Critérium du Dauphiné facts for kids

"Dauphiné Libéré" redirects here. For the newspaper, see Le Dauphiné libéré.

Quick facts for kids
Tour Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes
Race details

Date	Early June
Region	Rhône-Alpes, France
Local name(s)	Critérium du Dauphiné
Nickname(s)	The Dauphiné
Discipline	Road
Competition	UCI World Tour
Type	Major one week stage race
Organiser	Amaury Sport Organisation
Race director	Bernard Thévenet
History
First edition	1947 (1947)
Editions	77 (as of 2025)
First winner	Edward Klabiński (POL)
Most wins	Nello Lauredi (FRA) Luis Ocaña (ESP) Charly Mottet (FRA) Bernard Hinault (FRA) Chris Froome (GBR) (3 wins each)
Most recent	Tadej Pogačar (SVN)

The Tour Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes is a big annual bike race in France. Until 2025, it was known as the Critérium du Dauphiné. Before 2010, it was called the Critérium du Dauphiné Libéré. This exciting road race takes place in the beautiful Dauphiné region, in the southeast of France.

The race lasts for eight days in early June. It's a very important event in the UCI World Tour calendar. Many cyclists use it to get ready for the famous Tour de France in July. It's like a major warm-up race!

The Dauphiné Libéré newspaper started the race in 1947. They were the main sponsor until 2009. Since 2010, ASO has organized the race. ASO also organizes other big French cycling events, like the Tour de France.

Because the race is in the Rhône-Alpes region, which is part of the French Alps, it has many challenging mountain climbs. Famous climbs from the Tour de France, like Mont Ventoux and Col du Galibier, are often part of this race. This means that cyclists who are good at climbing often do well here. Five riders have won the race three times each: Nello Lauredi, Luis Ocaña, Charly Mottet, Bernard Hinault, and Chris Froome.

Race History
- How the Race Started
- A Top Cycling Event
Race Route
Special Jerseys
Race Winners
- Riders with Multiple Wins
- Wins by Country
See also

Race History

How the Race Started

The Le Dauphiné libéré newspaper created this race in 1947. They wanted to help their newspaper reach more people. After World War II, cycling was starting up again. The newspaper, based in Grenoble, decided to create a bike race. It would cover the Dauphiné region.

The race was named after the newspaper and held in June. This was just before the Tour de France. A Polish rider named Edward Klabiński won the very first race.

Because of its mountain routes and timing, French cyclists used it to prepare for the Tour de France. Famous French riders like Jean Robic and Louison Bobet used the Dauphiné Libéré as their final big race before the Tour.

The race didn't happen in 1967 and 1968. In 1969, it joined with another race called the Circuit des Six-Provinces-Dauphiné. For many years, the newspaper and ASO worked together to organize it. In 2010, the newspaper gave all the organizing to ASO. The race name then became shorter, Critérium du Dauphiné.

A Top Cycling Event

Bradley Wiggins (in the yellow jersey) and Jean-Christophe Péraud during the 2011 Critérium du Dauphiné.

In the 1990s, the race became a very high-level event. It was one of the most important stage races after the biggest ones, called Grand Tours. In 2005, it became part of the first UCI Pro Tour. Then, in 2011, it joined the UCI World Tour, which is the top series of races today.

The Critérium du Dauphiné is special because all four riders who won the Tour de France five times also won this race. These legends are Jacques Anquetil, Eddy Merckx, Bernard Hinault, and Miguel Induráin.

Many riders have won both this race and the Tour de France in the same year. This shows how important the Dauphiné is for Tour de France preparation. Some of these riders include Louison Bobet (1955), Eddy Merckx (1971), Bernard Hinault (1979 and 1981), Bradley Wiggins (2012), Chris Froome (2013, 2015, 2016), Geraint Thomas (2018), Jonas Vingegaard (2023), and Tadej Pogačar (2025).

In 2025, ASO announced a new name for the race starting in 2026. It will be called Tour Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes. This is because of a new partnership with the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region, where the race takes place.

Race Route

Route of the 2011 race

The Dauphiné race lasts for 8 days. It goes through the Rhône-Alpes region in southeast France. This area is known for its French Alps mountains. The race often starts with a short opening race against the clock, called a prologue, on Sunday.

