Yes! Le Grand Boucle is coming.
The Dauphine is the traditional preparation race for the Tour de France. It ends about three weeks before the Tour starts, and most riders choose between this and the Tour de Suisse to warm up for the Tour.
The name “Dauphine” refers to the traditional region of France (mostly in the Alps) in which the race takes place.
Despite what looks like a lopsided GC battle, this promises to be an intriguing race.
The defending Tour champion, Jonas Vingegaard is riding, and he can be expected to be near top form. Last year, he put in a monster shift on Plateau de Solaison, pulling his teammate Primoz Roglic to the title. This performance was indicative of things to come, as Jonas dropped Pogacar by 3 minutes on the Granon stage of the Tour a month later. It’s something about those long, 9-percent climbs, man…
Stage one is very hilly, with 2,753 meters of elevation gain and hardly a meter of flat ground. The climbs are mostly pretty shallow for WorldTour riders, but I’d expect INEOS Grenadiers to pace them pretty aggressively to dispatch the big sprinters (Groenewegen and Bennett) in favor of their man, Ethan Hayter. Julian Alaphilippe in good shape could also be competitive.
Stage two is another pretty tough day in the saddle with 2,865 meters of elevation. Most of the stage takes place on a rolling plateau above 1,000 meters. It looks like another climby-sprinty boi stage.
Stage three is not flat, but I don’t think it has enough difficulties to get ride of the sprinters. There is a 7.8k 3 percent climb 20k from the finish, but 3 percent is extremely shallow for these guys. You never know, but I’d expect Bennett and Groenewegen to get over it and contest the stage win.
Stage four is a 31k TT. This should be a GC affair with Jonas the heavy favorite to take a chunk of time. I’m also looking for a strong performance from Matteo Jorgensen.
Stage five is flat for the first half, then hilly. There is a 3.7k 8.2 percent climb 14 kilometers from the finish line, which should encourage some attacks. It could be a stage for the breakaway considering it is 191 kilometers. I don’t expect Jonas to do much here, just defend his presumptive yellow jersey.
Stage six is a medium-mountain stage with shallow climbs. There probably won’t be much GC action, and it may be one for the breakaway.
Stage seven is a high mountain stage finishing atop the Croix de Fer. Jonas should win this stage.
Stage eight is a novel stage in France with numerous tough mountains, a descent, and then a 1.8k 13.7 percent climb to the finish. It almost looks like a Vuelta stage. I’m not sure the GC guys will go for it with a long, steep descent before the final climb.
GC predictions: Jonas will mop the floor with everyone. I’m hoping to see Matteo Jorgensen podium, and the other step will be occupied by David Gaudu.
Puncheur 
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