Date | June 7-14, 2026 |
Start location | tbd |
Finish location | tbd |
Distance | tbd |
Category | WorldTour |
Previous edition | |
Previous winner | Tadej Pogačar (UAE Team Emirates-XRG) |
Critérium du Dauphiné - Tour Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes history
The Tour Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes is the new name for Critérium du Dauphiné, with organisers claiming it reflects the support of the host regions, than now includes deepr into central France.
The eight-day WorldTour competition, June 7-14, serves as a traditional build-up for the Tour de France and is also a prestigious victory on any riders palmares.
The race was first held in 1947, created by newspaper Le Dauphiné Libéré much like the Tour started as a circulation booster for l’Auto. Originally branded as the Critérium du Dauphiné Libéré, ASO took the reins and changed the name in 2010.
Although the Dauphiné is considered a test for the Tour, only 11 riders have won both races, Bernard Hinault the first to do so in 1979 and 1981. Chris Froome won both races across 2013, 2015 and 2016. Since then, Geraint Thomas (2018) and Jonas Vingegaard (2023) have scored the double in the same year. Last year's winner Primož Roglič (Bora-Hansgrohe) pulled out of the Tour ahead of stage 13 after crashing several times.
The most victories in the Dauphiné by a single rider stands at three: Luis Ocana (1970, 1972, 1973), Bernard Hinault (1977, 1979, 1981), Charly Mottet (1987, 1989, 1992), and Chris Froome (2013, 2015, 2016) are all tied for the record.
Tadej Pogačar (UAE Team Emirates-XRG) claimed overall victory in 2025, adding the Critérium du Dauphiné to his rich palmares. He topped the GC by 59 seconds on Jonas Vingegaard (Visma-Lease a Bike) and 2:38 on Florian Lipowitz (Red Bull-Bora-hangrohe).
Join Cyclingnews' coverage of the 2026 Tour Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes with race reports, results, photo galleries, news and race analysis.
Latest Content on the Race
'I think I did quite a good job' – Jonas Vingegaard upbeat at Critérium du Dauphiné despite another loss to Tadej Pogačar
'Hopefully I can be even better in the Tour than I am now' says Dane after taking second behind Slovenian on stage 7
'I did not expect this much of a gap' – Tadej Pogačar a level above rival Jonas Vingegaard on first mountain showdown of 2025 Critérium du Dauphiné
World Champion puts 1:01 into Dane on stage 6, with the biggest test still to come on Saturday's brutal Alpine route
'If he can follow Pogačar and Vingegaard here, we will go for more than third at the Tour' – crunch time for Remco Evenepoel at Critérium du Dauphiné
News Soudal-QuickStep DS says final trio of mountain stages will determine Belgian's approach and goals for the Tour de France
'Nothing bad, just some skin off' – Remco Evenepoel uninjured in Critérium du Dauphiné crash, but loses Tour de France domestique to earlier incident
News After already losing Mikel Landa at the Giro, Soudal-QuickStep see Louis Vervaeke crash out with fractured collarbone
'I had a lump in my throat' – former Soudal-QuickStep CEO Patrick Lefevere celebrates 1000th victory at Critérium du Dauphiné with Remco Evenepoel
News World and Olympic Time Trial Champion dedicates knock-out TT stage win to ex-boss
Was Remco Evenepoel's Dauphiné stage win really Quickstep's 1,000th victory? It's complicated
News Differing totals lie in how victories are counted
'I started the first section too conservative' – Tadej Pogačar admits pacing error after time trial defeat at Critérium du Dauphiné
News 'There are still three big stages to come here' says Slovenian after time losses to Evenepoel and Vingegaard on stage 4
'Only losing 20 seconds is pretty decent' – Jonas Vingegaard upbeat after runner's up spot in Criterium du Dauphiné TT
News Dane moves up to fifth overall behind new race leader and stage winner Remco Evenepoel
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Critérium du Dauphiné 'exactly what I needed for the Tour de France' says Mathieu van der Poel
Dutchman rounds out week with another day in the break, narrowly misses out on points jersey to Tadej Pogačar -
'I shouldn't look at them, but at where I was last year' – Remco Evenepoel focuses on his own progress at Critérium du Dauphiné
After two hard days, the Belgian lies fourth overall and 4:11 down on Tadej Pogačar, heading into Sunday's closing mountain stage -
Happy with third, Florian Lipowitz knew he would ‘explode' if he followed Pogačar on Dauphiné stage 7
His performance does not change the plan to assist team leader Primož Roglič at Tour de France
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‘You have to seize these moments’ - Romain Bardet on his solo stage 7 attack on Criterium du Dauphine
Frenchman will be on a moto for second week of Tour de France -
'They attacked us, we responded' – Tadej Pogačar fends off Visma to extend race lead on Critérium du Dauphiné stage 7
'For me, it's a good motivation for the Tour' says race leader after beating Vingegaard to notch third stage victory of the race -
'I think I did quite a good job' – Jonas Vingegaard upbeat at Critérium du Dauphiné despite another loss to Tadej Pogačar
'Hopefully I can be even better in the Tour than I am now' says Dane after taking second behind Slovenian on stage 7
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'I did not expect this much of a gap' – Tadej Pogačar a level above rival Jonas Vingegaard on first mountain showdown of 2025 Critérium du Dauphiné
World Champion puts 1:01 into Dane on stage 6, with the biggest test still to come on Saturday's brutal Alpine route -
'If he can follow Pogačar and Vingegaard here, we will go for more than third at the Tour' – crunch time for Remco Evenepoel at Critérium du Dauphiné
Soudal-QuickStep DS says final trio of mountain stages will determine Belgian's approach and goals for the Tour de France -
'Nothing bad, just some skin off' – Remco Evenepoel uninjured in Critérium du Dauphiné crash, but loses Tour de France domestique to earlier incident
After already losing Mikel Landa at the Giro, Soudal-QuickStep see Louis Vervaeke crash out with fractured collarbone
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Tour de France tech gallery: Four new bikes, $1,700 hubs, brand new wheels, and a $1,400 saddle
Plus the usual tech hacks and strange setups from the uphill time trial -
New wheels, aero hacks, and an in depth look at that mad prototype Factor: Dauphiné tech gallery 2025
Two new bikes, a load of new wheels, and some aero mods on show as teams tune up for the Tour de France -
Critérium du Dauphiné 2025 start list
Starters for the WorldTour stage race from June 8-15 -
A work in progress - Roglič, Evenepoel and the road from the Dauphiné to the Tour de France
Philippa York assesses a key week in the build-up to July as Jorgenson progresses and Gee breaks through -
First big Tour de France test as Dauphiné hits the mountains - Preview
Can Jumbo-Visma be undone on back-to-back summit finishes?
