2017 Criterium du Dauphine Route Revealed

The 69th edition of the Critérium du Dauphiné will be held from Sunday the 4th of June to Sunday the 11th of June

The race dates back to 1947 and takes place in the Dauphiné region in southeastern France. The last big showdown before the Tour de France, the Critérium du Dauphiné sometimes includes some of the same roads and climbs of the Tour.

The race sets off with a stage Saint Etienne-Saint Etienne on a route that takes in eight climbs – the last one is crested with 6.5 kilometres left. The 2nd, 3rd and 5th stages could give the Sprinters an opportuntiy to shine, whilts stage 4 brings an individual time trial.

The 2017 Critérium du Dauphiné is set to conclude with three tough days in the Alps. The first is a test of the upcoming Tour de France showdown as the last 50 kilometres are exactly the same as stage 9 in the Tour de France. After tackling the steep Mont du Chat, a 8.7 kilometres climb at 10.3%, the stage finish is a steep downhill run to the finiosh line.

Stage 7 travels over Col de Sarenne which joins up to the higher slopes of Alpe d’Huez. The Sarenne is 15.3 kilometres at 6.9% before a rolling section joins up to the final 3.7 kilometres, 7.2% climb up to the very top of Alpe d’Huez, missing out all 21 hairpin bends on it's lower slopes.

The final stage from Albertville to Plateau de Solaison is short (115 kilometres) but very tough with more than 4,000 vertical metres, it will make for a brutal day's riding. The route takes in three intermediate climbs before the final climb up to Plateau de Solaison – 11.3 kilometres at 9.2%.

Chris Froome is the defending champion. In 2016, he shared the podium Romain Bardet and Daniel Martin. The Briton was successful in 2015, too. On both occasions he took La Grande Boucle afterwards.

This year that will occur on stage six, the first truly climbing stage — 145.5km from Parc des Oiseaux Villars-les-Dombes to La Motte-Servolex. The last 50km over the HC Mont du Chat are in this year’s Tour de France. The next day Alpe d’Huez looms at the finish, but without its iconic ascent.

Instead of the traditional climb from Bourg d’Oisans the race will tackle the Col de Sarenne (15.3 kilometers at 6.8% ) before heading up the final 3.7 kilometers of the Alpe

2017 Criterium Du Dauphine Stages

Sunday, 4 June — Stage 1: Saint-Étienne > Saint-Étienne (170 km)
Monday, 5 June — Stage 2: Saint-Chamond > Arlanc (171 km)
Tuesday, 6 June — Stage 3: Le Chambon-sur-Lignon > Tullins (184 km)
Wednesday, 7 June — Stage 4: La Tour-du-Pin > Bourgoin-Jallieu (23.5 ITT)
Thursday, 8 June — Stage 5: La Tour-de-Salvagny > Mâcon (175 km)
Friday, 9 June — Stage 6: Parc des Oiseaux Villars-les-Dombes > La Motte-Servolex (145.5 km)
Saturday, 10 June — Stage 7: Aosta > Alpe d’Huez (167.5 km)
Sunday, 11 June — Stage 8: Albertville > Plateau de Solaison (115 km)