Four things you need to know about...Critérium du Dauphiné

For the first time since last year’s Tour de France, Tadej Pogačar, Remco Evenepoel and Jonas Vingegaard will race each other at this year’s Dauphiné, in a full dress rehearsal for this year’s Tour.

- Adam Becket

With that race just a month away, this week in France will point towards the form we will see in July. While Pogačar has been his usual unbeatable self in 2025, winning seven times, Vingegaard and Evenepoel have had their seasons affected by injury.

2 Farewell, Romain

After 13 and a half seasons as a professional cyclist, Romain Bardet will retire after the Critérium du Dauphiné, his eighth time at the race.

Fittingly, stage three begins in Brioude, the 34-year-old's hometown, where there will surely be a carnival atmosphere as Bardet sets off. Maybe, maybe, there could even be a valedictory stage win.

3 Alpine triptych

The slopes of Combloux, Valmeinier 1800 and the Plateau du Mont-Cenis on three back-to-back stages will decide the race, with stage seven to Valmeinier 1800 in particular one to watch. That day, there are three hors catégorie climbs: the Col de la Madeleine (24.6km at 6.2%), the Col de la Croix de Fer (22.4km at 6.9%) and the Montée de Valmeinier (16.5km at 6.7%).

4 Lost to time