Key points:

Ø The 73rd Critérium du Dauphiné starts tomorrow with a 181.8km stage around Issoire. The final circuit favours an open race where sprinters and attackers can both dream of success.

Ø Ineos Grenadiers and their leader Geraint Thomas are the hot favorites to claim the overall victory with an individual time-trial and a gruelling final week-end leading to Les Gets. David Gaudu and Guillaume Martin want to make the most of their climbing abilities to maintain their strong dynamic.

GILLES MAIGNAN: “A SMALL GROUP COULD BREAK AWAY”
The fist stage through the department of Puy-de-Dôme revolves around Issoire, with a first 107km loop around the city followed by two laps on a 37.5km circuit. There isn’t really a single difficulty set to shred the peloton but the sequence with the Côte du Château de Buron (cat-3) and the Col de la Croix des Gardes (cat-4) will be tackled three times and could allow a group of attackers to get away in the final lap according to Gilles Maginan, who designs the route of the Critérium du Dauphiné: “With these two climbs coming one after the other, riders could be dropped off the back with a high tempo. There will be 12 km remaining after the last ascent so a small group could break away and open a small lead that could be enough to make it to the line if they work well together. Furthermore, there shouldn’t be too many teams pulling for their sprinters, although Alexander Kristoff could still be at the front if he’s feeling good.” The Norwegian sprinter claimed the first yellow jersey last year in the Tour de France. Could he do the same in Issoire?

DAVID GAUDU: “I’M HERE TO INCREASE THE INTENSITY”
Groupama-FDJ change gear in 2021 but they remain ambitious following David Gaudu’s strong performances since last year’s La Vuelta (2 stage wins). The young French climber shone in the Ardennes (7th of the Flèche Wallonne, 3rd of Liège-Bastogne-Liège) and in the Itzulia Basque Country (stage win in Arate). He leads his team in the Dauphiné ahead of the Tour despite a recent crash that prevented his participation in the Tour du Finistère: “I took a tumble in a downhill at 70km/h, I flew through the air but I didn’t break anything. I saw I was able to get back up, it was more scary than painful. I’ve been able to do some intense training sessions this week and I didn’t feel anything.” Reassured, Gaudu is ambitious and cautious at the same time for this week: “I don’t think I’m a favorite, I’m here to increase the intensity. When you see Geraint Thomas and a few others will be there, I don’t know, but I hope I’ll feel good. It will be a success if I enjoy myself and I’m with the best on the key ascents.”

GABRIEL RASCH: “GERAINT IS READY TO BATTLE”
In the history of the team Sky and then Ineos, strong performances in the Critérium du Dauphiné have always played an important part with six victories for Bradley Wiggins (2011-2012), Chris Froome (2013, 2015, 2016) and Geraint Thomas (2018). The British squad comes to Issoire with experienced riders, including four former stage winners in the Dauphiné. “Geraint is ready to battle”, sports director Gabriel Rasch says. “They came back from a training camp in Tenerife last week and it went very well. The opposition may not look as dense as usual but you can’t underestimate anyone. Movistar have a very strong team. The time-trial will be an important day and I know Geraint will do well, he will be one of the best. We also come with Richie Porte and Tao Geoghegan Hart, the point is to build a team towards the Tour.”

GUILLAUME MARTIN: “I ALREADY BEAT THOMAS AND PORTE IN THE PAST”
Cofidis and their leader Guillaume Martin displayed their ambitions a week after the French climber won the Mercan’Tour Classic. Martin was 3rd overall in the 2020 Critérium du Dauphiné and he wants to show his strength against the leaders from Ineos Grenadiers or Movistar: “Given the route of the Tour de France, I’ll be there more to hunt stages and this week I will focus on the general classification. I showed I’m in a good condition and I have no complex towards the likes of Geraint Thomas and Richie Porte. I already beat them in the past. I hope the race won’t be controlled by one team. Anyway, I will fight as if my life depends on it.” Martin hopes to make the most of his climbing abilities to overturn the time loss he faces with the ITT on stage 4: “It’s the weak point, but the route for week-end makes me think the situation can be turned upside down. I also worked a lot, especially with sessions in the national velodrome of Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines. I haven’t transformed into a Filippo Ganna but I hope I have improved.”

TV BROADCAST: ALL BASQUE EYES ON THE DAUPHINÉ
The images of the Critérium du Dauphiné will be broadcasted in 190 territories, a global coverage that increases every year, may it be with the addition of new broadcasters or with an extended number of hours dedicated to the race. This year for instance, the Basque fans will enjoy two hours of live coverage with euskara commentaries on the local channel ETB. Let’s see if the experienced Ion Izagirre or his young Astana teammate Alex Aranburu enjoy the opportunity to shine on punchy roads.
@ASO