2009 Critérium du Dauphiné Live Dashboard

Despite all the controversy that surrounds him, Alejandro Valverde continues to win one week races like last year's Critérium du Dauphiné Libéré (left) and last month's Volta a Catalunya (right). He's back to defend his Dauphine title starting this weekend. Photos: Colin Flockton, steephill.tv.

Also follow steephill on Twitter for the latest race info and video updates.

Sunday, June 7

12 km

Nancy

Monday, June 8

228 km

Nancy → Dijon

Tuesday, June 9

182 km

Tournus → Saint-Étienne

Wednesday, June 10

42 km

Bourg-lès-Valence → Valence

Thursday, June 11

154 km

Valence → Mont-Ventoux

Friday, June 12

106 km

Gap → Briançon

Saturday, June 13

157 km

Briançon → Saint-François-Longchamp

Sunday, June 14

146 km

Faverges → Grenoble

Total Distance

1027 km

2009 Critérium du Dauphiné Libéré la carte du parcours

2009 Critérium du Dauphiné Libéré Teams

Team Rosters and ~~Withdrawals~~

Caisse d'Epargne (GCE)
(ESP)

1	VALVERDE BELMONTE Alejandro	ESP
2	ERVITI Imanol	ESP
3	COYOT Arnaud	FRA
4	GUTIERREZ PALACIOS Jose Ivan	ESP
5	PASAMONTES RODRIGUEZ Luis	ESP
6	PEREIRO SIO Oscar	ESP
7	ZANDIO ECHAIDE Xabier	ESP
8	URAN Rigoberto	COL

Silence - Lotto (SIL)
(BEL)

11	EVANS Cadel	AUS
12	AERTS Mario	BEL
13	LANG Sebastian	GER
14	LLOYD Matthew	AUS
15	SCHEIRLINCKX Staf	BEL
16	SENTJENS Roy	BEL
17	VAN DEN BROECK Jurgen	BEL
18	VANENDERT Jelle	BEL

Astana (AST)
(KAZ)

21	CONTADOR VELASCO Alberto	ESP
22	DYACHENKO Alexsandr	KAZ
23	HERNANDEZ BLAZQUEZ Jesus	ESP
24	NOVAL GONZALEZ Benjamin	ESP
25	PAULINHO Sergio Miguel Moreira	POR
26	RENEV Sergey	KAZ
27	VAITKUS Tomas	LTU
28	ZUBELDIA AGIRRE Haimar	ESP

Rabobank (RAB)
(NED)

31	GESINK Robert	NED
32	CLEMENT Stef	NED
33	FLECHA GIANNONI Juan Antonio	ESP
34	GARATE Juan Manuel	ESP
35	MOERENHOUT Koos	NED
36	NIERMANN Grischa	GER
37	POSTHUMA Joost	NED
38	TANKINK Bram	NED

Euskaltel-Euskadi (EUS)
(ESP)

41	LANDALUZE INTXAURRAGA Inigo	ESP
42	ANTON HERNANDEZ Igor	ESP
43	ASTARLOZA CHAURREAU Mikel	ESP
44	ISASI FLORES Inaki	ESP
45	MARTINEZ DE ESTEBAN Egoi	ESP
46	NIEVE ITURLADE Mikel	ESP
47	PEREZ LEZAUN Alan	ESP
48	VERDUGO MARCOTEGUI Gorka	ESP

ag2r - La Mondiale (ALM)
(FRA)

51	DESSEL Cyril	FRA
52	ARRIETA LUJAMBIO Jose Luis	ESP
53	DUPONT Hubert	FRA
54	EFIMKIN Vladimir	RUS
55	TURPIN Ludovic	FRA
56	GOUBERT Stephane	FRA
57	NOCENTINI Rinaldo	ITA
58	ROCHE Nicholas	IRL

Francaise des Jeux (FDJ)
(FRA)

61	COPPEL Jerome	BEL
62	CHAVANEL Sebastien	FRA
63	DI GREGORIO Remy	FRA
64	GESLIN Anthony	FRA
65	JOLY Sebastien	FRA
66	LADAGNOUS Mathieu	FRA
67	LE MEVEL Christophe	FRA
68	VAUGRENARD Benoit	FRA

Cofidis Le Credit en Ligne (COF)
(FRA)

71	PAURIOL Remi	FRA
72	AUGE Stephane	FRA
73	EL FARES Julien	FRA
74	FERNANDEZ BUSTINZA Bingen	ESP
75	KERN Christophe	FRA
76	MINARD Sebastien	FRA
77	MOINARD Amael	FRA
78	MONCOUTIE David	FRA

Quick Step (QST)
(BEL)

81	BOONEN Tom	BEL
82	PINEAU Jerome	FRA
83	DE WEERT Kevin	BEL
84	DEVOLDER Stijn	BEL
85	ROSSELER Sebastien	BEL
86	VAN DE WALLE Jurgen	BEL
87	VELO Marco	ITA
88	WIJNANTS Maarten	BEL

Garmin - Slipstream (GRM)
(USA)

91	MILLAR David	GBR
92	COZZA Steven	USA
93	DUGGAN Timothy	USA
94	LOWE Trent	AUS
95	MARTIN Daniel	IRL
96	MEIER Christian	CAN
97	PETERSON Thomas	USA
98	TUFT Svein	CAN

Bbox Bouygues Telecom (BBO)
(FRA)

101	FEDRIGO Pierrick	FRA
102	ARASHIRO Yukiya	JPN
103	PICHOT Alexandre	FRA
104	BONNET William	FRA
105	GAUTIER Cyril	FRA
106	ROLLAND Pierre	FRA
107	TROFIMOV Yuri	RUS
108	LEFEVRE Laurent	FRA

Milram (MRM)
(GER)