The stages on Monday and Tuesday are usually in the lower, hilly parts of Rhône-Alpes. Then, in the second half of the race, cyclists face the high mountains. Sometimes, there's also a long individual or team time trial. In a time trial, riders race alone or in teams against the clock.

Because of its location and timing, the race organizers often include a mountain stage that is very similar to a stage in the Tour de France. This helps riders practice for the big event.

Grenoble, the main city of the Dauphiné region, has hosted the start or finish of a stage many times. Other cities that often host stages include Avignon, Saint-Étienne, Annecy, Chambéry, Gap, Lyon, Aix-les-Bains, Valence, Briançon, and Vals-les-Bains.

Special Jerseys

Jersey wearers at the 2011 event

In cycling, leaders of different categories wear special jerseys.

The overall leader of the race wears a yellow jersey with a blue band. This makes them easy to spot among the other riders.
In 1948, a mountains classification was added. The best climber wears a polka-dot jersey.
In 1955, a points classification was added. The rider who earns the most points (usually by finishing well in sprints) wears a green jersey.

Race Winners

		Rider
1947		Klabinski, EdwardEdward Klabiński	Mercier–Hutchinson
1948		Fachleitner, EdouardÉdouard Fachleitner	La Perle–Hutchinson
1949		Lazaridès, LucienLucien Lazaridès	France Sport–Dunlop
1950		Lauredi, NelloNello Lauredi	Helyett–Hutchinson
1951		Lauredi, NelloNello Lauredi	Helyett–Hutchinson
1952		Dotto, JeanJean Dotto	France Sport
1953		Teisseire, LucienLucien Teisseire	Terrot–Hutchinson
1954		Lauredi, NelloNello Lauredi	Terrot–Hutchinson
1955		Bobet, LouisonLouison Bobet	Mercier–BP–Hutchinson
1956		Close, AlexAlex Close	Elvé–Peugeot
1957		Rohrbach, MarcelMarcel Rohrbach	Peugeot–BP–Dunlop
1958		Rostollan, LouisLouis Rostollan	Essor–Leroux
1959		Anglade, HenryHenry Anglade	Liberia–Hutchinson
1960		Dotto, JeanJean Dotto	Liberia–Grammont
1961		Robinson, BrianBrian Robinson	Rapha–Gitane–Dunlop
1962		Mastrotto, RaymondRaymond Mastrotto	Gitane–Leroux–Dunlop–R. Geminiani
1963		Anquetil, JacquesJacques Anquetil	Saint-Raphaël–Gitane–R. Geminiani
1964		Uriona, ValentinValentín Uriona	Kas–Kaskol
1965		Anquetil, JacquesJacques Anquetil	Ford France–Gitane
1966		Poulidor, RaymondRaymond Poulidor	Mercier–BP–Hutchinson
1969		Poulidor, RaymondRaymond Poulidor	Mercier–BP–Hutchinson
1970		Ocana, LuisLuis Ocaña	Bic
1971		Merckx, EddyEddy Merckx	Molteni
1972		Ocana, LuisLuis Ocaña	Bic
1973		Ocana, LuisLuis Ocaña	Bic
1974		Santy, AlainAlain Santy	Gan–Mercier–Hutchinson
1975		Thevenet, BernardBernard Thévenet	Peugeot–BP–Michelin
1976		Thevenet, BernardBernard Thévenet	Peugeot–Esso–Michelin
1977		Hinault, BernardBernard Hinault	Gitane–Campagnolo
1978		Pollentier, MichelMichel Pollentier	Old Lord's–Splendor–K.S.B.
1979		Hinault, BernardBernard Hinault	Renault–Gitane
1980		van der Velde, JohanJohan van der Velde	TI–Raleigh–Creda
1981		Hinault, BernardBernard Hinault	Renault–Elf–Gitane
1982		Laurent, MichelMichel Laurent	Peugeot–Shell–Michelin
1983		Lemond, GregGreg LeMond	Renault–Elf
1984		Ramirez, MartinMartín Ramírez	Système U
1985		Anderson, PhilPhil Anderson	Panasonic–Raleigh
1986		Zimmermann, UrsUrs Zimmermann	Carrera Jeans–Vagabond
1987		Mottet, CharlyCharly Mottet	Système U
1988		Herrera, LuisLuis Herrera	Café de Colombia
1989		Mottet, CharlyCharly Mottet	RMO
1990		Millar, RobertRobert Millar	Z–Tomasso
1991		Herrera, LuisLuis Herrera	Postobón–Manzana–Ryalcao
1992		Mottet, CharlyCharly Mottet	RMO
1993		Dufaux, LaurentLaurent Dufaux	ONCE
1994		Dufaux, LaurentLaurent Dufaux	ONCE
1995		Induráin, MiguelMiguel Induráin	Banesto
1996		Induráin, MiguelMiguel Induráin	Banesto
1997		Bolts, UdoUdo Bölts	Team Telekom
1998		de Las Cuevas, ArmandArmand de Las Cuevas	Banesto
1999		Vinokourov, AlexanderAlexander Vinokourov	Casino–Ag2r Prévoyance
2000		Hamilton, TylerTyler Hamilton	U.S. Postal Service
2001		Moreau, ChristopheChristophe Moreau	Festina
2002	Result void
2003	Result void
2004		Mayo, IbanIban Mayo	Euskaltel–Euskadi
2005		Landaluze, InigoIñigo Landaluze	Euskaltel–Euskadi
2006	Result void
2007		Moreau, ChristopheChristophe Moreau	AG2R Prévoyance
2008		Valverde, AlejandroAlejandro Valverde	Caisse d'Epargne
2009		Valverde, AlejandroAlejandro Valverde	Caisse d'Epargne
2010		Brajkovic, JanezJanez Brajkovič	Team RadioShack
2011		Wiggins, BradleyBradley Wiggins	Team Sky
2012		Wiggins, BradleyBradley Wiggins	Team Sky
2013		Froome, ChrisChris Froome	Team Sky
2014		Talansky, AndrewAndrew Talansky	Garmin–Sharp
2015		Froome, ChrisChris Froome	Team Sky
2016		Froome, ChrisChris Froome	Team Sky
2017		Fuglsang, JakobJakob Fuglsang	Astana
2018		Thomas, GeraintGeraint Thomas	Team Sky
2019		Fuglsang, JakobJakob Fuglsang	Astana
2020		Martinez, DanielDaniel Martínez	EF Pro Cycling
2021		Porte, RichieRichie Porte	Ineos Grenadiers
2022		Roglič, PrimožPrimož Roglič	Team Jumbo–Visma
2023		Vingegaard, JonasJonas Vingegaard	Team Jumbo–Visma
2024		Roglič, PrimožPrimož Roglič	Bora–Hansgrohe
2025		Pogačar, TadejTadej Pogačar	{{{team name-2025}}}

