2020 Critérium du Dauphiné: course map, details and stage profiles

Amaury Sport Organisation today unveiled the route of the 72nd Critérium du Dauphiné, which will take place from May 31 to June 7. No prologue or time trial is on the program for the eight stages of the 2020 edition, but there will be some very challenging climbs for a demanding route totaling 1,325 kilometers from Clermont-Ferrand to Megève.

Source: Press Release / Photo credits: ASO

The Critérium du Dauphiné will visit Clermont-Ferrand for the first time in its history, where the start of the first stage will be given on May 31. It should be noted that no prologue or time trial will be featured on the 2020 route. The difference will be made in the series of climbs that characterize the Alpine stages, especially on the two weekend stages that will finish in Megève.

It is always possible to innovate, to surprise: this year, the Alpine cycling event will be held in the capital of the Massif Central for the first time. To kick off the 72nd edition, however, the race will begin with a proven method, as the first stage will be contested on a route almost identical to that of the 14th stage of the Tour de France, heading towards Lyon. Also hilly, the road to Saint-Christo-en-Jarez and its final circuit proposed the next day could select only the most resilient finishers on the rolling terrain. For the third day, the rider who presents himself in the final of Saint-Vallier, with a big kilometer climb at an average gradient of 12%, could even eliminate them in favor of the sharpest punchers.

In Bourg-de-Péage, the tradition of sprint finishes that is characteristic of the Rhône Valley communes should be respected. However, the Wednesday time trial has been abandoned in order to open up as many tactical options as possible for the title contenders: for the first time since 1947, there will not be a single kilometer ridden against the clock in the Dauphiné. The entry into the purely mountainous sequence will therefore allow climbers to position themselves and gauge their form from the 5th stage, whose final will be launched on the “very rock’n’roll” descent following the Côte Maillet, according to Gilles Maignan. The next day, the riders will partly get their bearings on the roads of the 17th stage of the Tour de France, notably crossing the Col de la Madeleine. The big battle of the peaks is, however, expected on the two weekend stages, with 4700 m of positive elevation gain to be tackled on Saturday, climbing for example to the Col de la Croix Fry, Les Aravis, Bisanne before aiming for the Megève altiport. The final stage will be played out on an equally high-tension loop, taking a probably scattered peloton over the Côte de Domancy, then the Col de Romme and La Colombière, before finishing with the severe Côte de Cordon. An ideal terrain for mountain goats. It should also be noted that Savoie Mont-Blanc Tourisme has formalized the continuation of its partnership with the event as a supporter of the white jersey for the next three years.

The stages of the Critérium du Dauphiné 2020:

Sunday, May 31 – Stage 1 – Clermont-Ferrand (63) > Lyon (69) – 197 km

Categorized climbs on Stage 1:
– Km 32.5 – Côte du château d’Aulteribe Climb of 1 km at 8.2%
– Km 68.5 – Col du Béal Climb of 10.2 km at 5.6%
– Km 93 – Côte de Courreau Climb of 4 km at 5.7%
– Km 184 – Côte de La Duchère Climb of 1.4 km at 5.6%
– Km 192.5 – Côte de la Croix-Rousse Climb of 1.4 km at 4.8%

Monday, June 1 – Stage 2 – Saint-Germain-au-Mont-d’Or (69) > Saint-Christo-en-Jarez (42) – 181 km

Categorized climbs on Stage 2:
– Km 34 – Col de la Luère Climb of 5.4 km at 6.2%
– Km 95 – Côte de Saint-Héand Climb of 2.9 km at 4.3%
– Km 110.5 – Montée Andreï Kivilev Climb of 3.6 km at 3.8%
– Km 135 – Côte de Leymieux Climb of 2 km at 5.5%
– Km 145 – Col de la Gachet Climb of 3.3 km at 4.6%
– Km 170 – Côte de Leymieux Climb of 2 km at 5.5%
– Km 180 – Col de la Gachet Climb of 3.3 km at 4.6%