111	KNAVEN Servais	NED
112	KNEES Christian	GER
113	KUX Christian	GER
114	ROELS Dominik	GER
115	TERPSTRA Niki	NED
116	VELITS Martin	SVK
117	VOSS Paul	GER
118	WEGMANN Fabian	GER

Lampre - NGC (LAM)
(ITA)

121	SPILAK Simon	SLO
122	BANDIERA Marco	ITA
123	FURLAN Angelo	ITA
124	MARZANO Marco	ITA
125	LORENZETTO Mirco	ITA
126	SANTAMBROGIO Mauro	ITA
127	RIGHI Daniele	ITA
128	ZAGORODNY Volodymyr	UKR

Columbia (THR)
(USA)

131	GRABSCH Bert	GER
132	BARRY Michael	CAN
133	HANSEN Adam	AUS
134	LEWIS Craig	USA
135	POSSONI Morris	ITA
136	RABON Frantisek	CZE
137	SIEBERG Marcel	GER

Katusha (KAT)
(RUS)

141	BOTCHAROV Alexandre	RUS
142	BODROGI Laszlo	FRA
143	PETROV Evgeny	RUS
144	ROVNY Ivan	RUS
145	SEROV Alexander	RUS
146	STEEGMANS Gert	BEL
147	TRUSOV Nikolay	RUS
148	VANDENBERGH Stijn	BEL

Saxo Bank (SAX)
(DEN)

151	BAK Lars Ytting	DEN
152	FUGLSANG Jakob	DEN
153	HOJ Frank	DEN
154	KOLOBNEV Alexandr	RUS
155	KROON Karsten	NED
156	BOCHMANN Lasse	DEN
157	SØRENSEN Nicki	DEN
158	VAN GOOLEN Jurgen	BEL

Liquigas (LIQ)
(ITA)

161	BASSO Ivan	ITA
162	BODNAR Maciej	POL
163	FISCHER Murilo	BRA
164	FRANZOI Enrico	ITA
165	KUSCHYNSKI Aleksandr	BLR
166	NIBALI Vincenzo	ITA
167	SZMYD Sylvester	POL
168	WILLEMS Frederik	BEL

Fuji-Servetto (FUJ)
(ESP)

171	COBO ACEBO Juan Jose	ESP
172	DE LA FUENTE RASILLA David	ESP
173	DURAN AROCA Arkaitz	ESP
174	GOMEZ GOMEZ Angel	ESP
175	INTXAUSTI ELORRIAGA Benat	ESP
176	JUFRE POU Josep	ESP
177	MEIJAS LEAL Javier	ESP
178	WURF Cameron	AUS

BMC Racing Team (BMC)
(USA)

181	ZBERG Markus	SUI
182	BOOKWALTER Brent	USA
183	FRANK Mathias	SUI
184	FREI Thomas	SUI
185	LOUDER Jeffry	USA
186	MCKISSICK Ian	USA
187	MOOS Alexandre	SUI
188	STALDER Florian	SUI

News and Updates for Critérium du Dauphiné Libéré 2009

Gavia's Stage 8/Wrap-up report — steephill.tv

Stage 8 results: Stef Clement wins the final stage from a small break; Valvarde survives more attacks from Evans and wins the overall

9 Big Photos from Stage 8 — sirotti

Stage 8 results
1 Stef Clement (Ned) Rabobank                                     3.30.17  (41.658 km/h)
2 Timothy Duggan (USA) Garmin - Slipstream                               
3 Sébastien Joly (Fra) Française Des Jeux                            0.02
4 Adam Hansen (Aus) Team Columbia - High Road                        1.31
5 Aliaksandr Kuschynski (Blr) Liquigas                                   
6 Igor Anton Hernandez (Spa) Euskaltel - Euskadi                     1.33
7 David Moncoutié (Fra) Cofidis, Le Credit en Ligne                  1.56
8 Daniele Righi (Ita) Lampre - N.G.C                                     
9 Hubert Dupont (Fra) AG2R La Mondiale                               1.58

Final classification
1 Alejandro Valverde (Spa) Caisse d'Epargne                     
2 Cadel Evans (Aus) Silence-Lotto                                  0.16
3 Alberto Contador (Spa) Astana                                    1.18
4 Robert Gesink (Rabobank)                                         2.41
5 Mikel Astarloza (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi                          3.40

Full Results — cyclingnews

Valverde breekt niet in de Dauphiné Libéré — sporza.be

Valverde wins second Dauphine Libere — google/afp

Stage 8 Photos — afp

Final Kilometers (05:45 French) — rtbf

Gavia's Stage 8/Wrap-up report — steephill.tv

Stage 8 Highlights (01:32) — eurosport

9 Big Photos from Stage 8 — sirotti

Stage 8 Highlights — versus

Stage 7 Analysis/ Stage 8 Race Preview

June 13 update: David Moncoutié of Cofidis won solo today at Saint-François-Longchamp on the Col de Madeleine. The French climber joined an early break on the first climb of the day, the Col du Galibier, and survived to celebrate his second ever stage win at the Critérium Dauphiné Libéré. His first stage win came ten years ago and was his first ever professional victory. Alejandro Valverde of Caisse d'Épargne successfully defended the race lead another day, despite determined efforts from Cadel Evans to crack him... Read more of Gavia's Stage 7 commentary and check out the Stage 8 Preview (the final round of Evans vs. Valvarde)

Stage 8 start time: Sunday 13:00 CEST (11:00:00 AM GMT+0000); Weather for Faverges, France
Earliest live video: 15:15 CEST (1:15:00 PM GMT+0000); Live video, audio and text options
Approximate finish: 16:53 CEST (2:53:00 PM GMT+0000); Weather for Grenoble, France

Stage 8 Preview and Google Earth Maps (also see previews for other stages)
Team rosters with bib numbers

Le Direct: Live Streaming Video and TV Coverage

Also follow steephill on Twitter for the latest race info and video updates.

