Etixx - Quick-Step has announced the selection that will participate in Critérium du Dauphiné, an eight stage race starting on June 7th and ending on the 14th of June.
The race consists of the following parcours: a 6-lap circuit stage, three high mountain stages, a 24.5km TTT, and three flat or medium mountain stages.
The 131.5km opening circuit stage has one big loop and five smaller laps. There are a total of eight categorized climbs along the parcours. The 173km second stage is considered medium mountain, but the categorized climbs are early in the stage, with the remaining profile being mostly flat. This could possibly favor a sprint. The Stage 3 TTT is up-and-down, but is at least slightly uphill going into the finish. Stage 4, 228km in distance, looks to also favor a sprint as there are a few low category climbs, but nothing that seems to rule out a group arrival. Stage 5 is a 161km high mountain stage and will be one for the GC contenders. There is Category 1 Col d'Allos (14km, 5% average gradient), and a summit finish at Pra-Loup (6.2km, 6.5% average gradient). The race then heads into a 183km medium mountain Stage 6, which is deceptively challenging in that there are six categorized climbs, including a Category 3 summit finale in Villard-De-Lans (Cote 2000, 2.2km at 6.2% average gradient). The Queen Stage is awarded to Stage 7, as the 155km parcours includes five Category 1 ascents and one of 3rd category. The finish is on Category 1 Le Bettex (7km at 7.7%), but the start of the climb reaches double digits in gradient. Finally, 156.5km Stage 8 closes Critérium du Dauphiné with a high mountain profile. There are six categorized climbs. Lacets de Montvernier (3.4km at 8.2%), which peaks at the 108km point of the race, is known for an abundance of hairpins. There is also the summit finale of Modane Valfréjus (8.4km, 5.7% average gradient).
"Dauphiné is a balanced race," Sport Director Brian Holm said. "There are short stages with the right mix of high mountain stages, stages for sprinters, and even a TTT that comes back after many years. So, it's always a nice race, as it was last year with a spectacular final stage. We go there with a good and motivated team, with the objective to try and do well in any of the race situations."