is Pogačar starting this race without competent climbing domestiques?

There is only one stage dangerous to him.