Stage 8 Preview — steephill.tv
Team rosters with bib numbers

media source	tv or internet	comments/restrictions
	live video (english) live video (english) live video (français) live video (español) live video (high-res) internet audio (english) tv schedule live ticker	Europe; Live daily coverage on Eurosport or Eurosport 2 preceded by a rebroadcast of the previous stage with nightly recaps on Eurosport Tip: open in separate windows a foreign language video feed (muted) and the english audio
	live video (unrestricted)	ETB Basque feed; unrestricted.
	live video (restricted) tv schedule	France 3; stages 2 through 6 live on French TV
	live video (restricted) tv schedule	Belgium; French
	french internet audio	daily on France BLEU: radio schedule
	tv schedule	North America; Sunday stages on TV (delayed) and daily internet recaps during the week
	live video ($)	Worldwide excluding Europe; requires a subscription; english commentary
	tv schedule	Not sure if there is a free live stream
	official live ticker (en)	or the live ticker in french
	steephill text updates #dauphine twitter group	short text updates from any and everyone
	live text updates
check back at race time for more and updated links; send a comment or a new live link

Stage 7 results: David Moncoutié solos the final climb; Evans and Valverde battled it out for 3rd and 4th

Another beautiful day in the French Alps as the peloton reaches the final steeps of Col du Galibier, the first of three major climbs

9 Big Photos from Stage 7 — sirotti

Stage 7 results
1 David Moncoutié (Fra) Cofidis, Le Credit en Ligne             4.44.27        
2 Robert Gesink (Ned) Rabobank                                     0.47   
3 Cadel Evans (Aus) Silence - Lotto                        
4 Alejandro Valverde Belmonte (Spa) Caisse d'Epargne       
5 Jacob Fuglsang (Den) Team Saxo Bank                              0.53
6 Alberto Contador Velasco (Spa) Astana                            0.55      
7 Christophe Le Mével (Fra) Française Des Jeux                     1.28
8 Vicenzo Nibali (Ita) Liquigas                                    2.19
9 Jurgen Van Den Broeck (Bel) Silence - Lotto                      2.25 
10 Mikel Astarloza Charreau (Spa) Euskaltel - Euskadi              2.32

General classification after stage 7
1 Alejandro Valverde (Spa) Caisse d'Epargne                     
2 Cadel Evans (Aus) Silence-Lotto                                  0.16
3 Alberto Contador (Spa) Astana                                    1.18
4 Robert Gesink (Rabobank)                                         2.41
5 Mikel Astarloza (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi                          3.40

Full Results — cyclingnews

Moncoutié wint koninginnenrit in Dauphiné Libéré — sporza.be

Passage at the top of the Croix de Fer (09:56 French) — rtbf

Highlights: Verslag Van De Zevende Etappe (00:52 Flemish) — sporza

David Moncoutié takes mountain top win in Dauphine — cyclingweekly.co.uk

Moncoutié s'est fait la belle — lequipe.fr

Valverde stays in yellow as Moncoutie takes stage — afp

Final kilometers (climb Col de la Madeleine) (10:01 French) — rtbf

Stage 7 Photos — afp

Graham Watson Stage 7 Photos — grahamwatson

9 Big Photos from Stage 7 — sirotti

Stage 7 Highlights (01:42) — eurosport

Stage 6 and 7 Highlights — versus

Stage 6 Analysis/ Stage 7 Race Preview

June 12 update: French rider Pierrick Fédigo launched a perfectly timed attack today to win the stage at Briançon. The Bbox Bouyges rider was part of an early break that escaped after 17 kilometers of racing, and absent a general classification threat, survived to the finish. Alejandro Valverde retained the yellow jersey of race leader today, and the top three in the general classification remain locked together in a close battle for the overall victory... Read more of Gavia's Stage 6 commentary and check out the Stage 7 Preview

Stage 7 start time: Saturday 12:30 CEST (10:30:00 AM GMT+0000); Weather for Briançon, France
Earliest live video: 15:15 CEST (1:15:00 PM GMT+0000); Live video, audio and text options
Approximate finish: 17:30 CEST (3:30:00 PM GMT+0000); Weather for La Chambre, France

Stage 7 Preview and Google Earth Maps (also see previews for other stages)
Team rosters with bib numbers

Stage 6 results: A win for the home side as Pierrick Fédrigo of Bbox wins in the familiar streets of Briançon; Mikel Astarloza of Euskaltel-Euskadi moves up to 4th on GC

GC leader Alejandro Valverde admiring the view from Col d'Izoard during a beautiful day in the Alps

9 Big Photos from Stage 6 — sirotti

Stage 6 results
1 Pierrick Fédrigo (Fra) Bbox Bouygues Telecom                  2.48.17
2 Jurgen Van de Walle (Bel) Quick Step                             0.04
3 Stéphane Goubert (Fra) AG2R La Mondiale                          0.05
4 Juan Manuel Gárate (Spa) Rabobank                                0.14
5 Lars Bak (Den) Saxo Bank                                         0.25
6 Aleksandr Kuschynski (Blr) Liquigas                              2.47
7 Mauro Santambrogio (Ita) Lampre-NGC
8 Bingen Fernández (Spa) Cofidis                                   2.50
9 Mikel Astarloza (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi                          3.17

General classification after stage 6
1 Alejandro Valverde (Spa) Caisse d'Epargne                     
2 Cadel Evans (Aus) Silence-Lotto                                  0.16
3 Alberto Contador (Spa) Astana                                    1.04
4 Mikel Astarloza (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi                          1.49
5 David Millar (GBr) Garmin - Slipstream                           1.52
6 Robert Gesink (Rabobank)                                         2.41
7 Haimar Zubeldia Agirre (Astana)                                  2.42

