Tour
Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes
The 78th edition of the Critérium du Dauphiné — rebranded for 2026 as the Tour Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes — covers 1,204.3km across 8 stages from Vizille (Isère) to a summit finish at the Plateau de Solaison (Haute-Savoie), June 7–14, 2026. The route crosses 10 of the region's 12 départements and serves as the traditional final dress rehearsal for the Tour de France, including a 28.4km team time trial on stage 3 that previews the Tour's opening Barcelona TTT. The decisive final three stages all finish uphill — Grand Colombier on stage 7 and Plateau de Solaison on stage 8 as the queen-stage finale.
Where to watch
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The route, day by day
QUEEN
Who to watch & what to watch for
Top Starters
Jerseys
Fight for the overall
Narratives to watch
- New name, same race: 2026 is the first edition under the Tour Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes branding (announced 2025). The Critérium du Dauphiné name retires after 77 years, but the Tour de France warm-up role is unchanged.
- Team time trial as TdF rehearsal: The 28.4km TTT on stage 3 (Le Perreux loop) mirrors the format of the Tour de France 2026 opening TTT in Barcelona — three weeks earlier, GC teams will use it as a dress rehearsal.
- Three uphill finales: Stages 6, 7 and 8 all finish uphill, with Grand Colombier (stage 7) and Plateau de Solaison (stage 8) as the headline summit finishes. The GC is unlikely to be settled before the final weekend.
- Tour de France barometer: As the most direct Tour preview race, the Dauphiné historically reveals who arrives at the Tour with the legs — pure climbers, TT specialists, or all-rounders capable of both.
Form book & lore
The Dauphiné Libéré was founded in 1947 by Belgian journalist Georges Cazeneuve. Renamed the Critérium du Dauphiné in 2010 when ASO took over organisation, it has been the canonical Tour de France warm-up for more than seven decades. The 2026 rename to Tour Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes reflects expanded regional sponsorship.
When to tune in
Stage 7 (Grand Colombier) and stage 8 (Plateau de Solaison) are the GC-defining days. The stage 3 TTT is a must-watch for fans tracking which teams have peaked their TTT execution before the Tour de France.