PREVIEW | Critérium du Dauphiné 2023 stage 6 - Hilltop finish at the end of an introduction to the Alps

Preview. After the GC fight blew up and Jonas Vingegaard took over the race, stage 6 of the Criterium du Dauphiné could see the breakaway riders going for the win, or perhaps another explosive GC fight in a hilltop finish.

Stage 6 has the peloton ride into the Alps. It's not a high-mountain stage, rather a warm-up. It's another stage that suits the puncheurs or riders who come in with hopes of netting an important stage win, having as a backdrop the mountains which will in the coming days decide the race.

Estimated start and finish times for Criterium du Dauphiné stage 6: 12:20-16:25CET

A short day into Crest-Voland, it features three categorized climbs towards the end: 7.8Km at 5.7%, 3.2Km at 6.1% and then a summit finish with 2.3 kilometers averaging 6.6%. The first of which is the scenic Col de Aravis, which is an 8-kilometer climb but from it's very base will see the riders climb over 1000 meters in altitude. This one summits with 19.5 kilometers to go, close enough to the finish to see serious attacks.  

Whether it is in the peloton or breakaway, attacks may surge there as it is almost completely downhill into the final explosive ascent. Another one perfect for the puncheurs who can surge in these short efforts. The finale into Crest-Voland is a combination of two small yet constant climbs: 3.2Km at 6.1% finish with 3.5 kilometers to go, and after a small descent the riders have another ramp of 2.3 kilometers averaging 6.6%, this one straightforward and difficult to attack. The very final meters flatten out to the finish line. 

The temperatures go down. There will be grey clouds rolling in and different weather, a slight breeze from the west and small chances of a bit of rain.

Some puncheurs could take special fondness to this day, for example Julian Alaphilippe is looking quite sharp and Soudal - Quick-Step could try to control the day as it does seem like he can bring home another win, it's not a day too hard to do that. If it really comes to a reduced bunch finish other Frenchmen could benefit from it such as Clément Champoussin and Mathieu Burgaudeau. Omar Fraile and Fred Wright could, under the right circumstances, also feature in that finale.

Then you have some GC riders who could perhaps take it in a sprint, if the race is attacked hard in the final few minutes. Tobias Johannessen and Giulio Ciccone more noticeably, I wouldn't be surprised if Richard Carapaz also has that in mind, he doesn't look in great form but has the explositivity.

If there is a GC battle it should be limited, however many riders are expected in this finale and one could sneak away with the right opportunity and a victory on his shoulder. Jonas Vingegaard for one, although I think he intends on keeping everything as it is as it's rolling perfectly for him. Max Poole, Jai Hindley, Enric Mas, Adam Yates, Lenny Martinez, Esteban Chaves, Mikel Landa, Jack Haig, Egan Bernal and Ben O'Connor could all benefit from an opportunity.

A breakaway could well succeed in this day, it requires someone to have good climbing legs, and also the presence of a longer climb beforehand means the rouleurs are unlikely to be able to surprise. Andrea Bagioli, Mauri Vansevenant, Valentin Madouas, James Shaw, Rune Herregodts, Georg Zimmermann, Matteo Jorgenson, Kenny Elissonde, Benjamin Thomas, Axel Zingle, Brent van Moer, Lawson Craddock, Pierre Latour, Robert Stannard and Tobias Bayer are all riders who can perform in this terrain.

*** Julian Alaphilippe, Tobias Johannessen
** Jonas Vingegaard, Richard Carapaz, Giulio Ciccone
* Clément Champoussin, Jai Hindley, Enric Mas, Adam Yates, Ben O'Connor, Andrea Bagioli, Rune Herregodts, Axel Zingle, Lawson Craddock

Pick: Julian Alaphilippe