Froome, Bardet, Porte to go head to head at the Criterium du Dauphine
The 2019 Dauphiné looks to be another hotly contested edition, with a number of big names confirmed for the seven stage race that takes on some tough mountain stages and one individual time trial
Instead four-time Tour winner Chris Froome will Team Inneous with Michal Kwiatkowski, Gianni Moscon and Wout Poels.
The 2018 title went to Geraint Thomas, with Adam Yates second and Romain Bardet third.
Froome will face tough competition for the 2019 title, with old team-mate Richie Porte lining up for Trek-Segafredo after a quiet season so far. Nairo Quintana (Movistar) will also make his return to racing since early April at the race, while Adam Yates (Mitchelton-Scott), Romain Bardet (Ag2r La Mondiale) and Dan Martin (UAE Team Emirates) will all look to fine tune their racing condition ahead of the Tour in July.
Julian Alaphilippe (Deceuninck-Quick-Step) is the other star name taking to the start, with the Frenchman an outside bet for the overall win with such difficult mountain stages concluding the week.
The 71st edition starts with a 142km route in Aurillac and ultimately ends with a 113.5km stage in Champéry.
A live stream of all eight stages of the 2019 Criterium du Dauphine will be broadcast on Gran Fondo Guide from Sunday, June 9.
2019 Criterium Du Dauphine
Stage 1 (June 9): 142km – Aurillac to Jussac
Stage 2 (June 10): 180km – Mauriac to Craponne-sur-Arzon
Stage 3 (June 11): 172km – Le Puy-en-Velay to Riom
Stage 4 (June 12): 26.1km ITT – Roanne to Roanne
Stage 5 (June 13): 201km – Boën-sur-Lignon to Voiron
Stage 6 (June 14) 228km – Saint-Vulbas to Saint-Michel-de-Maurienne
Stage 7 (June 15) 133km – Saint-Genix-les-Villages to Les Sept Laux-Pipay
Stage 8 (June 16) 113.5km – Cluses to Champéry