Critérium du Dauphiné

Former Giro mountains jersey winner is back from his blowout at Omega Pharma and aiming for a shot at polka dots in July

Images from stage 1 of the 2012 Critérium du Dauphiné

Andy Schleck says recent reports of tension at RadioShack are overblown; Bruyneel searches for answers after stage 1 time loss

Spotted at the start of the Dauphine's first stage, the new Trek Madone 7 features integrated brakes and Kamm-tail aero shapes

Evans fires first shot in Tour de France build-up with stage win

Euskaltel leader continues despite hard crash in stage 1 of key tune-up for the Tour de France

Omega Pharma director, Brian Holm says a TT win for Martin is bigger than 11th overall at the Tour and the German will focus on winning stages in July

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Aussie neo-pro takes some insight from prologue win as he searches for his place at Orica-GreenEdge

Images from the prologue of the 2012 Critérium du Dauphiné

Sky leader finishes second after training at altitude on 'another planet'

1. Luke DURBRIDGE, Orica-GreenEdge, in 6:39 2. Bradley WIGGINS, Sky, at :01 3. Andriy GRIVKO, Astana, at :02 4. Carlos BARREDO LLAMAZALES, Rabobank, at :02 5. Tony MARTIN, Omega Pharma-Quick Step, at :04

Orica's Luke Durbridge takes out Dauphine prologue

After an up-and-down spring, Tour champ Cadel Evans will ride the Dauphine to build his fitness and confidence before Tour defense

Next week's Dauphiné will be a proving ground for many Tour hopefuls with a shorter but similar course

Four Tour de France wildcards make the list for the June preparation race

New Tour climb to feature in warm-up race

Sean Yates has seen Alberto Contador up close and personal during his sport directing days at Discovery Channel and Astana, where the Spanish climber earned his earliest grand tour successes. Yates knows that Contador will be the five-star favorite when the Tour de France starts next month despite having raced and won the Giro d'Italia.

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Ivan Basso continues to prepare for what could be his final real run at the yellow jersey at the Tour de France.

Joaquim Rodríguez is looking forward to a well-earned vacation after a busy first half of the 2011 season capped by two stage victories at the Criterium du Dauphiné.

Bradley Wiggins' confidence is flying high following overall victory at the Criterium de Dauphiné, but was quick to question the presence of Alberto Contador in next month's Tour de France.

Quick Results

• 1. Joaquin Rodriguez Oliver (ESP), Team Katusha, 3:24:30
• 2. Thibaut Pinot (FRA), Française Des Jeux, at 0:08
• 3. Robert Gesink (NED), Rabobank Cycling Team, at 0:08
• 4. Jurgen Van Den Broeck (BEL), Omega Pharma-Lotto, at 0:08
• 5. Alexander Vinokourov (KAZ), Astana, at 0:08

Final GC

• 1. Bradley Wiggins (Great Britain), Team Sky, 23:33:24
• 2. Cadel Evans (Australia), BMC Racing Team, at 1:26
• 3. Alexander Vinokourov (Kazakhstan), Astana, at 1:49
• 4. Jurgen Van Den Broeck (Belgium), Omega Pharma-Lotto, at 2:10
• 5. Joaquin Rodriguez Oliver (Spain), Team Katusha, at 2:50

Stage 6 Quick results

• 1. Joaquin Rodriguez Oliver (ESP), Team Katusha, 5:12:47/li>
• 2. Robert Gesink (NED), Rabobank Cycling Team, at 0:31
• 3. Jurgen Van Den Broeck (BEL), Omega Pharma-Lotto, at 0:39
• 4. Christophe Kern (FRA), Europcar, at 0:41
• 5. Alexandre Vinokourov (KAZ), Astana, at 0:50

GC

• 1. Bradley Wiggins (Great Britain), Team Sky, 23:16:11
• 2. Cadel Evans (Australia), BMC Racing Team, at 1:26
• 3. Alexandre Vinokourov (Kazakhstan), Astana, at 1:52
• 4. Jurgen Van Den Broeck (Belgium), Omega Pharma-Lotto, at 2:13
• 5. Christophe Kern (France), Europcar, at 2:52

Joaquim Rodriguez (Katusha) won the sixth stage of the Critérium du Dauphiné Libéré on Saturday, emerging at the front of an elite group of contenders on the Collet d'Allevard climb and fending off challengers to the line.

LES GETS, France (AFP) — Quick Step's Andy Cappelle suffered bruising to the skull and multiple broken bones after falling in Friday's fifth stage of the Critérium du Dauphiné Libéré, race medical staff said.

