A Grand Rehearsal: The Rebranded Tour Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes Sets the Stage for Cycling's Elite
The Strategic Team Time Trial: A Prelude to the Tour de France
The 2026 edition of the Tour Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes will include a significant 28.4km team time trial (TTT) on its third stage. This TTT is meticulously designed to mirror the conditions of the 19km TTT set for the Tour de France in Barcelona, providing an invaluable opportunity for teams to fine-tune their strategies and assess their form. The timing of this event, just three and a half weeks before the French Grand Tour, makes it an essential preparatory race.
The Evolution of a Classic: From Critérium du Dauphiné to Tour Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes
Last June marked a pivotal moment for this esteemed cycling event, as it was announced that the Critérium du Dauphiné would undergo a rebranding, emerging as the Tour Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes. The 2026 race will be the inaugural edition under this new nomenclature, signaling a fresh chapter for a competition deeply rooted in cycling history. This change is poised to inject new energy and prestige into the race, while maintaining its tradition of challenging routes and fierce competition.
Summit Showdowns: Grand Colombier and Plateau de Solaison Await
The 78th iteration of this crucial Tour de France warm-up race promises an array of demanding stages. Riders will face three challenging summit finishes, including the iconic ascents of the Grand Colombier and the formidable Plateau de Solaison in the final two stages. These mountainous sections, alongside three undulating stages and one dedicated sprint stage, will test the climbers' prowess and overall endurance. Notably, the Plateau de Solaison will reappear a month later as a key feature of stage 15 in the Tour de France, underscoring its importance in the professional cycling calendar.
The New Face of Time Trials: Individual Timings in a Team Effort
Breaking from traditional team time trial formats, the Tour Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes will adopt the approach seen in recent Paris-Nice races. In this format, individual times are recorded at the finish line, rather than a collective team time. This subtle yet significant alteration adds a layer of individual pressure within the team context, forcing riders to push their personal limits while still contributing to the overall team performance.
A Director's Vision: Christian Prudhomme on the Race's Contemporary Appeal
Christian Prudhomme, the esteemed director of the race, articulated his vision for the Tour Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes in the press materials. He emphasized that while the event is deeply "rooted in its history," it is also a dynamic "product of its time." Prudhomme highlighted the route's promise of a "thrilling race from start to finish," characterized by an early start that favors aggressive riders and a "grand mountain finale to crown the champions." He also pointed out the TTT in Perreux as a direct "dress rehearsal for the Grand Départ of the Tour de France in Barcelona," and noted the historical significance of the Grand Colombier and Plateau de Solaison for renowned cyclists like Tadej Pogačar and Jonas Vingegaard. The introduction of "unprecedented challenges such as the climb to Crest-Voland" is set to add new dimensions to the competition.
Opening Stages: Hilly Terrain and Marathon Distances
The race kicks off with a hilly 140.1km stage from Vizille to Saint-Ismier, featuring five categorized climbs, including the challenging Côte de Saint-Jean-le-Vieux Montée, which boasts an average gradient of 8.7% over 5.6km. The subsequent day presents an epic 237.3km journey from Saint-Martin-le-Vinoux to Le Puy-en-Velay, incorporating four categorized climbs and notably exceeding the longest stage of the current year's Tour de France by 30km, promising an early test of endurance.
Diverse Challenges: From Time Trials to Punishing Climbs
Following the team time trial in Perreux, stage four returns to a hilly profile with 165.8km from Le Puy-en-Velay to Montrond-les-Bains, encompassing six categorized climbs, despite a largely flat finish. Stage five, stretching 198km from Saint-Chamond to Parc des Oiseaux - Villars-les-Dombers, appears to be the only stage clearly designed for sprinters, featuring three fourth-category climbs but no significant ascents in the final 80km, setting the stage for a high-speed finish.
The Alpine Gauntlet: Crest-Voland and Grand Colombier
The race then transitions into its mountainous phase with stage six, a journey from Saint-Vulbas to Crest-Voland. This stage includes four categorized climbs, notably the first-category Côte d'Héry-sur-Ugine (11.3km at 5.1%) and the demanding summit finish at Crest-Voland (5.9km at 7.7%), marking its debut in the race. Stage seven, a 133.3km route from La Bridoire to the Grand Colombier, features six climbs, including the iconic Lacets du Grand Colombier (7km at 8.4%) and a return ascent of the Colombier via the formidable Virieu-le-Petit slope (8.4 km at 10.2%), promising a day of relentless climbing.
The Grand Finale: Plateau de Solaison and the Decisive Climbs
The ultimate stage of the race is a mountainous 120km trek from Beaufort to the Plateau de Solaison, packed with four significant climbs. Riders will confront the Col du Pré (6.9km at 10.1%), the Montée de Bisanne (11.4km at 7.7%), the Col des Aravis (7km at 6.8%), and the decisive summit finish at Plateau de Solaison (11.3km at 9.1%). This final day is set to be a true test of stamina and climbing prowess, likely determining the overall winner.
Absence of a Champion: Pogačar's Alternative Preparation
While the full lineup for the June race is yet to be finalized, it has been confirmed that defending champion Tadej Pogačar (UAE Team Emirates-XRG) will not participate. Instead, Pogačar is scheduled to compete in the Tour de Suisse the following week, opting for a different preparatory path en route to the Tour de France.