Critérium du Dauphiné 2011

Critérium du Dauphiné 2011

With the countdown now well and truly on to the Tour de France, it's time for the first of the traditional warm-up races, the Critérium du Dauphiné – eight days and 1065 kilometres of racing in this 63rd edition.

The Schleck's may be missing, as will Alberto Contador but there will be no shortage of Tour contenders with BMC's Cadel Evans favourite ahead of Sunday's prologue in St Jean de Maurienne. Also lining up will be defending champion Janez Brajkovic, Ivan Basso, Robert Gesink, Alexandre Vinokourov, Bradley Wiggins, Samuel Sanchez, Tony Martin and Juergen van den Broeck.