Critérium du Dauphiné

"Dauphiné Libéré" redirects here. For the newspaper, see Le Dauphiné libéré.
Critérium du Dauphiné
Race details
Date Early June
Region Rhône-Alpes, France
Local name(s) Critérium du Dauphiné(French)
Nickname(s) The Dauphiné
Discipline Road
Competition UCI World Tour
Type Stage race
Organiser Amaury Sport Organisation
Race director Bernard Thévenet
History
First edition 1947 (1947)
Editions 68 (as of 2016)
First winner  Edouard Klabinski (POL)
Most wins  Nello Lauredi (FRA)
 Luis Ocaña (ESP)
 Charly Mottet (FRA)
 Bernard Hinault (FRA)
 Chris Froome (GBR)
(3 wins)
Most recent  Chris Froome (GBR)

The Critérium du Dauphiné, before 2010 known as the Critérium du Dauphiné Libéré, is an annual cycling road race in the Dauphiné region in the southeast of France. The race is run over eight days during the first half of June. It is part of the UCI World Tour calendar and counts as one of the foremost races in the lead-up to the Tour de France in July, along with the Tour de Suisse in the latter half of June.

The race was inaugurated in 1947 by local newspaper, the Dauphiné Libéré, which served as the event's title sponsor until 2009.[1] Since 2010 the race has been organized by ASO, which also organizes most other eminent French cycling races, notably the Tour de France, Paris–Nice and Paris–Roubaix.

Because the Dauphiné is set in the Rhône-Alpes region, part of the French Alps, the race's protagonists are often climbing specialists.[1] Many well-known climbs from the Tour de France – like the Mont Ventoux, the Col du Galibier or Col de la Chartreuse – are regularly addressed in the Dauphiné. Five riders, Nello Lauredi, Luis Ocaña, Charly Mottet, Bernard Hinault and Chris Froome, share the record of most wins, with three each.[2]

History

Creation

The race was created in 1947 by newspaper Le Dauphiné libéré to promote its circulation. After World War II, as cycling recovered from a universal five- or six-year hiatus, the Grenoble-based newspaper decided to create and organize a cycling stage race covering the Dauphiné region. The race was named after the newspaper and set in June, prior to the Tour de France. Polish rider Edouard Klabinski won the inaugural edition.[2]

Because of its mountainous route and date on the calendar, the race served as preparation for the Tour de France by French cyclists. French cycling icons Jean Robic and Louison Bobet used the Dauphiné Libéré as the ultimate stage race in their build-up towards the Tour de France.

The event was discontinued for two years in 1967 and 1968. The current form of the Critérium du Dauphiné is the consequence of a merger with the Circuit des Six-Provinces-Dauphiné in 1969. For many years, the organization of the Dauphiné was shared between the newspaper publishers and ASO. In 2010, the newspaper ceded all organizational responsibility to ASO, and the race's name was abbreviated to Critérium du Dauphiné. Since many decades, the race has also served as a test for both bike manufacturers to test advanced equipment, and for TV broadcasters preparing the Tour de France, as TV coverage is stressed in the mountainous region.

World Tour Event

In the 1990s the race was categorized as a UCI 2.HC event, cycling's highest-rated stage races behind the grand tours.[3] In 2005 it was included in the inaugural UCI Pro Tour and in 2011 in its successor, the UCI World Tour.

The Critérium du Dauphiné is the only race that was won by all the quintuple winners of the Tour de France, namely Jacques Anquetil, Eddy Merckx, Bernard Hinault and Miguel Indurain. Nine racers have also won the race and the Tour de France in the same year: Louison Bobet in 1955, Jacques Anquetil in 1963, Eddy Merckx in 1971, Luis Ocaña in 1973, Bernard Thévenet in 1975, Bernard Hinault in 1979 and 1981, Miguel Indurain in 1995, Bradley Wiggins in 2012 and Chris Froome in 2013, 2015, and 2016. Disgraced cyclist Lance Armstrong won the race in 2002 and 2003, but was retroactively stripped of his titles in 2013, in the wake of the protracted doping scandal.[4][5][6]

