The 1st stage of the Critérium du Dauphiné comes down to a circuit of 37.5 kilometers with two hills inside the last 15 kilometres. The circuit is tackled three times.
Stage 2 is similar to the first, but the climbs are more demanding. After an uphill section of almost 10 kilometres the last 4 kilometres fly downhill to the line in Saugues.
The punchers are likely to shine in the 3rd stage. After an undulating first part the second half of the race is played out on the flat. The home straight kicks sharply uphill.
Stage 4 is an ITT of 16.4 kilometres long. The course features a climb at shallow gradients midway through the race.
The 5th stage travels over four climbs to the Côte de Montrebut, which is a punchy test of 1.2 kilometres at 12%. The Montrebut is crested with 12 kilometres remaining.
On the sixth day of action the riders traverse flat to undulating terrain before entering the Alps. The last 58 kilometres of stage 6 take in four ascents. The last one climbs in 3.3 kilometres at 6.2% to the line.
The 7th stage travels to a high altitude finish in ski station La Plagne. After three intermediate ascents the finish climb adds up to 17.1 kilometres. The average gradient sits at 7.5%.
The Critérium du Dauphiné concludes with another day for climbers. Stage 8 takes in five climbs before the Col de Joux Plane appears. This 11.6 kilometres ascent at 8.5% is likely to be decisive. The riders fly down to Morzine and then the last 6 kilometres rise at approximately 3%.
Critérium du Dauphiné 2021: route, profiles, more
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