Full Results — cyclingnews

Van de Walle sneuvelt in laatste hectometers — sporza.be

Fédrigo en puncheur — lequipe.fr

(Scenic) Passage at the top of the Izoard (10:01 French) — rtbf

Stage 6 Photos — afp

Graham Watson Stage 6 Photos — grahamwatson

9 Big Photos from Stage 6 — sirotti

Stage 6 Highlights (01:15) — eurosport

Last 10 minutes/Finish in Briançon (09:58 French) — rtbf

Valverde holds Dauphine lead after sixth stage — velonews

Stage 6 Highlights (04:32) — versus

Highlights: Verslag Van De Zevende Etappe (01:30 Flemish) — sporza

Stage 5 Analysis/ Stage 6 Race Preview

June 11 update:Sylvester Szmyd celebrated his first ever professional victory today on Mont Ventoux, after years of riding for team-mates in the high mountains. The Liquigas-Doimo rider worked a breakaway with Alejandro Valverde over the last 7 kilometers of the Géant de Provence. Alejandro Valverde took over as race leader from Cadel Evans, though the gap remains a short 14 seconds... ... Read more of Gavia's Stage 5 commentary and check out the Stage 6 Preview

Stage 6 start time: Friday 13:40 CEST (11:40:00 AM GMT+0000); Weather for Gap, France
Earliest live video: 14:50 CEST (12:50:00 PM GMT+0000); Live video, audio and text options
Approximate finish: 16:32 CEST (2:32:00 PM GMT+0000); Weather for Briançon, France
Stage 6 Preview and Google Earth Maps (also see previews for other stages)
Team rosters with bib numbers

Stage 5 results: Alejandro Valverde grinds up Ventoux ahead of the other GC contenders and moves into the Yellow Jersey; Sylvester Szmyd of Liquigas nips Valverde at the line

21 Big Photos from Stage 5 — sirotti and colin flockton

Stage 5 results
1 Sylvester Szmyd (Liquigas)                                    4.05.04
2 Alejandro Valverde Belmonte (Caisse d'Epargne)          
3 Haimar Zubeldia Agirre (Astana)                                  1.14
4 Robert Gesink (Rabobank)                                         1.58
5 Jacob Fuglsang (Saxo Bank)                                       1.59
6 Cadel Evans (Silence - Lotto)                                    2.10
7 David Moncoutié (Cofidis)                                        2.13
8 Alberto Contador Velasco (Astana)                  
9 Vicenzo Nibali (Liquigas)                                        2.16
10 Vladimir Efimkin (AG2R La Mondiale)                             2.10

General classification after stage 5
1 Alejandro Valverde Belmonte (Spa) Caisse d'Epargne           15h23.17
2 Cadel Evans (Aus) Silence - Lotto                                0.16
3 Alberto Contador Velasco (Spa) Astana                            1.04
4 David Millar (GBr) Garmin - Slipstream                           1.43
5 Haimar Zubeldia Agirre (Astana)                                  2.21
6 Robert Gesink (Rabobank)                                         2.34

Full Results — cyclingnews

Szmyd wint op Ventoux, Valverde wordt leider — sporza.be

Last 2 Km (10:01 French) — rtbf

Mont-Ventoux finish Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4, Part 5, Part 6 (55 min) — eurosport germany

21 Big Photos from Stage 5 — sirotti and colin flockton

Liquigas's Sylvester Szmyd wins atop Ventoux, as Valverde takes the lead from Evans — velonews

Sylvester Szymd is the King on Mont Ventoux — cyclingweekly.co.uk

Graham Watson Stage 5 Photos — grahamwatson

Summary of the Best Quotes Post-Stage 5 — podiumcafe

Stage 5 Highlights (03:08) — versus

Highlights: Verslag Van De Zevende Etappe (01:25 Flemish) — sporza

Stage 4 Analysis/ Stage 5 Race Preview

June 10 update: Cadel Evans showed again today that he has come to this Critérium Dauphiné Libéré to win. Evans stormed the long crono between Bourg-lès-Valence and Valence, and won back the leader's jersey he lost to Niki Terpstra yesterday. Evans caught his two-minute man, Inigo Landaluze, and had the fastest time of the day at the 2nd intermediate check. Though he did not win the stage, Evans leads Alberto Contador by :45 seconds in the general classification and last year's race winner Alejandro Valverde by 1:54. With four mountain stages to come, it will be no easy task for Evans to defend his race lead, but clearly, the Australian has brought good form to this race... Read more of Gavia's Stage 4 commentary and check out the Stage 5 Preview

Stage 5 start time: Thursday 12:40 CEST (10:40:00 AM GMT+0000); Weather for Valence, France
Earliest live video: 15:45 CEST (1:45:00 PM GMT+0000); Live video, audio and text options
Approximate finish: 17:15 CEST (3:15:00 PM GMT+0000); Weather for Bedoin, France

Stage 5 Preview and Google Earth Maps (also see previews for other stages)
Team rosters with bib numbers

Stage 4 results: A World Champion TT performance by Bert Grabsch of Columbia-Highroad; Cadel Evans finishes 2nd and is back in Yellow

