The 60th edition of the Criterium du Dauphine Libere starts on Sunday, June 8, with a 5.7 km long prologue from Le Pontet
to Avignon. The next two days feature lightly rolling courses before a 31 kilometres long time trial on Wednesday June 11
will give a first impression about the shape of the overall favourites. From Thursday, June 12, to Sunday, June 15, the race
goes from Vienne over a series of mountain stages to Grenoble.
Stage 3 (Individual Time Trial) will be important to those wanting top placings in the overall. The route of the
time trial with a length of 31 kilometres is on rollin terrain with two moderate climbs at the 12 and 19 km mark.
After more than 100 kilometres the riders will have to climb La Saleve (1300m) on stage 4. After the climb the stage
will finish after 17 kilometres descending.
Stage 5 has the legendary Col de Joux-Planes on the menue, after the climb the riders will finish in Morzine after 12
kilometres descending.
The 233 kilometres long sixth stage could bring the decision who wins this years edition of the Dauphiné Libéré. The
riders will first climb the Col de la Croix-de-Fer before an 18 km uphill battle to the finish to the finish at
the La Toussuire.
But even if it looks like the race will be decided on stage 6, with 3 more climbs the seventh and final stage is no 'Tour
d'honneur'.
With Cadel Evans (2), Levi Leipheimer (3), Carlos Sastre (4), Haimar Zubeldia (5), Alejandro Valverde (6), Yaroslav
Popovych (8), Mikel Astarloza (9) and Oscar Pereiro (10), 8 riders of the overall top ten of the 2007 Tour de France
will start at the French stage race. Defending Dauphiné champ Christophe Moreau will not start at this years edition
of the race. Moreau's Agritubel team was not invited by the race organisation.
