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Criterium du Dauphine recap: Chris Froome retains title

By Matt Westby

Sunday 12 June 2016 19:07, UK

Alberto Contador and Chris Froome on stage four of the 2016 Volta a Catalunya
Image: Alberto Contador (left) and Chris Froome (right) will renew their rivalry next week

Chris Froome won the Criterium du Dauphine for the third time in four years.

The Team Sky rider beat Romain Bardet into second place by 12 seconds and Dan Martin into third by 19 seconds.

Here is how the race panned out...

THE STAGES

Prologue: Sunday, June 5 – Les Gets to Le Mont Chery – 3.9km individual time trial

Stage winner: Alberto Contador (Tinkoff). Race leader: Alberto Contador (Tinkoff). 

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Alberto Contador, Criterium du Dauphine 2016, prologue
Image: Contador won the prologue

Stage 1: Monday, June 6 – Cluses to Saint-Vulbas – 186km

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Stage winner: Nacer Bouhanni (Cofidis). Race leader: Alberto Contador (Tinkoff). 

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Nacer Bouhanni wins stage one of the 2016 Criterium du Dauphine ahead of Jens Debusschere and Sam Bennett
Image: Nacer Bouhanni sprinted to victory on stage one

Stage 2: Tuesday, June 7 – Creches-sur-Saone to Chalmazal-Jeansagniere – 167.5km

Stage winner: Jesus Herrada (Movistar). Race leader: Alberto Contador (Tinkoff). 

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Jesus Herrada wins stage two of the 2016 Criterium du Dauphine
Image: Jesus Herrada won stage two after a late acceleration

Stage 3: Wednesday, June 8 – Boen-sur-Lignon to Tournon-sur-Rhone – 182km

Stage winner: Fabio Aru (Astana). Race leader: Alberto Contador (Tinkoff). 

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Fabio Aru wins stage three of the 2016 Criterium du Dauphine
Image: Fabio Aru caused a surprise by winning stage three

Stage 4: Thursday, June 9 – Tain-l’Hermitage to Belley – 176km

Stage winner: Edvald Boasson Hagen (Dimension Data). Race leader: Alberto Contador (Tinkoff). 

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Edvald Boasson Hagen celebrates on the finish line during the fifth stage of the 68th edition of the Criterium du Dauphine
Image: Edvald Boasson Hagen sprinted to victory on stage four

Stage 5: Friday, June 10 – La Ravoire to Vaujany – 140km

Stage winner: Chris Froome (Team Sky). Race leader: Chris Froome (Team Sky). 

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Chris Froome wins stage five of the 2016 Criterium du Dauphine
Image: Chris Froome climbed to victory on stage five

Stage 6: Saturday, June 11 – La Rochette to Meribel – 141km

Stage winner: Thibaut Pinot (FDJ.fr). Race leader: Chris Froome (Team Sky). 

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Thibaut Pinot, Criterium di Dauphine 2016, stage six
Image: Thibaut Pinot won stage six in Meribel

Stage 7: Sunday, June 12 – Le Pont-de-Claix to Superdevoluy – 151km

Stage winner: Steve Cummings (Dimension Data). Race leader: Chris Froome (Team Sky).

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Steve Cummings, Criterium du Dauphine 2016, stage seven
Image: Steve Cummings won stage seven solo

KEY STAGE

Stage six. The race’s queen stage contains one category-two climb, three category-one climbs and one hors-categorie climb, and is almost certain to prove decisive.

THE FAVOURITES

Chris Froome (Team Sky)

Froome returns to action for the first time since an inconsistent performance at the Tour de Romandie at the end of April, when he won a stage but finished only 38th overall. However, he now has another month of training in his legs and boasts an excellent record at the Dauphine, having won in both 2013 and last year.

Chris Froome and Alberto Contador on stage two of the 2016 Volta a Catalunya
Image: Froome and Contador are using the Dauphine to warm up for the Tour de France

Alberto Contador (Tinkoff)

Contador has enjoyed a strong season so far, winning the Tour of the Basque Country, finishing second at both the Volta a Catalunya and Paris-Nice and also third at the Volta ao Algarve. The 33-year-old Spaniard has twice finished second at the Dauphine but is yet to win it.

Fabio Aru (Astana)

Aru makes his maiden appearance at the Dauphine ahead of his first attempt to win the Tour. The 25-year-old Italian has had a poor season so far, with his best result being sixth place at February’s Volta a la Comunitat Valenciana. He has had two months of solid training since his last race and an improvement in form is both expected and needed.

Richie Porte attacks Sergio Henao on Willunga Hill on stage five of the 2016 Tour Down Under
Image: Richie Porte leads a team at the Dauphine for the first time

Richie Porte (BMC Racing)

Porte’s previous appearances at the Dauphine have been a support rider to the likes of Froome and Sir Bradley Wiggins, so this year is his first chance to target the yellow and blue jersey. He has had a strong start to the season, but if he wants to be considered a genuine contender to win the Tour, he has to prove himself at the Dauphine.

Thibaut Pinot (FDJ.fr)

Pinot is in the middle of what has so far been the best season of his career and appears perfectly placed ahead of the Dauphine and Tour. He has finished in the top five of all six stages races he has entered this season, including a second place behind Quintana in Romandie.

Thibault Pinot of FDJ competes during the fourth stage of the 70th Tour de Romandie UCI World Tour, a 15 km individual time-trial in Sion
Image: Thibaut Pinot has been in excellent form so far this year

BRIT WATCH

- Steve Cummings (Dimension Data).
- Chris Froome (Team Sky).
- Luke Rowe (Team Sky).
- Ian Stannard (Team Sky).
- Adam Yates (Orica-GreenEdge).

THE JERSEYS

- Yellow and blue: General classification.
- Green: Points classification.
- Red and white polka dots: Mountains classification.
- White: Youth classification.

TIME BONUSES

- 10, 6 and 4 bonus seconds will be awarded to the first three finishers on each stage.
- 3, 2 and 1 second will be awarded to the first three riders over the line at intermediate sprints.
Tejay Van Garderen and Chris Froome shake hands after Froome took the overall win during Stage 8 of the 2015 Dauphine Libere.
Image: Froome (right) beat Tejay van Garderen (left) to victory in last year's Dauphine

PREVIOUS WINNERS

2015: Chris Froome (GB).
2014: Andrew Talansky (USA).
2013: Chris Froome (GB).
2012: Sir Bradley Wiggins (GB).
2011: Sir Bradley Wiggins (GB).
2010: Janez Brajkovic (Slo).
2009: Alejandro Valverde (Esp).
2008: Alejandro Valverde (Esp).
2007: Christophe Moreau (Fra).
2006: Levi Leipheimer (USA).

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