Critérium du Dauphiné 2025, June 8 - 15

[Red Rick]

it's mostly flat. Similar to the TDF TT last year.

Remco should win it if he shows up drunk

I think Evenepoel lacks the specific training to ride a bike drunk to be honest.

 

[Krzysztof_O]

I think @rghysens is referring to the 1.8km @8.7% lump in the middle ? I’m not so sure Remco can overcome Pogi there?

Agreed, this hill can make the difference. Remco's victory is not a foregone conclusion, he will lose some time to Pog on this steep climb.

 

[houtdffan]

I think @rghysens is referring to the 1.8km @8.7% lump in the middle ? I’m not so sure Remco can overcome Pogi there?

I think he'll lose a little on the climb, but there is enough flat km to make up the difference. The downhill is not as pronounced as the TDF downhill last year it seems.

 

[Red Rick]

Agreed, this hill can make the difference. Remco's victory is not a foregone conclusion, he will lose some time to Pog on this steep climb.

The TT has barely any altitude gain outside of that hill though. And no real descent to speak of.

 

[Krzysztof_O]

The TT has barely any altitude gain outside of that hill though. And no real descent to speak of.

It's also true that the TT is very short so Remco's total gain on the remaining 16 km may be someting like 15 seconds (maybe more but I'm not convinced he'll be in top form).

 

[OlavEH]

yes, i was shocked when i saw the route. Stage 7 is good but usually the route of the dauphine is much better than this.

I am not very fan of stage 7 either. The combo of at least two of Galibier, Croix de Fer and Madeleine feels very overused. I neither think they need to go into the higher climbs in CD. I thinkg they should mainly concentrate the mountain stages to the mountains just north (Chartreuse) and south/southeas (Vercors) of Grenoble and the triangle between Albertville, Annecy and St.Gervais. Here there are a lot of short(ish) medium mountain climbs that often are steeper than 6-7 %. A couple of aggressive medium mountain stages and a MTF like Solaison, Bisanne or something like that should be the recipe for the Criterium.

 

[Red Rick]

I am not very fan of stage 7 either. The combo of at least two of Galibier, Croix de Fer and Madeleine feels very overused. I neither think they need to go into the higher climbs in CD. I thinkg they should mainly concentrate the mountain stages to the mountains just north (Chartreuse) and south/southeas (Vercors) of Grenoble and the triangle between Albertville, Annecy and St.Gervais. Here there are a lot of short(ish) medium mountain climbs that often are steeper than 6-7 %. A couple of aggressive medium mountain stages and a MTF like Solaison, Bisanne or something like that should be the recipe for the Criterium.

I agree completely the combo is overused, especially int he Dauphine. It's also always used badly, in that they make a stage that is hard and tiring, but doesn't create any action. But I also kind of dislike the Dauphine's tendency to make 1-2 high mountain stages and then have the rest be random medium MTFs.

But yeah the Dauphine should be consistently trying to make the sort of stages the Tour doesn't. And by that I mean including climbs the Tour hasn't yet, or limit the amount of MTFs. I wish they went full TOTA with it.

 

[OlavEH]

I agree completely the combo is overused, especially int he Dauphine. It's also always used badly, in that they make a stage that is hard and tiring, but doesn't create any action. But I also kind of dislike the Dauphine's tendency to make 1-2 high mountain stages and then have the rest be random medium MTFs.

But yeah the Dauphine should be consistently trying to make the sort of stages the Tour doesn't. And by that I mean including climbs the Tour hasn't yet, or limit the amount of MTFs. I wish they went full TOTA with it.

I think that climbs like Croix de Fer, Galibier and AdH should be more or less "banned" from CD. I am more open to Madeleine as long as the climb the south side, either for a MTF at Longchamp 1600 or a descent and a MTF at Valmorel. Stages I like in the later years was Megeve in 2020, the Coux Plane-Les Gets stage in 2022 and the Le Bastille - Grenoble stage in 2023. There should be more like these. And maximum one MTF (an early HTF could be fine) to a place like Solaison, Collett Allevard or something similar.

 

[pablohidalgo7]

Lipo will be the first human in this bike race (third).

 

[QueenStagiaire]

Lipo will be the first human in this bike race (third).

Damn, poor Remco. He would have no excuses if this happened without him crashing.

 

[Berniece]

Damn, poor Remco. He would have no excuses if this happened without him crashing.

Does he really care if he’s third a month later?

 

[Berniece]

Agreed, this hill can make the difference. Remco's victory is not a foregone conclusion, he will lose some time to Pog on this steep climb.

People thought the same in TDF, where Evenepoel gained time on Pogi on the climb. That climb was less steep though, 1.6km at 6.5%

 

[Tim Cahill]

Will fatco be making an appearance? What’s the weight analysis from the expert look like?

 

[Peyroteo94]

I think @rghysens is referring to the 1.8km @8.7% lump in the middle ? I’m not so sure Remco can overcome Pogi there?

Remco should win with a 10 seconds margin. He still is the best in the other 17 kms and he is not Ganna, he can climb.

 

[Krzysztof_O]

People thought the same in TDF, where Evenepoel gained time on Pogi on the climb. That climb was less steep though, 1.6km at 6.5%

This one is considerably steeper. Plus Pogacar rode the first section very fast (possibly too strong start, he lacked a bit later). And TBH I doubt Evenepoel will be even close to his tdf'24 form this time.

 

[Berniece]

This one is considerably steeper. Plus Pogacar rode the first section very fast (possibly too strong start, he lacked a bit later). And TBH I doubt Evenepoel will be even close to his tdf'24 form this time.

We go from 6.4% to 8.7%, yes it’s steeper but I first need to see Pogacar take time in him there, and then I need to see if that’s more than what Evenepoel takes on the flat.

 

[AmRacer]

The Giro is over, we can finally rest our fingertips so we are ready for fireworks.

 

[Brullnux]

What's with the Avenir length mountain stages?

 

[Moose McKnuckles]

I have one real question.

If you're Pogacar or Vingegaard here, do you sandbag or do you go balls to the wall?

The only "Accept"able answer is "Balls to the Wall".

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B_3TlrZLpQ0&ab_channel=AcceptVEVO

 

[Heston]

Cant wait for Vinge to win and for Pogacar fanboys to complain about how Jonas dares to love his wife.

 

[HashRouge]

Cant wait for Vinge to win and for Pogacar fanboys to complain about how Jonas dares to love his wife.

On a similar note, one of my least favourite things is Visma fans acting like Jonas is the only man to love his wife and kids. Or he loves them more than other men love their families, or something. Meanwhile, Pogi isn't even married

(I like Jonas, I just find the oh-he-loves-his-family-isn't-he-amazing narrative a bit weird)

 

[ashhutch1997]

I beg Jonas Vingegaard is going well to give us a little bit of hope for July. Otherwise it could be a long rest of the season.

 

[zlev11]

what the *** is this route lmao

anyone who does this race is going to essentially lose a week of training for the Tour. the real winner of this race will be Primoz Roglic.

 

[zlev11]

I wonder if pocagar or vingegard has a chance to win? Someone experts here can enlightnen me?

you can ask Johan Bruyneel, i think he posts on here now

 

[AnotherArmChair]

I guess Pogacar takes this ...Not sure I can be bothered to watch another procession...dull