"Grabsch is huge!!" — colin flockton

13 Big Photos from Stage 4 — sirotti and colin flockton

Stage 4 results
1 Bert Grabsch (Ger) Team Columbia - High Road                    51.26  (49.462 km/h)
2 Cadel Evans (Aus) Silence - Lotto                                0.07
3 David Millar (GBr) Garmin - Slipstream                           0.39
4 Frantisek Rabon (Cze) Team Columbia - High Road                  0.40
5 Alberto Contador Velasco (Spa) Astana                            0.44
6 Stef Clement (Ned) Rabobank                                      1.01
7 Koos Moerenhout (Ned) Rabobank                                   1.19
8 Sébastien Rosseler (Bel) Quick Step                              1.20
9 Mikel Astarloza Charreau (Spa) Euskaltel - Euskadi               1.23
10 Rinaldo Nocentini (Ita) AG2R La Mondiale                        1.24
11 Lars Ytting Bak (Den) Team Saxo Bank                            1.31
12 Alejandro Valverde Belmonte (Spa) Caisse d'Epargne              1.38
13 Robert Gesink (Ned) Rabobank                                    1.43
14 Vicenzo Nibali (Ita) Liquigas                                   1.45
15 Joost Posthuma (Ned) Rabobank                                   1.47

General classification after stage 4
1 Cadel Evans (Aus) Silence - Lotto                            11.16.19
2 Alberto Contador Velasco (Spa) Astana                            0.45
3 Bert Grabsch (Ger) Team Columbia - High Road                     0.48
4 Frantisek Rabon (Cze) Team Columbia - High Road                  1.07
5 David Millar (GBr) Garmin - Slipstream                           1.09
6 Stef Clement (Ned) Rabobank                                      1.33
7 Sébastien Rosseler (Bel) Quick Step                              1.46
8 Alejandro Valverde Belmonte (Spa) Caisse d'Epargne               1.54
9 Koos Moerenhout (Ned) Rabobank                                   2.01
10 Mikel Astarloza Charreau (Spa) Euskaltel - Euskadi              2.07

Full Results — cyclingnews

Grabsch takes Dauphiné TT whilst Evans moves into yellow — cyclingweekly.co.uk

Evans regains lead at Dauphine as Grabsch wins ITT — velonews

Evans is weer leider in Dauphiné na tijdrit — sporza.be

13 Big Photos from Stage 4 — sirotti and colin flockton

Stage 4 Highlights (05:13 French) — rtbf

Graham Watson Stage 4 Photos — grahamwatson

Stage 4 Highlights (01:08) — eurosport

Stage 4 Highlights (04:49) — versus

Stage 3 Analysis/ Stage 4 ITT Race Preview

June 9 update: The break survived today, and Niki Terpstra of Milram celebrated the stage win. Terpstra also took over the lead of the general classification, thanks to a 1:30 advantage at the finish. Rémi Pauriol, who took over as leader of the mountains classification, sits second in the general classification, 26 seconds behind Terpstra, while Yuri Trofimov of Bbox Bouygues is third at 27 seconds. Former race leader Cadel Evans is now 1:01 down in the general classification, though it is doubtful that he will lose any sleep over the gap with so many difficult stages yet to ride... Read more of Gavia's Stage 3 commentary and check out the Stage 4 Preview

Stage 4 start time: Wednesday 13:25 CEST (11:25:00 AM GMT+0000); Weather for Valence, France
Earliest live video: 15:45 CEST (1:45:00 PM GMT+0000); Live video, audio and text options
Approximate finish: 17:09 CEST (3:09:00 PM GMT+0000); Weather for Valence, France

Stage 4 Preview and Google Earth Maps (also see previews for other stages)
Team rosters with bib numbers

Stage 3 results: Niki Terpstra wins the bunch sprint in the winning break giving Milram a rare win and yellow jersey

13 Big Photos from Stage 3 — sirotti and colin flockton

Stage 3 results
1 Niki Terpstra (Ned) Milram
2 Ludovic Turpin (Fra) AG2R La Mondiale
3 Iouri Trofimov (Rus) Bbox Bouygues Telecom
4 Rémi Pauriol (Fra) Cofidis
5 Iñigo Landaluze (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi
6 Nikolai Trusov (Rus) Katusha                   1.32
7 Murilo Fischer (Bra) Liquigas

General classification after stage 3
1 Niki Terpstra (Ned) Milram

Full Results — cyclingnews

Terpstra slaat een dubbelslag in de Dauphiné — sporza.be

Bruyneel says payments have been made: Astana returns to regular jerseys — velonews

Terpstra grijpt de macht in Dauphiné — nos.nl

Last 3 km (07:16 French) — rtbf

13 Big Photos from Stage 3 — sirotti and colin flockton

Terpstra takes Dauphine stage three and relieves Evans of yellow — cyclingweekly.co.uk

Milram's Terpstra doubles in Dauphiné — velonews

Cadel Evans interview after stage 2 (11:53) — eurosport

Graham Watson Stage 3 Photos — grahamwatson

Stage 3 Highlights: Verslag Van De Tweede Etappe (00:23 Flemish) — sporza

Stage 3 Highlights (01:13) — eurosport

Stage 3 Highlights (03:57) — versus

Stage 2 Analysis/ Stage 3 Race Preview

June 8 update: Angelo Furlan brought his Lampre-Ngc team a much-needed victory today in a wet and complicated sprint finish. The 31 year old Furlan won ahead of Markus Zberg of BMC Racing and Tom Boonen of Quick Step. A late attack from David Millar of Slipstream Garmin nearly survived to the line and disrupted the well-oiled Quick Step lead-out machine. Cadel Evans still leads the general classification, which remains unchanged aftter today's hijinx... Read more of Gavia's Stage 2 commentary and check out the Stage 3 Preview

Stage 3 start time: Tuesday 12:30 CEST (10:30:00 AM GMT+0000); Weather for Tournus, France
Earliest live video: 15:45 CEST (1:45:00 PM GMT+0000); Live video, audio and text options
Approximate finish: 17:29 CEST (3:29:00 PM GMT+0000); Weather for Saint-Étienne, France

Stage 3 Preview and Google Earth Maps (also see previews for other stages)
Team rosters with bib numbers

