Date: June 8–15, 2025
The Critérium du Dauphiné returns in 2025 with an eight-day route that blends homage, high-altitude duels, and tactical unpredictability. This year, it not only serves as a Tour de France dress rehearsal but also marks a poignant farewell to local hero Romain Bardet, whose final road race includes a hometown salute.
A Farewell to Bardet, A Gateway to Le Tour
Stage 3 begins in Brioude, the hometown of Romain Bardet (Team Picnic PostNL), as he closes his road career before switching to gravel racing. The 34-year-old Frenchman, who previously won a Dauphiné stage (2015) and stood on its podium (2016), will receive a tribute in front of a home crowd.
Meanwhile, Tadej Pogačar (UAE Team Emirates-XRG), Jonas Vingegaard (Visma-Lease a Bike), and Remco Evenepoel (Soudal-QuickStep) are expected to use this route as a key form check. Defending champion Primož Roglič is skipping this year’s edition due to Giro d’Italia commitments.
Route Overview: Shorter TT, Steeper Tests
Unlike 2024, the opening stages shift from long summit finishes to punchier terrain. Stage 1 features seven Category 4 climbs in the last 80km—a chaos recipe for breakaways. Stage 3’s sharp final ramp near Charantonnay could tempt GC riders into early tests of strength.
The Stage 4 Time Trial is notably shorter—17.7km compared to 34km in 2024. This minimizes GC gaps before the decisive mountain battles across the final weekend.
Stage-by-Stage Breakdown
Stage 1: Domérat – Montluçon, 189.2km
A rolling battlefield. With no major climbs but relentless bumps, expect attacks from riders like Julian Alaphilippe—or an explosive move from Pogačar?
Stage 2: Premilhat – Issoire, 204.6km
Classic sprint-or-breakaway dilemma. Despite early climbs, the flattish finish favors sprinters seeking their rare Dauphiné glory.
Stage 3: Brioude – Charantonnay, 202.8km
Bardet’s swansong start. The early Cat.2 Côte de la Barbate and a vicious closing ramp create perfect ambush conditions.
Stage 4 (ITT): Charmes-sur-Rhône – Saint-Péray, 17.7km
A short, rolling TT that will keep the GC tight. It’s more about momentum than time gaps this year.
Stage 5: Saint-Priest – Mâcon, 182.6km
The last dance for sprinters. Expect the GC men to stay sheltered ahead of three Alpine tests.
Stage 6: Valserhône – Combloux, 139.1km
The GC skirmish begins. The Cat.1 Côte de Mont-Saxonnex sets the tone, before a double Cat.2 finish whittles down the contenders.
Stage 7: Grand-Aigueblanche – Valmeinier 1800, 132.1km
The Queen Stage. Col de la Madeleine, Croix-de-Fer, and Valmeinier in just 132km—brutal, relentless, and tailor-made for GC fireworks.
Stage 8: Val-D’Arc – Plateau du Mont Cenis, 133.8km
Six categorized climbs and a summit finish that echoes the drama of 2024. Tired legs, risky descents, and a brutal final ascent to Mont-Cenis could flip the scr
ipt one last time.
Teams to Watch
All 18 WorldTour teams are confirmed, along with wildcard invites: Israel-Premier Tech, TotalEnergies, Tudor Pro Cycling (with Julian Alaphilippe), and Uno-X Mobility. Lotto declined their invitation.
Final Thoughts
The 2025 Critérium du Dauphiné is more than a pre-Tour test. With dynamic stage layouts, a heartfelt Bardet send-off, and tight GC margins likely until the final climb—it promises a thrilling, high-stakes spectacle across the French heartland.