Route

Route of the 2011 race

The Dauphiné is raced over 8 days in the Rhône-Alpes region in the southeast of France, traditionally covering portions of the French Alps. The race has often, but not always, started with an opening prologue on Sunday. The Monday and Tuesday stages are usually held in the lower hilly regions of Rhône-Alpes, before addressing the high mountains in the second half of the Dauphiné. Often there is one long individual or team time trial included.[1]

Benefiting from its location and place on the calendar, race organizers often feature a mountain stage with a route that is nearly identical to what the Tour will trace one month later.[1]

Grenoble, the capital of the Dauphiné region, has hosted the start or finish of a stage most often. Other cities regularly hosting a stage are Avignon, Saint-Étienne, Annecy, Chambéry, Gap, Lyon, Aix-les-Bains, Valence, Briançon and Vals-les-Bains.

Jerseys

Jersey wearers at the 2011 event

The leader of the general classification wears a yellow jersey with a blue band, distinct from the other racers. As early as 1948 a red jersey with white polka-dots was awarded to the climber because of the mountainous journey of the Critérium. In 1955, a green jersey was added for the best sprinter.

Winners

Rider Team
1947 Poland Klabinski, EdouardEdouard Klabinski (POL)
1948 France Fachleitner, EdouardÉdouard Fachleitner (FRA)
1949 France Lazarides, LucienLucien Lazarides (FRA)
1950 France Lauredi, NelloNello Lauredi (FRA)
1951 France Lauredi, NelloNello Lauredi (FRA)
1952 France Dotto, JeanJean Dotto (FRA)
1953 France Teisseire, LucienLucien Teisseire (FRA)
1954 France Lauredi, NelloNello Lauredi (FRA)
1955 France Bobet, LouisonLouison Bobet (FRA)
1956 Belgium Close, AlexAlex Close (BEL)
1957 France Rohrbach, MarcelMarcel Rohrbach (FRA)
1958 France Rostollan, LouisLouis Rostollan (FRA)
1959 France Anglade, HenryHenry Anglade (FRA)
1960 France Dotto, JeanJean Dotto (FRA)
1961 United Kingdom Robinson, BrianBrian Robinson (GBR)
1962 France Mastrotto, RaymondRaymond Mastrotto (FRA)
1963 France Anquetil, JacquesJacques Anquetil (FRA)
1964 Spain Uriona, ValentinValentin Uriona (ESP)
1965 France Anquetil, JacquesJacques Anquetil (FRA)
1966 France Poulidor, RaymondRaymond Poulidor (FRA)
1969 France Poulidor, RaymondRaymond Poulidor (FRA)
1970 Spain Ocana, LuisLuis Ocaña (ESP)
1971 Belgium Merckx, EddyEddy Merckx (BEL) Molteni
1972 Spain Ocana, LuisLuis Ocaña (ESP)
1973 Spain Ocana, LuisLuis Ocaña (ESP)
1974 France Santy, AlainAlain Santy (FRA)
1975 France Thevenet, BernardBernard Thévenet (FRA) Peugeot BP Michelin
1976 France Thevenet, BernardBernard Thévenet (FRA) Peugeot-BP-Michelin
1977 France Hinault, BernardBernard Hinault (FRA) Gitane-Campagnolo
1978 Belgium Pollentier, MichelMichel Pollentier (BEL)
1979 France Hinault, BernardBernard Hinault (FRA) Renault-Elf-Gitane
1980 Netherlands Velde, Johan van derJohan van der Velde (NED) TI-Raleigh
1981 France Hinault, BernardBernard Hinault (FRA) Renault-Elf-Gitane
1982 France Laurent, MichelMichel Laurent (FRA) Peugeot-Esso-Michelin
1983 United States Lemond, GregGreg LeMond[Note 1] (USA) Renault-Elf-Gitane
1984 Colombia Ramirez, MartinMartin Ramirez (COL) Systeme U
1985 Australia Anderson, PhilPhil Anderson (AUS) Panasonic
1986 Switzerland Zimmermann, UrsUrs Zimmermann (SUI) Carrera–Inoxpran
1987 France Mottet, CharlyCharly Mottet (FRA) Systeme U-Gitane
1988 Colombia Herrera, LuisLuis Herrera (COL) Café de Colombia
1989 France Mottet, CharlyCharly Mottet (FRA) RMO
1990 United Kingdom Millar, RobertRobert Millar (GBR) Z
1991 Colombia Herrera, LuisLuis Herrera (COL) Postobon
1992 France Mottet, CharlyCharly Mottet (FRA) RMO
1993 Switzerland Dufaux, LaurentLaurent Dufaux (SUI) ONCE
1994 Switzerland Dufaux, LaurentLaurent Dufaux (SUI) ONCE
1995 Spain Indurain, MiguelMiguel Indurain (ESP) Banesto
1996 Spain Indurain, MiguelMiguel Indurain (ESP) Banesto
1997 Germany Bolts, UdoUdo Bölts (GER) Team Telekom
1998 France De Las Cuevas, ArmandArmand De Las Cuevas (FRA) Banesto
1999 Kazakhstan Vinokourov, AlexanderAlexander Vinokourov (KAZ) Casino–Ag2r Prévoyance
2000 United States Hamilton, TylerTyler Hamilton (USA) U.S. Postal Service
2001 France Moreau, ChristopheChristophe Moreau (FRA) Festina
2002 Result Void[7][8]
2003 Result Void[7][8]
2004 Spain Mayo, IbanIban Mayo (ESP) Euskaltel–Euskadi
2005 Spain Landaluze, InigoIñigo Landaluze (ESP) Euskaltel–Euskadi
2006 United States Leipheimer, LeviLevi Leipheimer (USA) Gerolsteiner
2007 France Moreau, ChristopheChristophe Moreau (FRA) AG2R Prévoyance
2008 Spain Valverde, AlejandroAlejandro Valverde (ESP) Caisse d'Epargne
2009 Spain Valverde, AlejandroAlejandro Valverde (ESP) Caisse d'Epargne
2010 Slovenia Brajkovic, JanezJanez Brajkovič (SLO) Team RadioShack
2011 United Kingdom Wiggins, BradleyBradley Wiggins (GBR) Team Sky
2012 United Kingdom Wiggins, BradleyBradley Wiggins (GBR) Team Sky
2013 United Kingdom Froome, ChrisChris Froome (GBR) Team Sky
2014 United States Talansky, AndrewAndrew Talansky (USA) Garmin–Sharp
2015 United Kingdom Froome, ChrisChris Froome (GBR) Team Sky
2016 United Kingdom Froome, ChrisChris Froome (GBR) Team Sky