Stage 2 results: Lampre's Angelo Furlan wins the sprint finish after David Millar's 4k flyer fails at the line

7 Big Photos from Stage 2 — sirotti

Stage 2 results
1. Angelo FURLAN (LAM)     05:35:04 
2. Markus ZBERG (BMC)      00:00:00 
3. Tom BOONEN (QST)        00:00:00 
4. Marco BANDIERA (LAM)    00:00:00 
5. Marcel SIEBERG (THR)    00:00:00 
6. Nicolas ROCHE (ALM)     00:00:00 
7. Gert STEEGMANS (KAT)    00:00:00 
8. Arnaud COYOT (GCE)      00:00:00 
9. David MILLAR (GRM)      00:00:00 
10. Christian KNEES (MRM)  00:00:00 

Stage 2 general classification
1. Cadel EVANS (SIL)                     05'50"40 
2. Alberto CONTADOR VELASCO (AST)      + 00'00"08 
3. Alejandro VALVERDE BELMONTE (GCE)   + 00'00"23 
4. Sébastien ROSSELER (QST)            + 00'00"33 
5. Vicenzo NIBALI (LIQ)                + 00'00"34 
6. Frantisek RABON (THR)               + 00'00"34 
7. Christian KNEES (MRM)               + 00'00"34 
8. Benoit VAUGRENARD (FDJ)             + 00'00"36 
9. José Ivan GUTIERREZ PALACIOS (GCE)  + 00'00"36 
10. David MILLAR (GRM)                 + 00'00"37

Full Results — cyclingnews

Millar caught on the line in Dauphiné Libéré — cyclingweekly.co.uk

Furlan wins stage 2 at Dauphine; Evans holds lead — velonews

Sprint finish — AP

Graham Watson Stage 2 Photos — grahamwatson

Tom Boonen is niet snel genoeg in de Dauphiné — sporza.be

Stage 2 Highlights: Verslag Van De Tweede Etappe (00:46 Flemish) — sporza

Last 5 km (08:06 French) — French TV

Stage 2 Highlights (01:29) — eurosport

Stage 2 Highlights (02:58) — versus

7 Big Photos from Stage 2 — sirotti

Furlan batte anche Boonen — gazzetta.it

Stage 1 Analysis/ Stage 2 Race Preview

June 7 update: Cadel Evans of Silence-Lotto rocked the opening time trial of the Dauphiné Libéré today, winning the stage and taking the lead in the general classification. Evans leads Alberto Contador of Astana by 7 seconds and last year's winner Alejandro Valverde of Caisse d'Épargne by 23 seconds. Evans averaged 64 km/hr on the 12.1 kilometer course and finished with a time of 15:36.64. Only the top three riders beat the 16 minute mark... Read more of Gavia's Stage 1 commentary and check out the Stage 2 Preview

Stage 2 start time: Monday 10:15 CEST (8:15:00 AM GMT+0000); Weather for Nancy, France
Earliest live video: 14:50 CEST (12:50:00 PM GMT+0000); Live video, audio and text options
Approximate finish: 16:25 CEST (2:25:00 PM GMT+0000); Weather for Dijon, France

Stage 2 Preview and Google Earth Maps (also see previews for other stages)
Team rosters with bib numbers

Stage 1 results: Cadel Evans and Alberto Contador set the stage for a week long dual

9 Big Photos from Stage 1 — sirotti

Stage 1 results
1 Cadel Evans (Aus) Silence - Lotto                    15.36
2 Alberto Contador Velasco (Spa) Astana                 0.08
3 Alejandro Valverde Belmonte (Spa) Caisse d'Epargne    0.23
4 Sébastien Rosseler (Bel) Quick Step                   0.33
5 Vincenzo Nibali (Ita) Liquigas                        0.34
6 Frantisek Rabon (Cze) Team Columbia - High Road           
7 Christian Knees (Ger) Team Milram                         
8 Benoît Vaugrenard (Fra) Française Des Jeux            0.36
9 José Ivan Gutierrez Palacios (Spa) Caisse d'Epargne       
10 David Millar (GBr) Garmin - Slipstream               0.37
...
15 Brent Bookwalter (USA) BMC Racing Team               0.42

Full Results — cyclingnews

Cadel Evans wins Dauphiné Libéré time trial in impressive style — cyclingweekly.co.uk

9 Big Photos from Stage 1 — sirotti

Evans veut le gros lot — ledauphine

Graham Watson Stage 1 Photos — cyclingweekly.co.uk

Evans nips Contador to open Dauphiné — velonews

Stage 1 ITT highights (04:05 Dutch) — nos

Graham Watson Stage 1 Photos — grahamwatson

Stage 1 Highlights (00:50) — eurosport

Alberto Contador and Cadel Evans Clips — versus

Provisional/Official Rosters now up

June 4 update: Official rosters with bib numbers and country sort option are now up (see right). Alberto Contador, Cadel Evans, Robert Gesink, Tom Boonen and Ivan Basso are among the starters.
Two ways to view the startlist:

June 4 update: Stage previews for stage 1 and the mountain stages are now posted. See the preview links in the race summary table (right). — Steve

2009 Race Preview

June 3 update: The Critérium Dauphiné Libéré serves as one of the main preparation races for the Tour de France. With four mountain stages, including the Mont Ventoux and the Col de l’Izoard, and a 42 kilometer individual time trial, the race through the Dauphiné region resembles a Tour de France in miniature. This year marks the 61st running of the Critérium Dauphiné Libéré, which is sponsored by the regional newspaper of the same name. The Dauphiné region lies in the southeast corner of France near the Italian border, and includes the High Alps.

