Critérium du dauphiné

[JV911]

2011 edition of the Critérium du dauphiné kicks off with the prologue on Sunday

Coverage on Eurosport from 10:15pm

Defending 2010 champion Janez Brajkovic (Radioshack) returns, but absent from the start list is last year's runner-up Alberto Contador (Saxo Bank). The Spaniard sits out the race after winning the Giro d'Italia last month.

Brajkovic's main challengers are likely to be Cadel Evans (BMC Racing), Ivan Basso (Liquigas-Cannondale), Robert Gesink (Rabobank), Joaquin Rodriguez (Katusha), Jurgen Van Den Broeck (Omega Pharma-Lotto), Christophe Riblon (Ag2r) and Britain's Bradley Wiggins (Sky).

Stages:
Prologue, Sunday 5 June, Saint-Jean-de-Maurienne to Saint-Jean-de-Maurienne, 5.4km ITT
Stage 1, Monday 6 June, Albertville to Saint-Pierre-de-Chartreuse, 144km
Stage 2, Tuesday 7 June, Voiron to Lyon, 179km
Stage 3, Wednesday 8 June, Grenoble to Grenoble, 42.5km ITT
Stage 4, Thursday 9 June, La Motte-Servolex to Mâcon, 173.5km
Stage 5, Friday 10 June, Parc des Oiseaux - Villars-les-Dombes to Les Gets, 210km
Stage 6, Saturday 11 June, Les Gets to Le Collet d'Allevard, 192.5km
Stage 7, Sunday 12 June, Pontcharra to La Toussuire, 117.5km

[MichaelB]

After the Giro, I wouldn't count on Rodriguez, but it will be interesting to see how Liquigas support Basso.

Pity there are no daily highlights on SBS ...

Go Cadel !!!!!

[The Womble]

Brajkovics managerbadmits Cadel will be the one to beat. OOGABOOGA Cadel! OOGABOOGA!

[goneriding]

Isn't the start of Stage 5 where TLL has been living?

[Chuck]

After the Giro, I wouldn't count on Rodriguez, but it will be interesting to see how Liquigas support Basso.

Pity there are no daily highlights on SBS ...

Go Cadel !!!!!

+1

Stages 5,6 and 7 should be good

[albe]

nice ... DVR is set

[toolonglegs]

Isn't the start of Stage 5 where TLL has been living?

Yup

Yesterday...

Bradley Wiggins (GBr) Sky Procycling in Yellow
On the Cat 4 Côte de Châtillon-la-Palud
Critérium du Dauphiné Stage 4
© Ian Jennings


Peloton on the Cat 4 Côte de Châtillon-la-Palud
Critérium du Dauphiné Stage 4
© Ian Jennings


Peloton on the Cat 4 Côte de Châtillon-la-Palud
Critérium du Dauphiné Stage 4
© Ian Jennings


Jeremy Roy (FDJ) & Adriano Malori (Lampre-ISD)
"Break of the day" on the Cat 4 Côte de Châtillon-la-Palud
Critérium du Dauphiné Stage 4
© Ian Jennings


Jeremy Roy (FDJ) & Adriano Malori (Lampre-ISD)
"Break of the day" on the Cat 4 Côte de Châtillon-la-Palud
Critérium du Dauphiné Stage 4
© Ian Jennings

[AUbicycles]

Thanks TLL... the peloton looks like a packet of smarties.


So.. Cadel in second, 1min 11 behind Wiggins... and two days to go. I think he likes to win this race, can he do it?

[The Womble]

He didnt inspire confidence last night. Again he seemed to react slowly to anything last night, and he looked a tad uncomfortable across the line. Not really a Cadel stage though so we'll see tonight

[AUbicycles]

Unfortunately couldn't watch it... but second is not first... but better than all other riders bar one

[ozzymac]

Hi,
Once again Cadel didn't inspire any confidence that he will do any good in this years TDF. He just never looks comfortable when repeated attacks happen on the climbs. Guess we will wait and see.

Cheers

[The Womble]

Im sure Im not alone in thinking that instead of Cadel reacting to attacks, he MUST be the attacker in the mountains if he is to have any hope this year. Take a chance, ride to his threshold, and see what happens just like the Worlds win. Also, he doesnt dominate in the TT the way he did a few years ago. Hr cant rely on a good TT to pull him up the placings any more. C'mon Cadel, show some Gonads! OOGABOOGA!

[Kenzo]

Im sure Im not alone in thinking that instead of Cadel reacting to attacks, he MUST be the attacker in the mountains if he is to have any hope this year. Take a chance, ride to his threshold, and see what happens just like the Worlds win. Also, he doesnt dominate in the TT the way he did a few years ago. Hr cant rely on a good TT to pull him up the placings any more. C'mon Cadel, show some Gonads! OOGABOOGA!

I don't think he has enough in him to get away from Contador or Schleck.

[The Womble]

The way Cadel rides (to me anyway) he can push for long periods at his threshold as well as anyone in the peloton. Its the constant brief attacks from his rivals on the first half of the major climbs that break him.
The idea would be to go as hard as possible and wait for the rest to simply drop off his wheel or take the chance. He usually sits at the back end of the GC contenders and is the last to respond as a result. Bertie doesnt let someone else dictate the pace on the stages that count

[Chuck]

Also, he doesnt dominate in the TT the way he did a few years ago. Hr cant rely on a good TT to pull him up the placings any more.

Cadel has never been a dominant ITTer in the way that Fab is and that Lance and Jan were. He is still as he was, a consistent top 10 guy. The only ITT stage he won at the Tour was in 07 when Vino went down. He'll pull back time on all the genuine climbers except Contador.

C'mon Cadel, show some Gonads! OOGABOOGA!

He always gives all he's got.

I don't think he has enough in him to get away from Contador or Schleck.

+1

Just trying to keep up with those two puts most on their limit.

[MichaelB]

2nd is still a bloody good result, and they learnt plenty.

He's had a great season so far, and you never know what happens at the TdF.

[igstar]

I thought Cadel did well out of the race. I don't think he wants to stand out too early so he doesn't end up being marked from day 1 in TdF. Wiggins was pretty impressive in the way he handled all the attacks and will certainly be a marked man come TdF now. When he finished 4th a few years ago, he was much lower under the radar.
The other thing is that you don't want to peak too early for TdF. It's a 3-week race with the most difficult stages at the very end.

[Chuck]

The other thing is that you don't want to peak too early for TdF. It's a 3-week race with the most difficult stages at the very end.

You make a fair point.

[toolonglegs]

Yeah peaking at the Dauphine ala Mayo is a bad idea...anything can happen in le tour.Good to see Wiggo back on form though.