The 2013 Dauphiné was all about Chris Froome and Sky, a good predictor of the Tour de France(Image credit: Tim de Waele/TDWSport.com)
The fans get their banners ready(Image credit: Tim de Waele/TDWSport.com)
The podium in the Dauphiné can closely resemble that of the Tour de France(Image credit: Tim de Waele/TDWSport.com)
The cows don't need any practice(Image credit: Tim de Waele/TDWSport.com)
Team Sky has dominated the Dauphiné in recent years(Image credit: Tim de Waele/TDWSport.com)
Andy Schleck has never had luck in the Dauphiné(Image credit: Tim de Waele/TDWSport.com)
Nairo Quintana demonstrated his talents in 2012(Image credit: Tim de Waele/TDWSport.com)
Young riders like Arthur Vichot (FDJ) can shine in the breakaways(Image credit: Tim de Waele/TDWSport.com)
The time trial is often a critical stage in the Dauphiné(Image credit: Tim de Waele/TDWSport.com)
Bradley Wiggins won in 2012, before sideburns(Image credit: Tim de Waele/TDWSport.com)
Weather can be very good, or very bad in the Dauphiné(Image credit: Tim de Waele/TDWSport.com)
Sometimes relative unknowns like David Veilleux (Europcar) get a chance to shine(Image credit: Tim de Waele/TDWSport.com)
Sprinters can count on the race for a few stages to perfect their lead-outs(Image credit: Tim de Waele/TDWSport.com)
Samuel Sanchez scored Euskaltel's final WorldTour victory in the 2013 Dauphiné(Image credit: Tim de Waele/TDWSport.com)
of the Stage Four stand on the podium.(Image credit: Tim de Waele/TDWSport.com)
Thomas Voeckler (Europcar) features as prominently in the Dauphiné as in the Tour(Image credit: Tim de Waele/TDWSport.com)
Garmin Sharp gets practice riding for a race leader, with Rohan Dennis in yellow(Image credit: Tim de Waele/TDWSport.com)
Chris Froome practices his victory salute in the 2013 Dauphiné(Image credit: Tim de Waele/TDWSport.com)
Photographers also warm up for the Tour by shooting in the Dauphiné(Image credit: Tim de Waele/TDWSport.com)
Team Sky works on its well-drilled plan in 2013(Image credit: Tim de Waele/TDWSport.com)
Edvald Boasson Hagen gives a lopsided victory salute in 2013(Image credit: Tim de Waele/TDWSport.com)
The time keepers get a workout in the 2013 Dauphiné(Image credit: Tim de Waele/TDWSport.com)
Bernard Hinault also greets riders on the podium in the Dauphiné(Image credit: Tim de Waele/TDWSport.com)
The cone distributors do a meticulous job(Image credit: Tim de Waele/TDWSport.com)
The 2011 podium topped by Bradley Wiggins, with Alexander Vinokourov and Cadel Evans(Image credit: Tim de Waele/TDWSport.com)
Cadel Evans lost the lead in 2009 on the Mont Ventoux(Image credit: Tim de Waele/TDWSport.com)
Alejandro Valverde celebrates behind stage winner Sylvester Szmyd(Image credit: Tim de Waele/TDWSport.com)
Valverde won in 2009 ahead of Levi Leipheimer and Cadel Evans(Image credit: Tim de Waele/TDWSport.com)
The 2007 podium: Cadel Evans, Christophe Moreau and Alexander Vinokourov(Image credit: Tim de Waele/TDWSport.com)
Vinokourov in 2007, winning in the green jersey(Image credit: Tim de Waele/TDWSport.com)
Christophe Moreau, Levi Leipheimer and Bernhard Kohl on the podium in 2006(Image credit: Tim de Waele/TDWSport.com)
Santiago Botero, Inigo Landaluze and Levi Leipheimer on the final podium in 2005(Image credit: Tim de Waele/TDWSport.com)
George Hincapie won a stage in 2005(Image credit: Tim de Waele/TDWSport.com)
Michael Rasmussen in the lead in 2004(Image credit: Tim de Waele/TDWSport.com)
The colors of the peloton up against a glacier in 2009(Image credit: Tim de Waele/TDWSport.com)
The jersies in 2009(Image credit: Tim de Waele/TDWSport.com)
It was a hot race in 2009: David Millar cools off(Image credit: Tim de Waele/TDWSport.com)
The high mountains select the best(Image credit: Tim de Waele/TDWSport.com)
Team Sky boss David Brailsford has masterminded the past three Dauphiné wins(Image credit: Tim de Waele/TDWSport.com)
Who's this? None other than current world champion Rui Costa winning the young riders jersey in 2011(Image credit: Tim de Waele/TDWSport.com)
BS: Before sideburns Bradley Wiggins in 2011(Image credit: Tim de Waele/TDWSport.com)
British champion Bradley Wiggins in 2011(Image credit: Tim de Waele/TDWSport.com)
John Degenkolb predicted his current level of success in 2011(Image credit: Tim de Waele/TDWSport.com)
Zip up! Jurgen Van Den Broeck in 2011(Image credit: Tim de Waele/TDWSport.com)
Bang! Alberto Contador fires off his bullets in 2010(Image credit: Tim de Waele/TDWSport.com)
Alberto Contador, Alejandro Valverde and Cadel Evans made up the podium in 2009(Image credit: Tim de Waele/TDWSport.com)
Lance Armstrong at the Dauphine in 2004(Image credit: Tim de Waele/TDWSport.com)
The Critérium du Dauphiné, or Critérium du Dauphiné Libéré as it was known before its former newspaper title sponsor handed over the reins to Tour de France organiser ASO in 2010, has traditionally been one of two important proving grounds for Tour contenders, together with the Tour de Suisse.
Since the ASO's takeover, the race has begun to more closely resemble the Tour, with similar jerseys, podium presenters, sponsor paraphernalia and players.
Although the Dauphiné is an important Tour warm-up, there have only been 10 riders in the 65 editions of the race to win both races in the same year - two of the double wins happened in the last two editions, when Team Sky dominated first with Bradley Wiggins in 2012 and then with Chris Froome last year.
Will 2014 be another year for the Tour-Dauphiné double? What will this year's race tell us about July? Thumb through this gallery of images from the past ten years by photographer Tim De Waele, and be sure to post your feedback in the comments below.
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