The race departs from tradition and begins this year with a 12 kilometer individual time trial in Nancy. Nancy is in Lorraine, which lies to the north of the Dauphiné region. Two flat sprint stages follow the opening stage, as the course heads southwest, passing through Dijon, Tournus, and Saint-Étienne. In preparation for the long cronos of the Tour de France, the Dauphiné includes a 42 kilometer time trial between Bourg-lès-Valence and Valence. The final four stages are mountainous and include Mont Ventoux, the Col de l’Izoard, Col de Galibier, and Col de la Croix de Fer. Stages 5 and 7 are mountain-top finishes. The Critérium concludes in Grenoble, the former capital of the Dauphiné.

The outcome Critérium Dauphiné Libéré is always shaped by the training schedules of the riders preparing for the Tour de France. Some riders race the Dauphiné all out, while others prefer to hold something in reserve for the big appointment in July. A good ride at the Dauphiné can offer a nice confidence boost for a Tour rider and may give him an edge if there is rivalry within his team for leadership. At the same time, as many riders have learned the hard way, riding too hard in June can mean disaster in July.

The start list reads like a who’s who of grand tour riders, though the riders preparing for the Tour de France are split between the Critérium Dauphiné Libéré and the later Tour de Suisse. Last year’s podium included Alejandro Valverde, Cadel Evans, and Levi Leipheimer. This year, Valverde returns to the Dauphiné after winning the recent Vuelta a Cataluña. The lengthy climb up the Mont Ventoux may not suit him, but Valverde will certainly have good form for the mountains after winning in Spain. Caisse d’Épargne will also bring the developing stage racing talent Luis Leon Sanchez. Earlier this season, Sanchez won the Tour de Med and Paris-Nice.

Cadel Evans will also return to the Dauphiné Libéré this year. His main objective for the season is the Tour de France, of course, but Evans typically does a good ride at the Dauphiné. Evans will have Belgian climber Jurgen Van Den Broek along for support. Van den Broek, who finished seventh overall in last year’s mountainous Giro d’Italia, could also steal away for a stage win on one of the mountain-top finishes. Leipheimer, who recently finished the Giro d’Italia, will not race.

Like all great stage racers, Alberto Contador can climb and time trial with the best. Here he is winning the final stage of Vuelta Ciclista al País Vasco in April to seal up his overall win. Photo: Colin Flockton, steephill.tv

Instead, Alberto Contador will lead Astana at this year’s Dauphiné Libéré. Contador comes to the Dauphiné in preparation for the Tour de France, where he hopes to repeat his 2007 victory. The hilly course of this Dauphiné Libéré should suit his characteristics, especially the finish on Mont Ventoux. Earlier this season, Contador won the flat opening time trial at Paris-Nice, and his skills against the watch, which have always been strong, appear to have improved, making him an all-around stage-racing machine. Contador will have climber Jesus Hernandez and stage racer Haimar Zubeldia, who transfered from Euskaldi-Euskatel to Astana this year, along for support. Zubeldia placed fifth overall in last year’s edition of the Dauphiné and has placed in the top ten of the Tour de France in the past. If Contador is riding to win at this Critérium Dauphiné Libéré, he is the favorite to take home the leader’s jersey in Grenoble. A win here would no doubt help establish him as the race leader at Astana for the Tour de France, an added incentive, if an incentive he needs, to ride well at this Dauphiné.

Ivan Basso didn't win a stage or reach the GC podium at Giro d'Italia last month, but he's looking to parlay his good form at the Dauphine without being pursued by a killer. The course suits him well.
Photo: steephill.tv/sirotti

In a last minute decision, Ivan Basso of Liquigas-Doimo will also ride the Critérium Dauphiné Libéré. Basso finished fifth in the Giro d’Italia and despite several big efforts, did not succeed in winning a stage. The long climbs of the Alps, which tend to have somewhat easier gradients than the Italian climbs, have tended to suit Basso well. No doubt he’ll take any opportunity for a win that may come his way. Basso will also benefit from the opportunity to ride a long crono in competition. After two years away from the sport, Basso can use all the racing he can get, especially in a discipline that has long been his weakness. Young rider Vincenzo Nibali will also race the Dauphiné for Liquigas-Doimo in an effort to hone his form for the Tour de France. Nibali will share captain’s duties at the Tour with Roman Kreuziger, who last year won the Tour de Suisse.

Other riders to watch include Columbia-High Road climber Kanstantsin Sivstov, who won a stage of the Giro d’Italia this year. Sivtsov will likely find the long crono hard going, but should ride well in the high mountains. Sivtsov could be a surprise podium finisher here. Dan Martin of Garmin-Slipstream, meanwhile, comes to this Critérium Dauphiné Libéré after a second place in the general classification at the Vuelta a Cataluña. Last year, during his first season as a professional, Martin won the Route du Sud stage race in France. Martin is a long-shot hopeful for the white jersey classification at the Tour. He will be joined at this race by another young climber, Trent Lowe.

Dan Martin of Garmin-Slipstream comes to this Critérium Dauphiné Libéré after a second place in the general classification at the Vuelta a Cataluña (pictured aboved). Photo: Colin Flockton, steephill.tv

Last year’s fourth place in the general classification Robert Gesink of Rabobank returns and will thrive in the high mountains of this Critérium, though he will likely find the long crono less to his liking. Gesink placed third earlier this season at the Amstel Gold Race. Linus Gerdemann of Milram, who missed much of last season due to injury, will hope to find the form that won him a stage in the Tour de France in 2007 and put him in the race leader’s yellow jersey. Igor Anton, Yuri Trophimov, Cyril Dessel, Rémy Di Grégorio, David Moncoutié, and Vladimir Efimkin will be chasing stages, and could also place well in the general classification, if things go their way. The American-registered BMC Racing Team, meanwhile, make their Dauphiné début this year, as part of their long-term plan to gain an invite to the Tour de France. Look for the BMC riders to get in the breaks and chase stage wins.

