Last year, Dan Martin made history at the Critérium du Dauphiné by becoming the first Irishman to finish on the podium of the race and the 30-year-old – a key protagonist of the Ardennes Classics earlier this season – will once again lead Quick-Step Floors at the French World Tour race, where he’ll be joined by Eros Capecchi, Tim Declercq, neo-pro Enric Mas – one of the best young riders of the Tour of California – Maximiliano Richeze, Petr Vakoc, Martin Velits and Julien Vermote.
The 69th edition of the race will be challenging right from day one, when the peloton will take on a tough and unpredictable hilly circuit in Saint-Étienne which could see some of the overall classification favourites lay down an early marker. The following two days to Arlanc and Tullins also feature numerous climbs with the riders facing a rolling 23.5km-long individual time trial on stage four between La Tour-du-Pin and Bourgoin-Jalieu.
The final three days of the race will bring more chances for the climbers, with a mouth-watering menu which includes Mont du Chat, Col de Sarenne, the legendary Alpe d’Huez (which this year will be approached from a different side), Col de la Colombière and Plateau de Solaison, where the closing battle for the yellow jersey will unfold.
“If you look over the course, it’s pretty obvious we have the same ingredients as in the past: some hard stages in the opening portion of the week, then a challenging time trial, which even though isn’t long will lay down the ground for attacks in the mountains,” said Quick-Step Floors Directeur Sportif Brian Holm.
I don’t think there will be a moment of respite in the race, so we have to stay attentive all the time. Our team is built around Dan, whom we’ll protect and help get another strong and morale-boosting result ahead of next month’s Tour de France.”
Quick Step Floors line-up for Critérium du Dauphiné (FRA) 2.UWT
Eros Capecchi (ITA)
Tim Declercq (BEL)
Daniel Martin (IRL)
Enric Mas (ESP)
Maximiliano Richeze (ARG)
Petr Vakoc (CZE)
Martin Velits (SVK)
Julien Vermote (BEL)
Stages
04.06.17 Stage 1 Saint-Étienne – Saint-Étienne 170.5 km
05.06.17 Stage 2 Saint-Chamond – Arlanc 171.0 km
06.06.17 Stage 3 Le Chambon-sur-Lignon – Tullins 184.0 km
07.06.17 Stage 4 La Tour-du-Pin – Bourgoin-Jallieu 23.5 km (ITT)
08.06.17 Stage 5 La Tour-de-Salvagny – Mâcon 175.5 km
09.06.17 Stage 6 Parc des Oiseaux – Villars-les-Dombes – La Motte-Servolex 145.5 km
10.06.17 Stage 7 Aoste – Alpe d’Huez 167.5 km
11.06.17 Stage 8 Albertville – Plateau de Solaison 115.0 km