Riders with Multiple Wins

Some riders have won the Tour Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes (or Critérium du Dauphiné) more than once. Riders in italic are still racing today.

Wins	Rider	Editions
3	Nello Lauredi (FRA)	1950, 1951, 1954
	Luis Ocaña (ESP)	1970, 1972, 1973
	Bernard Hinault (FRA)	1977, 1979, 1981
	Charly Mottet (FRA)	1987, 1989, 1992
	Chris Froome (GBR)	2013, 2015, 2016
2	Jean Dotto (FRA)	1952 + 1960
	Jacques Anquetil (FRA)	1963 + 1965
	Raymond Poulidor (FRA)	1966 + 1969
	Bernard Thévenet (FRA)	1975 + 1976
	Luis Herrera (COL)	1988 + 1991
	Laurent Dufaux (SUI)	1993 + 1994
	Miguel Induráin (ESP)	1995 + 1996
	~~Lance Armstrong (USA)~~	2002 + 2003
	Christophe Moreau (FRA)	2001 + 2007
	Alejandro Valverde (ESP)	2008 + 2009
	Bradley Wiggins (GBR)	2011 + 2012
	Jakob Fuglsang (DEN)	2017 + 2019
	Primož Roglič (SLO)	2022 + 2024

Wins by Country

There have been 77 editions of this race since 1947. The results for 2002, 2003, and 2006 were later removed due to rule violations. The organizers, ASO, decided to keep these results empty.