Critérium du Dauphiné Libéré

Cycling race infobox
name = Critérium du Dauphiné Libéré
current_event =


date = Early June
region = Dauphiné, France
english = Dauphiné Libéré Tour
localnames = Critérium du Dauphiné Libéré fr icon
nickname = Dauphiné Libéré
discipline = Road
competition = UCI ProTour
type = Stage-race
organiser =
director =
first = 1947
number = 60 (as of 2008)
last =
firstwinner = flagicon|POL Eduard Klabinski
mostwins = "3 times:"
flagicon|FRA Nello Lauredi
flagicon|ESP Luis Ocaña
flagicon|FRA Charly Mottet
flagicon|FRA Bernard Hinault
mostrecent = flagicon|ESP Alejandro ValverdeThe Critérium du Dauphiné Libéré is an annual cycling road race, run over eight stages in the Dauphiné region in France during the first half of June. It is organised by the "Dauphiné Libéré" newspaper. Along with the Tour de Suisse, the Dauphiné Libéré is an important race in the lead-up to the Tour de France in July.

Because the Dauphiné is a mountainous area, the winners are often climbing specialists. Many climbs that are famous from the Tour de France, like the Mont Ventoux, the Col du Galibier or "Col de la Chartreuse", appear often in the Dauphiné Libéré. All cyclists who have won the Tour de France five or more times have also won the Dauphiné Libéré.

The first Dauphiné Libéré was held in 1947 when Eduard Kablinski from Poland was the winner. Nello Lauredi, Luis Ocaña, Charly Mottet and Bernard Hinault share the record of the most wins, with three each.

The Dauphiné Libéré was used as preparation for the Tour de France by Lance Armstrong. He won the Dauphiné in 2002 and 2003, but was defeated by Iban Mayo in 2004, primarily by Mayo's strong climb of Mont Ventoux. Armstrong finished 4th in the 2005 Dauphiné, finishing 59 seconds behind overall winner Iñigo Landaluze, of the Euskaltel-Euskadi squad.

Winners

External links

* [http://www.criterium.ledauphine.com/ Official website]
* [http://www.cyclingfans.com/ 2008 Dauphine Libere live coverage guide] : live video, audio, radio, tickers, schedules, photos, and route details