The Critérium du Dauphiné sits in a privileged slot in the WorldTour calendar with only four weeks from its start to the beginning of the Tour de France, and because of that, it has always been one of the final indicators of who has the potential to be competitive in July.
As race director and the record holder for the number of podium appearances, Bernard Thévenet, pinned down the challenges of the route perfectly when he describes the race as a condensed Tour de France. And it truly is. There are flat stages, rolling stages, and some mountains. Something for everyone, he told me on Sunday’s stage 1, and a race where every type of rider can compete and show their talents if they have the form. The Dauphiné offers every style of rider the chance to deliver.
Another vital aspect of being able to race well here is the confidence it gives a rider because, and it’s especially highlighted this year, the level is so high. Quite often the rider who wins the Dauphiné goes on to win the Tour, so in terms of guys who want to be taken seriously, the race presents an ideal opportunity to prove just where they lie in the hierarchy of favourites.
ADVERTISEMENT
However, it’s not just the big names who come to the race looking for answers and information on how their form is. The other riders that make up a team also have things to prove and the directeurs sportifs are watching all the time, seeing who is going well, and noting what little things need adjusting to make sure the whole structure is in the best possible condition for the Tour.
Take AG2R La Mondiale as an example. This is a race that matters to them and they have come here with Romain Bardet as a possible winner. However, the core of what will be their Tour de France team is also present and that unit has come directly from a two-week training camp at Sierra Nevada. Manager Vincent Lavenu highlighted not just the physical need to complete altitude work but also build a solid core of riders he can rely on, a homogenous collective that has confidence in each other.
That’s a recurring theme of the Dauphiné, confidence. It’s an important aspect to riders’ form but also in making sure all the staff is prepared for three weeks of stress that awaits them at the Tour. Traditionally there’s also new equipment from the teams’ suppliers to test, so more often than not there’ll be a new frame that’s intended for the Tour de France but it’ll be previewed once or twice, probably on a stage where if something goes wrong it’s not dramatic. You might get a new bike or an updated groupset to test under race conditions but then it goes back in the truck for the season’s main event.
You can read more at Cyclingnews.com
via Cyclingnews Latest Interviews and Features http://www.cyclingnews.com/features/philippa-york-why-the-criterium-du-dauphine-matters
No comments:
Post a Comment