The sprinters will wish to keep house for this yr’s Critérium du Dauphiné, which seems to be tailor-made to the pure climbers. With mountain summit finishes on 5 of the eight levels and a time trial, the organisers ASO have created a brutal route designed to check the world’s greatest.
Sadly, nearly the entire big-name contenders who had the Dauphiné circled in pink on their calendars crashed in the course of the Itzulia Basque Nation in April, and defending champion Jonas Vingegaard (Visma-Lease a Bike) won’t be on the beginning line.
The Dane is again to coaching after recovering from breaking a number of ribs, his collarbone and a collapsed lung that saved him within the hospital for 12 days after that crash, however just isn’t fairly able to sort out a parcours as extreme as what the ASO have cooked up for the Dauphiné.
Remco Evenepoel (Soudal-Quickstep) and Primož Roglič (Bora-Hansgrohe) additionally went down within the crash, with the Belgian breaking his collarbone and scapula. Roglič dropped out of the race with a knee damage.
Each riders have made a fast sufficient comeback to be match for the Dauphiné and prime Cyclingnews‘ record of prime contenders.
Remco Evenepoel (Soudal-Quickstep)
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Since being considered one of three of the anticipated contenders of the Critérium du Dauphiné and Tour de France to crash throughout stage 4 of the Itzulia Basque Nation, Remco Evenepoel has made a fast restoration, having surgical procedure to repair his damaged collarbone and getting again to coaching on the street three weeks after the wreck.
Whereas Tadej Pogačar was dominating the Giro d’Italia, Evenepoel was within the Sierra Nevada capping off hours of mountain coaching with an enormous journey together with 5,200 metres of climbing.
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As the present World Time Trial Champion, Evenepoel would be the main favorite for the 34.4-kilometre stage 4 particular person time trial.
The ultimate three levels, with finishes atop Le Collet d’Allevard (11.2km at 8.1%), Samoëns 1600 (10km at 9.3%) and Plateau des Glières (9.4km at 7.1% however with lengthy stretches of 10% or extra) shall be a real take a look at of the Belgian’s climbing talents.
Primož Roglič (Bora-Hansgrohe)
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Roglič’s transition from eight years with Visma to Bora-Hansgrohe hasn’t precisely gone to plan. His debut with the staff at Paris-Good ended with a tenth place.
Nevertheless, Roglič’s victory within the time trial at Itzulia Basque Nation confirmed an upward trajectory. Sadly, his race got here to an finish with that crash on day 4 of his race lead.
Bora’s sport director Ralph Aldag stated earlier this month that Roglič has not had any issues after the crash. “His coaching is producing actually good numbers. So it’s not simply what he says about how he feels,” he stated.
A match Roglič will definitely be a significant contender on the Dauphiné. With way more climbing than the version he received in 2022, this yr’s race suggestions the steadiness much more in his favour.
Carlos Rodríguez (Ineos Grenadiers)
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Carlos Rodríguez represents the brand new wave of Grand Tour contenders within the British staff. The 23-year-old completed seventh in his Vuelta a España debut in 2022 and fifth within the Tour de France final yr, and he has solely been getting stronger.
Rodríguez completed second to Juan Ayuso (UAE Workforce Emirates) within the Itzulia Basque Nation and received the Tour de Romandie in April.
Final yr, Rodríguez completed ninth within the Dauphiné however heads into the race this season with appreciable momentum.
Sepp Kuss (Visma-Lease a Bike)
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With Vingegaard nonetheless getting again into type after his accidents, Sepp Kuss will head into the Dauphiné possible as Visma’s undisputed chief.
Whereas teammate Matteo Jorgenson stamped his identify into the record of Grand Tour contenders along with his Paris-Good win in February, the course for the Dauphiné is most suited to a pure climber just like the 2023 Vuelta a España winner Kuss.
The relentless steep gradients within the finales of the final three levels shall be an ideal place for Kuss to place his expertise on show and in addition a manner for him to place the bitter intra-team rivalries of the Vuelta behind him for good.
Juan Ayuso (UAE Workforce Emirates)
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The winner of the 2024 Itzulia Basque Nation, Juan Ayuso is supremely proficient and poised to step up one other rung on the ladder of Grand Tour contenders within the Dauphiné.
Ayuso, like teammate Tadej Pogačar, landed on the rostrum in his Grand Tour debut, on the age of 19 in 2022.
Since then, he is landed on the rostrum of the Tour de Suisse, Tirreno-Adriatico, and Itzulia Basque Nation. With the complete backing of his staff, the Dauphiné might be his subsequent main podium earlier than he helps Pogačar within the Tour de France.
Santiago Buitrago (Bahrain Victorious)
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Whereas the 5 riders above are the most probably contenders, with the prolonged break between the early season racing and the Dauphiné, there may be a whole lot of room for enchancment.
Santiago Buitrago (Bahrain Victorious), tenth within the Vuelta final season and runner-up in Valenciana this spring was on monitor for a stable end in Paris-Good, mendacity second total after his win on Mont Brouilly. Nevertheless, he then crashed in two separate levels and dropped out on the ultimate day.
David Gaudu (Groupama-FDJ)
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David Gaudu (Groupama-FDJ), ninth in final yr’s Tour de France, has had an unfortunate early season, too. After struggling a crash in Paris-Good, Gaudu deserted on the final stage with sickness. He then crashed once more within the Itzulia Basque Nation and suffered a deep gash in his hand that pressured him to desert. His luck circled with a win within the Tour du Jura.
After spending the Tour de Romandie in service of teammate Lenny Martinez, the Frenchman will wish to present he is nonetheless his staff’s primary contender within the Dauphiné.
