Criterium du Dauphiné 2022 – GC Preview

The first of the two big warm-up races. Let’s take a look at the individual stages.

Stage 1

A start with a few climbs, which should establish the morning break. Then they do two laps on a circuit. It should be a sprint, but we will have to see if any teams will attack the last climb.

Stage 2

A bit more climbing than on the first day, but the last 50 km are quite easy. We will have to see if the breakaway can fool the fast men.

Stage 3

The first difficult finish should see a reduced GC sprint. With bonus seconds on the line, expect a lot of riders to want to take the stage.

Stage 4

A long, flat time trial. I do enjoy them and we need longer TTs if you ask me. It is one of the most important days here.

Stage 5

A day for the sprinters.

Stage 6

I think a lot of teams will be interested in joining the morning breakaway. With almost 3000 climbing meters, I doubt a lot of teams will control it for their sprinter.

Stage 7

Absolutely fantastic start – Col du Galibier from the very start. Either a strong break will go or a GC team will want to make the stage difficult from the very start.

Stage 8

With the TT, the most important day of the race. A very demanding climb at the end, but a strong breakaway is likely to form too.

Contenders

Jumbo-Visma – with the best team, by far, of the race. With Roglic and Vingegaard here, they have two options. I expect both of them to be well placed after the TT and I expect the same strategy as we saw in Basque Country, I just think we see a stronger Roglic.

Mas – he could go very well, but we will have to see if he can do a good TT. Sometimes he performs very well, sometimes he does not. Another issue is, he rarely performs at his top level outside Grand Tours, I think he is a few percent off ahead of the TdF.

Bahrain with Haig and Caruso. Both will need to do a great TT to have a change. I think both of them will be some of the strongest climbers, but I do not think they can win – due to their weak TT. I think Haig can fight for a spot on the podium, Caruso for a solid placement inside the top-10.

Kelderman – let’s see what he has left. Some riders perform really well 1-2 weeks after a GT and he did have good legs in the Giro d’Italia. He has a very strong time trial as well, which is a major bonus. I think he will do quite well.

UAE – with McNulty, who has a good TT and Ayuso, who is the better climber of the two. They are in the same category as Bahrain, they will need to do a very good TT – both of them to fight for the win. I expect both of them in the top-10 at the end of the race.

Hart – let’s see what the Brit can do, he has not been ill or injured for some time – I do hope he gets back to his top level soon. It does not seem like he will be picked for the TdF – if he wants to, he must perform well here.

Gaudu – TT is a big problem, expect him to fight for stage wins.

O’Connor – see above.

Padun – on EF setup. In his first TT of the year, he took a win. He could be very surprising if he climbs as well as last year.

Who will win?

I think Jumbo-Visma got this. A win for Roglic.