No more "Dauphiné" - The traditional Tour de France test will change name in 2026!
CyclingWednesday, 18 June 2025 at 10:00
The 77th edition of Criterium du Dauphiné was also the last one in the race's history. Don't worry, the traditional Tour de France test is not going anywhere though. From 2026, all the cycling stars will be circling the Tour Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes in their calendars.
Thus, Tadej Pogacar's first victory at Dauphiné last Sunday was also the last one anyone will ever add (at least in the foreseeable future). The legacy of Le Dauphiné Libéré, a local newspaper that funded the race ends here. "The new name fully reflects the regional roots of the race," said Christian Prudhomme, the boss of the Tour de France and director of cycling at organiser ASO.
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- Love TdF managers. Will be a nice puzzle again.
DareDevil28-06-2025 - Not a smart Move 😁DareDevil28-06-2025
- Did Froome expect to be at the Tour?Ride197428-06-2025
- zero proof of that. what a negative mean commentmij28-06-2025
- I’m trying to determine whether the writers on this site purposely write misguided headlines for clicks or they simply never took journalism courses.b3tlla28-06-2025
- Wanna make a case for that? Might have been convincing earlier this year but lately?Mistermaumau28-06-2025
- Depends on what you consider important in cycling.Mistermaumau28-06-2025
- How about waiting for an update to include results not available at the time? Top 27 of the available is probably what is meant.Mistermaumau28-06-2025
- Thanks for that, shorter cranks could also allow you to continue pedalling in sharper turns I guess. But, are you saying that commercial bike frames might now start being adapted with a lower option in vue of mounting shorter cranks?Mistermaumau27-06-2025
- Obviously not you presumptuous squeek, seeing as the question was concerning the teams presenting 7, 8, or 9. The site has in the meantime upgraded its presentation to explain which teams are defined but that could not be deduced from the number alone unless there is a rule that forbids starting with a team of 7, I expect you know the answer to that but will refrain from sharing. 8 being the max. still doesn’t mean a list of 8 is definitive and won’t change, and showing 9 is in actually in bad taste (if there is hesitation between 2 or 3 riders then just list the sure starters and wait to complete instead of leaving everyone to guess and not be disappointed which name will be crossed off later). But hey, if you need a punching bag too, feel free.Mistermaumau27-06-2025
Assume the regions are punting sponsor money in, shame that they can leave the actual name in place, bit like when Het Volk became Het Nieuwsblad!
Doubt it, it is “owned” by ASO since the loss-making newspaper group could no longer afford to stage it. Leaving the actual name presents a whole host of (future) problems, advertising, political leaning, copyright, reputational risk (could go bankrupt). Besides, it isn’t in the least a criterium but nobody seems to have noticed the obvious all these years.