Criterium du Dauphine 2026

The Critérium du Dauphiné is a WorldTour road cycling stage race held in France, typically in June, serving as a final demanding preparation for the Tour de France. It spans approximately one week, incorporating flat stages, time trials, and mountain climbs, offering general classification contenders an opportunity to assess their condition against potential July rivals. The race route varies annually but frequently features the Alps. A recent route extended from Domérat to the Plateau du Mont-Cenis, covering slightly more than 1,200 km. Ascents like the Côte de Domancy add significant difficulty. Recent participants have included Tadej Pogačar, Jonas Vingegaard, Remco Evenepoel, Jonathan Milan, Iván Romeo, Jake Stewart, Lenny Martinez, and Florian Lipowitz. The race retains its historical Critérium du Dauphiné Libéré designation, marked by the extensive tenure of Thierry Cazeneuve as director.