In the sprints, Tom Boonen of Quick Step returns to competition after a brief vacation thanks to another run-in with Flemish legal authorities and an out-of-competition test for cocaine. Boonen is hoping to race the Tour de France, but his status remains unclear. In any case, he will ride the Critérium Dauphiné Libéré in the hope of winning one of the two sprint stages on the program. Look for Boonen’s team mate Jerôme Pineau to try for a breakaway victory along the way, also. Gert Steegmans of Katusha, with whom Boonen had a fierce rivalry in their junior days, will also try his luck in the last kilometer. Otherwise, the sprint field looks a bit thin for this race, as most teams have sent their general classification riders and climbers. Wise choice, as there are only two sprint finishes on offer. Stage previews coming shortly. — Gavia

More race previews:
A surprise winner on a surprising parcours? — cyclingnews
Versus 2009 Dauphine Preview (01:35) — versus
Contador primed for Dauphiné — velonews
... more to come...

June 2 update: The official site hasn't posted the profile and maps for the first four stages, but our friends at bikemap.net have created them for us. Check out the map links in the race summary table which also have the profiles.

Also follow steephill on Twitter for the latest race info and video updates.

(Update: all stage maps and profiles from bikemap.net now posted.) Our race preview is coming very soon. Also, Versus will have 2 minutes of daily stage highlights narrated by Frankie Andreu. We'll have the highlights here via a new Versus player posted within hours of each finish. — Steve

May 30 update: We are working on a detailed preview for the 2009 edition of this race. — Steve

May 27 update: The timetables with the precise route details for each stage and the startlist are now posted. See the race summary table — Steve

April 20 update:The route is now official. It's almost identiical to what was posted here two months ago. See below for the host towns, distances and profiles for stages 5-8.

February 14 update: Thanks to our unofficial European correspondent Colin Flockton for pointing out the host cities for the 2009 Dauphine Libere. Note the Mont-Ventoux finish on stage five. More to come... — Steve

2009 Critérium du Dauphiné Libéré la carte du parcours

Dauphine-Libere 2009 Dates and Route

November 1 2008 update: The dates for Dauphine-Libere 2009 along with the rest of the UCI calendar have been announced. As expected, Sunday June 7th to Sunday June 14th is the week to mark down. If last year is an indication then the official route will be likely be announced in mid-April, but as usual, I'll post Dauphine-Libere 2009 info as it comes to light. Feel free to let me know if you see something first. — Steve

Completed 2008 coverage

2009 Critérium du Dauphiné Live Dashboard

News and Updates for Critérium du Dauphiné Libéré 2009

Stage 8 results: Stef Clement wins the final stage from a small break; Valvarde survives more attacks from Evans and wins the overallpermalink("#08-results-2009");

Stage 7 Analysis/ Stage 8 Race Preview

Le Direct: Live Streaming Video and TV Coverage permalink("#live");

Stage 7 results: David Moncoutié solos the final climb; Evans and Valverde battled it out for 3rd and 4thpermalink("#07-results-2009");

Stage 6 Analysis/ Stage 7 Race Preview

Stage 6 results: A win for the home side as Pierrick Fédrigo of Bbox wins in the familiar streets of Briançon; Mikel Astarloza of Euskaltel-Euskadi moves up to 4th on GCpermalink("#06-results-2009");

Stage 5 Analysis/ Stage 6 Race Preview

Stage 5 results: Alejandro Valverde grinds up Ventoux ahead of the other GC contenders and moves into the Yellow Jersey; Sylvester Szmyd of Liquigas nips Valverde at the linepermalink("#05-results-2009");

Stage 4 Analysis/ Stage 5 Race Preview

Stage 4 results: A World Champion TT performance by Bert Grabsch of Columbia-Highroad; Cadel Evans finishes 2nd and is back in Yellowpermalink("#04-results-2009");

Stage 3 Analysis/ Stage 4 ITT Race Preview

Stage 3 results: Niki Terpstra wins the bunch sprint in the winning break giving Milram a rare win and yellow jerseypermalink("#03-results-2009");

Stage 2 Analysis/ Stage 3 Race Preview

Stage 2 results: Lampre's Angelo Furlan wins the sprint finish after David Millar's 4k flyer fails at the linepermalink("#02-results-2009");

Stage 1 Analysis/ Stage 2 Race Preview

Stage 1 results: Cadel Evans and Alberto Contador set the stage for a week long dualpermalink("#01-results-2009");

Provisional/Official Rosters now up

2009 Race Previewpermalink("#preview");

2009 Critérium du Dauphiné Libéré la carte du parcours

Dauphine-Libere 2009 Dates and Route

Stage 8 results: Stef Clement wins the final stage from a small break; Valvarde survives more attacks from Evans and wins the overall

Le Direct: Live Streaming Video and TV Coverage

Stage 7 results: David Moncoutié solos the final climb; Evans and Valverde battled it out for 3rd and 4th

Stage 6 results: A win for the home side as Pierrick Fédrigo of Bbox wins in the familiar streets of Briançon; Mikel Astarloza of Euskaltel-Euskadi moves up to 4th on GC

Stage 5 results: Alejandro Valverde grinds up Ventoux ahead of the other GC contenders and moves into the Yellow Jersey; Sylvester Szmyd of Liquigas nips Valverde at the line

Stage 4 results: A World Champion TT performance by Bert Grabsch of Columbia-Highroad; Cadel Evans finishes 2nd and is back in Yellow

Stage 3 results: Niki Terpstra wins the bunch sprint in the winning break giving Milram a rare win and yellow jersey

Stage 2 results: Lampre's Angelo Furlan wins the sprint finish after David Millar's 4k flyer fails at the line

Stage 1 results: Cadel Evans and Alberto Contador set the stage for a week long dual

2009 Race Preview