The
Tour Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes returns from June 7 to June 14, 2026, continuing the legacy of the race many fans still know as the Critérium du Dauphiné. Widely regarded as the most important warm-up event ahead of the
Tour de France, the eight-day stage race once again attracts many of the sport's biggest names as they fine-tune their form for July. Below, you'll find all the information on how to watch the race live and on TV, including coverage in the UK and the USA.
First held in 1947, the race has long occupied a special place on the cycling calendar. Polish rider Edward Klabiński claimed victory in the inaugural edition, and over the decades, the event has become one of the most prestigious week-long races in the world. Its route through southeastern France and the Alpine region often mirrors the demands of the Tour de France, making it an ideal testing ground for general classification contenders.
The roll of honour reads like a who's who of cycling history. Legends such as Jacques Anquetil, Raymond Poulidor, Eddy Merckx, Bernard Thévenet, Bernard Hinault, and Greg LeMond all tasted success here. In more recent years, winners have included Bradley Wiggins, Chris Froome, Jonas Vingegaard, and Tadej Pogačar, further underlining the race's reputation as a key indicator of Tour de France form.
Pogačar dominated the 2025 edition, winning multiple stages and sending an early warning to his rivals before going on to shine once again at the Tour de France a month later.
Tour Auvergne - Rhône Alpes 2026 Schedule and start times
The 2026 Tour Auvergne - Rhône Alpes will be held from the 7th to the 14th of June. . Stage dates and times (in Central European Time: CET) are as follows:
| Stage | Day | Date | Start Time | Finish time |
| Stage 1 | Sunday | 7 June | 11:15 | 15:00 |
| Stage 2 | Monday | 8 June | 11:30 | 17:05 |
| Stage 3 | Tuesday | 9 June | 15:05 | 17:02 |
| Stage 4 | Wednesday | 10 June | 13:15 | 17:10 |
| Stage 5 | Thursday | 11 June | 12:45 | 17:05 |
| Stage 6 | Friday | 12 June | 12:45 | 17:05 |
| Stage 7 | Saturday | 13 June | 12:25 | 16:00 |
| Stage 8 | Sunday | 14 June | 12:30 | 16:00 |
How to watch the 2026 Tour Auvergne - Rhône Alpes on TV
The race will be broadcast on the traditional channels, most notably Discovery, MAX, and Eurosport. As always, you can always follow the 2026 Tour Auvergne - Rhône Alpes on CyclingUpToDate with our full coverage of the race.
In the United States, you will be able to find the race on NBC Sports, and in Canada, the race will be broadcast on FloBikes. In the United Kingdom, viewers can watch the race live on ITV4, whilst in Australia, SBS is the official broadcaster of the race.
| Location | TV |
| United States | NBC Sports |
| Canada | FloBikes |
| United Kingdom | ITV4 |
| Switzerland | SRG-SSR |
| Belgium | RTBF & VRT |
| Denmark | TV2 Sport |
| Spain | RTVE |
| Italy | Rai Sport |
| Luxembourg | RTL |
| Norway | TV2 Sportskanalen |
| Netherlands | NOS |
| Latin America & Caribbean | ESPN International |
| Colombia | Caracol |
| Sub-Saharan Africa | Supersport |
| China | Zhibo TV |
| Japan | J Sports |
| Australia | SBS |
| Basque Country | EITB |