The Critérium du Dauphiné is happening in France
Tomorrow, Sunday June 5th to 12th 2011, the 63rd Critérium du Dauphiné will begin in the the northeast of France. The UCI 2.1 stage race will be made up of 1 prologue and 7 stages over a total distance of 1,064 kilometres.
The Critérium du Dauphiné was previously called the Dauphiné Libéré and was another regional "newspaper" race. For the past 2 years the race has been run by ASO, the same good people who organize the Tour de France, Paris-Roubaix and Paris-Nice races. The race is in it's 63rd year. Look for the Leader in the blue and yellow jersey, and the usual, green, white, and polka-dot jerseys. The 8 day stage race is located in the region of the French Alps, the historic Dauphine region (and thus the race's name).
What to watch:
Stage 3: the Individual Time Trial course, Wednesday, June 6, 2011 the route is said to be the same course that will be used in July for the Tour de France ITT near Grenoble.
Grenoble - Grenoble (route map) 42.5 km
Stage 6: do not miss stage 6! Saturday, June 11, 2011 the route goes through the Haute-Savoie region of France. This is some of the most beautiful landscape I have ever seen from a saddle. The descent down the Col de Tamie is miles and miles of pure fun.
Climbs:
Km 10,5 Cote de Chatillon-sur-Cluses (cat 4)
Km 48 Col de Saint-Jean-de Sixt (cat 4)
Km 57,5 Col de la Croix Fry (cat 2)
Km 74,5 Col du Marais (cat 4)
Km 97 Col de Tamié (cat 3)
Km 145,5 Col du Grand Cucheron (cat 1)Le Collet d'Allevard (HC finish)
Grenoble - Grenoble (route map) 42.5 km
Stage 6: do not miss stage 6! Saturday, June 11, 2011 the route goes through the Haute-Savoie region of France. This is some of the most beautiful landscape I have ever seen from a saddle. The descent down the Col de Tamie is miles and miles of pure fun.
Les Gets - Le Collet d’Allevard (route map) 185 km
Climbs:
Km 10,5 Cote de Chatillon-sur-Cluses (cat 4)
Km 48 Col de Saint-Jean-de Sixt (cat 4)
Km 57,5 Col de la Croix Fry (cat 2)
Km 74,5 Col du Marais (cat 4)
Km 97 Col de Tamié (cat 3)
Km 145,5 Col du Grand Cucheron (cat 1)Le Collet d'Allevard (HC finish)
Stage 7: Final Stage, Sunday, June 12, 2011
Pontcharra - La Toussuire (route map) 117.5 km
Km 78 Col du Glandon (HC),
Col de la Croix de Fer,
La Toussuire (cat 1 finish)
Full course preview 2011 Team list Where to watch the race live (via Steephill.TV)
Pontcharra - La Toussuire (route map) 117.5 km
Km 78 Col du Glandon (HC),
Col de la Croix de Fer,
La Toussuire (cat 1 finish)
Full course preview 2011 Team list Where to watch the race live (via Steephill.TV)
2011 Roster - dropping names of just a few of the riders racing: Jani Brajkovic (2010 winner), Cadel Evans, Ivan Basso, Vinokourov, Tony Martin, Matthew Busche, Van den Broeck, Nicolas Roche, Karsten Kroon, Manuel Quinziato, Robert Gesink, Lars Boom, Paul Martens, Luis Leon Sanchez, Samuel, Martin Tjallingii, Sanchez,David Zabriskie, Tyler Farrar, Daniel AMrtin, Bradley Wiggins, Juan Antonio Fleche, Simon Gerrans, Edvald Baossan Hagen, Geraint Thomas, Thomas Voeckler, Sebastian Chavenel, Joaquin Rodriguez, Sandy Casar, Brice Feillu, Fabian Wegmann, and so many many more. There will be no Alberto Contador.
When to watch it:
| Stage | Type | Date | Start and Finish | Distance | Details |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| P | Prologue | Sunday 5 June | Saint-Jean-de-Maurienne - Saint-Jean-de-Maurienne | 5.4 km |  |
| 1 | En ligne | Monday 6 June | Albertville - Saint-Pierre-de-Chartreuse | 144 km | |
| 2 | En ligne | Tuesday 7 June | Voiron - Lyon | 179 km | |
| 3 | Individual time-trial | Wednesday 8 June | Grenoble - Grenoble | 42.5 km | |
| 4 | En ligne | Thursday 9 June | La Motte-Servolex - Mâcon | 173.5 km | |
| 5 | En ligne | Friday 10 June | Parc des Oiseaux - Villars-les-Dombes - Les Gets | 210 km | |
| 6 | En ligne | Saturday 11 June | Les Gets - Le Collet d’Allevard | 192.5 km | |
| 7 | En ligne | Sunday 12 June | Pontcharra - La Toussuire | 117.5 km | |
Last year the final GC results were: Final General Classification 2010
1 Janez Brajkovic (Team RadioShack) 28:06:28
2 Alberto Contador (Astana) + 1:41
3 Tejay Van Garderen (Team HTC-Columbia) + 2:41
4 Jurgen Van Den Broeck (Omega Pharma - Lotto) + 3:46
5 Jérôme Coppel (Saur - Sojasun) + 4:17
PedalDancer.com pictures from riding Col des Aravis and Col de la Croix Fry in the French Alps in 2007 (all photos by PedalDancer.com):
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| Haute Savoie region, location of Stage 6 |
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| This is the Col de la Croix Fry - only a category 2 climb |
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| This was the friendly Col de la Croix Fry dog that had lunch with us at the cafe |
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| Amazing scenery in the French Alps! |
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| looking up the Col des Aravis |
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| At the top of the Col des Aravis |
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| Typical scene at the top of the Col |
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| Cafe on the Col des Aravis |
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| Riders pass over the Col des Aravis |
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| There are great roads in the Haute-Savoie |
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| on the no brakes needed descent of Col de Tamie |
Please also read PedalDancer.com previous post the Criterium Dauphine: Wednesday, March 30, 2011 Critérium du Dauphiné 2011 route and other cycling climbs in the French Alps.
