Stage Races Classics |
Race Info, Preview, Live Video, Results, Photos and Highlights
![]() Bradley Wiggins won the pivotal, long individual time-trial on Thursday and extended his overall lead heading into the mountain stages. ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
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News and Updates for Critérium du Dauphiné 2012

Stage 7 post-race coverage













June 9 update: Stage 7, the final stage of this year's race features the only uphill finish of the week to Châtel, a valley ski town on the border with Switzerland. As you can see from the finish profile, the uphill finish is only 1.5 km long @ 8.7% after a gradual drag so by itself it shouldn't have much of an impact on the general classification. There is a cat 1 in the second half of the stage and five categorized climbs overall which should provide for another entertaining mountain stage. As usual, you can explore the climbs below. Currently, Chris Froome is 12s back of Cadel Evans for 3rd who is looking to deny Team Sky a podium sweep, something rarely done at this level of competition. Look for a break to succeed, another chance for the likes of David Moncoutie. — Steve
See the race summary table (right) for the stage profile, map and timetable.

















June 8 update: Of the three mountain stages, this is the most interesting. There are six categorized climbs including the HC Col de Joux Plane (profile), a narrow climb (streetview image above) which crests just 12 km before a technical descent (map and profile) down to the finish in Morzine. Both Col de Joux Plane and Morzine are often featured in the Tour de France. This stage will be the biggest threat to Bradley Wiggins' quest for the overall win. Note the early live video time below. — Steve



See the race summary table (right) for the stage profile, map and timetable.
Stage 5 post-race coverage














June 7 update: Stage 5 is the first of the three mountain stages to conclude this year's Dauphine. The highlight of this stage will be arduous Col du Grand Colombier (17.4 km @ 7.2 %), at the midpoint, which has never been used in this race. There are three climbs in total which you can explore below, but the climbing ends with 46 km still to go so it's likely the GC contenders will arrive together for the flat finish in the Rumilly. By the way, Col du Grand Colombier will also be used in this year's Tour de France. — Steve


See the race summary table (right) for the stage profile, map and timetable.
Stage 4 post-race coverage















June 6 update: On Thursday, we hit the pivotal long time-trial stage, a key feature of this race. Stage 4 is a rolling, 54 km, west to east course from Villié-Morgon to Bourg-en-Bresse, 50 km north of Lyon and 20 km south of Mâcon. — Steve






See the race summary table (right) for the stage profile, map and timetable.
Stage 3 post-race coverage













June 5 update: Stage 3 heads north from Givors to La Clayette, south of the Burgundy region. After a few minor categorized climbs in the first half of the stage, the profile levels out for what should be the only sprint of the week. However, it will not be straight-forward; there is some pavé, twists and a left hand bend 400m from the finish. Also, there is a 90% chance of rain. Tony Gallopin (Radioshack-Nissan) has been 5th and 3rd the last two days, this could be his stage to win although a pure sprinter like Nacer Bouhanni (FDJ-Big Mat) should take it. — Steve
See the race summary table (right) for the stage profile, map and timetable.
Stage 2 post-race coverage













The finish in tiny Saint-Félicien will feature a 2.5 km @ 4.4 % uphill finish at the end of a 26 km finishing circuit to cap off a tricky stage. Expect a break to succeed. This is a rural stage with the combined population of the start and finish hosts being just 3,875 inhabitants and the route is almost identical to the annual L'Ardechoise Sportif which starts and finishes in Saint-Félicien. — Steve
See the race summary table (right) for the stage profile, map and timetable.
Stage 1 post-race coverage
















June 3 update: Stage 1 starts in Seyssins, southwest of Grenoble, before snaking west and north of the Vercors, a unheralded cycling area also known as the French Prealps. There are six (modest) categorized climbs that will provide plenty of opportunities to split the race. The final climb, a cat 3, crests just 9 km from the finish where the final 5 km are slightly downhill into Saint-Vallier. There are a few twists and turns before the flat finish so, all-and-all, it should be an entertaining stage. — Steve
See the race summary table (right) for the stage profile, map and timetable.
Prologue post-race coverage











June 2 update: A 5.7 km, out-and-back prologue with two-turnarounds on a flat course in Grenoble, a regular Dauphine host. — Steve

See the race summary table (right) for the stage profile, map and timetable.
2012 Critérium du Dauphiné Preview

June 2 update:

May 30 update:
Tour de France contenders descend upon Dauphiné
— cyclingnews
Preview: Criterium du Dauphine, prelude to the Tour
— sbs.au
May 28 update:
All stage profiles, maps and timetables are now posted. See the race summary table (right)
Provisional Startlist (right-below) — steephill
Wiggins back to defend Criterium du Dauphine title
— cyclingweekly.co.uk
April 25 update:
Critérium du Dauphiné with same teams as Tour de France
— cyclingnews
March 27 update: The 2012 Critérium du Dauphiné route was announced today with host towns, distances and profiles for stages 2, 4, 5, 6, 7 and the route map. There are a couple hilltop finishes but no summit finishes. There are some big climbs though. As usual, there is a long time trial. More to come...
ASO presents a mixed 2012 Critérium du Dauphiné route
— velonation
Dauphiné route unveiled
— inrng
Colombier preview highlights challenging Dauphiné route
— velonews
2012 Critérium du Dauphiné route unveiled
— cyclingnews
This is the third year that the ASO will run "The Dauphine" after adding it to its growing stable of races in 2010. I assume you know they also run big races like Paris-Roubaix, Paris-Nice, the Super Bowl of cycling (Le Tour de France) and many other races. Previously, Critérium du Dauphiné was a relatively low key race put on by the regional newspaper, Le Dauphiné Libéré who weren't interested or didn't have the resources to properly market this fine event. Based in the old Dauphine region in southeastern France, most people now refer to this area as the French Alps, but it encompasses a wider area.
Official Site — letour.fr
Rhône-Alpes — en.wikipedia.org
![]() ![]() Also follow steephill on Twitter for the latest race info and video updates. |
Le Direct: Live Streaming Video and TV Coverage
May 28 update: Below are the initial online and tv options for viewing the 2012 Critérium du Dauphiné. Unrestricted links are in bold. Feel free to send in additional sources for live video, tv coverage or text updates/tickers as they become known. — Stevemedia source | tv or internet | comments/restrictions |
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French; |
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Live and delayed coverage. Live video for Thursday thru Sunday stages |
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Spanish; Teledeporte live. |
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Rai; Italian |
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SBS in Australia: live coverage |
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Luxemburg; |
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Norway; Live on TV 2 |
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Quebec/Canada via Quebec's Reseau des Sports; delayed coverage |
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Japanese; live |
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daily on France BLEU: radio schedule |
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North America; June 3 at 9 p.m. ET; June 4-7 at 4 p.m. ET; June 8 at 3 p.m. ET; June 9 at 1 a.m. ET; June 10 at 7 p.m. ET |
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live text updates/official ticker and key moments; French ticker as well |
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English text updates |
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Spanish text updates from Biciciclismo. |
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German updates |
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short text updates from any and everyone | check back at race time for more and updated links; ![]() |
2012 Critérium du Dauphiné Route Map (Le Carte du Parcours)

Large version of the route map — letour