Tuesday, June 2 – Stage 3 – Saint-Chamond (42) > Saint-Vallier (26) – 175.5 km

Categorized climbs on Stage 3:
– Km 10 – Côte du Planil Climb of 3.7 km at 6.4%
– Km 96.5 – Côte de la Sizeranne Climb of 2.5 km at 6.5%
– Km 126.5 – Côte de Hauterives Climb of 2.1 km at 5.2%
– Km 149.5 – Col de Barbe Bleue Climb of 2.1 km at 6.2%
– Km 163.5 – Côte du Montrebut Climb of 1.3 km at 12%

Wednesday, June 3 – Stage 4 – Loriol-sur-Drôme (26) > Bourg-de-Péage (26) – 173 km

Categorized climbs on Stage 4:
– Km 8.5 – Col de la Grande Limite Climb of 3.1 km at 6.4%
– Km 99 – Col de la Sausse Climb of 5.8 km at 5.3%

Thursday, June 4 – Stage 5 – Vienne (38) > Col de Porte (38) – 132.5 km

Categorized climbs on Stage 5:
– Km 50 – Côte de Virville Climb of 4.1 km at 5.5%
– Km 56.5 – Côte de Roybon Climb of 1.5 km at 7.1%
– Km 98.5 – Côte Maillet Climb of 6.2 km at 8%
– Km 132.5 – Col de Porte Climb of 17.5 km at 6.2%

Friday, June 5 – Stage 6 – Corenc (38) > Saint-Martin-de-Belleville (73) – 156.5 km

Categorized climbs on Stage 6:
– Km 105 – Col de la Madeleine Climb of 17.3 km at 8.3%
– Km 156.5 – Montée de Saint-Martin-de-Belleville Climb of 14.8 km at 6%

Saturday, June 6 – Stage 7 – Ugine (73) > Megève (74) – 156.5 km

Categorized climbs on Stage 7:
– Km 11 – Col de l’Epine Climb of 6 km at 7.9%
– Km 31 – Col de Plan Bois Climb of 6.3 km at 9.5%
– Km 45 – Col de la Croix Fry Climb of 6.6 km at 7.9%
– Km 53.5 – Col des Aravis Climb of 4.3 km at 5.5%
– Km 72 – Côte d’Héry-sur-Ugine Climb of 2.7 km at 8.8%
– Km 123 – Montée de Bisanne Climb of 12.4 km at 8.2%
– Km 156.5 – Megève – Montée de l’altiport Climb of 7.4 km at 4.7%

Sunday, June 7 – Stage 8 – Megève (74) > Megève (74) – 153 km

Categorized climbs on Stage 8:
– Km 16.5 – Côte de Domancy Climb of 2.5 km at 9.4%
– Km 46 – Col de Romme Climb of 8.8 km at 8.9%
– Km 60 – Col de la Colombière Climb of 7.5 km at 8.5%
– Km 85 – Col des Aravis Climb of 10.1 km at 5.1%
– Km 98.5 – Côte de la Frassette Climb of 2 km at 6.1%
– Km 129 – Côte de Domancy Climb of 2.5 km at 9.4%
– Km 138 – Côte de Cordon Climb of 4.6 km at 8.2%
– Km 153 – Megève – Montée de l’altiport Climb of 9 km at 4.6%

Teams selected to participate in the 72nd edition of the Critérium du Dauphiné
AG2R LA MONDIALE
ASTANA PRO TEAM
B&B HOTELS – VITAL CONCEPT
BAHRAIN – McLAREN
BORA – HANSGROHE
CCC TEAM
CIRCUS – WANTY GOBERT
COFIDIS
DECEUNINCK – QUICK – STEP
EF PRO CYCLING
GROUPAMA – FDJ
ISRAEL START – UP NATION
LOTTO SOUDAL
MITCHELTON – SCOTT
MOVISTAR TEAM
NTT PRO CYCLING TEAM
TEAM ARKEA – SAMSIC
TEAM INEOS
TEAM JUMBO – VISMA
TEAM SUNWEB
TREK – SEGAFREDO
UAE TEAM EMIRATES