Multiple winners

Riders in italic are still active

Wins Rider Editions
3
 Nello Lauredi (FRA) 1950, 1951, 1954
 Luis Ocaña (ESP) 1970, 1972, 1973
 Bernard Hinault (FRA) 1977, 1979, 1981
 Charly Mottet (FRA) 1987, 1989, 1992
 Chris Froome (GBR) 2013, 2015, 2016
2
 Jean Dotto (FRA) 1952 + 1960
 Jaques Anquetil (FRA) 1963 + 1965
 Raymond Poulidor (FRA) 1966 + 1969
 Bernard Thévenet (FRA) 1975 + 1976
 Luis Herrera (COL) 1988 + 1989
 Laurent Dufaux (SUI) 1993 + 1994
 Miguel Indurain (ESP) 1995 + 1996
 Lance Armstrong (USA) 2002 + 2003
 Christophe Moreau (FRA) 2001 + 2007
 Alejandro Valverde (ESP) 2008 + 2009
 Bradley Wiggins (GBR) 2011 + 2012

Wins per country

There have been 69 editions since 1947. Three editions (2002, 2003 and 2006) have been stripped of their initial winners Lance Armstrong and Levi Leipheimer. Organizer ASO intends to keep these results voided.

Wins Country
30
 France
10
 Spain
7
 United Kingdom
4
 United States
3
 Belgium
 Colombia
  Switzerland
1
 Australia
 Germany
 Kazakhstan
 Netherlands
 Poland
 Slovenia

Notes

    1. The initial winner, Frenchman Pascal Simon was disqualified after a positive doping test.

    References

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