 |
| The 2013 Critérium du Dauphiné route |
The 65th edition of the Dauphiné begins this Sunday, June 2 in Champéry, Switzerland and ends the following Sunday in Risoul, France. The race is eight stages long and covers about 1138 kilometers in total. This year’s edition is particularly hilly, with four climbing finishes (2 big ones), and only one or two potential legitimate bunch-sprint stages. It also includes a 32.5 km flat individual time trial on stage 4.
Part of stage 8 of the Dauphiné includes the renowned 21
switchbacks of the Alpe d’Huez climb, followed by a short descent and climb
over the Col de Sarenne. This same section of the route will feature in stage
18 of the Tour De France next month, so the riders can get some practice in. The TDF route however, will then climb
Alpe d’Huez a second time, the summit hosting that stage’s finish.
No time bonuses at the Dauphiné stage finishes means riders
will have to attack the leaders and try to gain valuable time in the hills or
in the time trial. This will not
be easy since many of the Tour favorites will be here testing themselves and
each other’s prowess.
As usual the Critérium du Dauphiné has drawn most of the
Tour De France favorites. The winner of the last two editions, Bradley Wiggins
of Team Sky, has dropped out of the race, citing lingering illness and knee
pain from his...