Quick Results Stage 5

• 1. Christophe Kern (FRA), Europcar, 5:05:03
• 2. Chris Sörensen (DEN), Saxobank-Sungard, at 0:07
• 3. Thomas Voeckler (FRA), Europcar, at 0:09
• 4. Joaquin Rodriguez Oliver (ESP), Team Katusha, at 0:09
• 5. Alexandre Vinokourov (KAZ), Astana, at 0:09

GC

• 1. Bradley Wiggins (Great Britain), Team Sky, 18:02:30
• 2. Cadel Evans (Australia), BMC Racing Team, at 1:11
• 3. Janez Brajkovic (Slovenia), Team RadioShack, at 1:21
• 4. Alexandre Vinokourov (Kazakhstan), Astana, at 1:56
• 5. Rui Alberto Faria Da Costa (Portugal), Movistar, at 2:22

Dialing in their form for the Tour de France has been on the minds of all the potential contenders riding this week’s Critérium du Dauphiné.

Stage 4

• 1. John Degenkolb, HTC- Highroad, in 4:15:41
• 2. Boasson Hagen Edvald, Sky Procycling, at s.t
• 3. Jose Haedo Juan, Saxo Bank Sungard, at s.t.
• 4. Tomas Vaitkus, Pro Team Astana, at s.t.
• 5. William Bonnet, Fdj, at s.t.

GC

• 1. Bradley WIGGINS, (Great Britain) Team Sky, in 12:57:18
• 2. Cadel EVANS, (Australia) BMC Racing Team, at 1:11
• 3. Janez BRAJKOVIC, (Slovenia) Team RadioShack, at 1:21
• 4. Alexandre VINOKOUROV, (Kazakhstan) Astana, at 1:56
• 5. Rui Alberto FARIA DA COSTA, (Portugal) Movistar, at 2:12

HTC-Highroad's 22-year-old German sprinter John Degenkolb outkicked Edvald Boasson Hagen (Sky) to win Thursday's stage of the Critérium du Dauphiné Libéré, a 174km trip from La Motte-Servolex to Mâcon.

A look at BMCs new time trial machine.

Quick Results

• 1. Tony Martin (GER), HTC-Highroad, 55:27
• 2. Bradley Wiggins (GBR), Team Sky, at 0:11
• 3. Edvald Boasson Hagen (NOR), Team Sky, at 0:43
• 4. David Zabriskie (USA), Garmin-Cervelo, at 0:58
• 5. Janez Brajkovic (SLO), Team RadioShack, at 1:17

GC

• 1. Bradley Wiggins (Great Britain), Team Sky, 8:41:37
• 2. Cadel Evans (Australia), BMC Racing Team, at 1:11
• 3. Janez Brajkovic (Slovenia), Team RadioShack, at 1:21
• 4. Alexandre Vinokourov (Kazakhstan), Astana, at 1:56
• 5. Rui Alberto Faria Da Costa (Portugal), Movistar, at 2:12

GRENOBLE (AFP) — HTC Highroad's Tony Martin won Wednesday's 42.5 kilometer time trial at the Critérium du Dauphiné Libéré. Sky's Bradley Wiggins was second on the stage and took over the race lead.

Stage 2

• 1. John DEGENKOLB, (GER) HTC-Highroad, in 4:02:39
• 2. Samuel DUMOULIN, (FRA) Cofidis, Le Credit En Ligne, at 0
• 3. Paul MARTENS, (GER) Rabobank Cycling Team, at 0
• 4. Joaquin RODRIGUEZ OLIVER, (ESP) Team Katusha, at 0
• 5. Thomas VOECKLER, (FRA) Europcar, at 0

GC

• 1. Alexandre VINOKOUROV, (Kazakhstan) Astana, in 7:45:48
• 2. Jurgen VAN DEN BROECK, (Belgium) Omega Pharma-Lotto, at 11
• 3. Bradley WIGGINS, (Great Britain) Team Sky, at 11
• 4. Cadel EVANS, (Australia) BMC Racing Team, at 13
• 5. Nicolas ROCHE, (Ireland) Ag2r La Mondiale, at 17

LYON (AFP) - German sprinter John Degenkolb of HTC-Highroad grabbed a prestigious win after a hectic finish to the Criterium du Dauphine second stage in Lyon Tuesday.

SAINT PIERRE DE CHARTREUSE, France (AFP) - Veteran Kazkah rider Alexander Vinokourov (Astana) took the overall leader's jersey in the Criterium du Dauphine race here on Monday after Belgian Jurgen Van den Broeck (Omega Pharma-Lotto) won the first stage, a 144km ride from Albertville.

Stage 1

• 1. Jurgen VAN DEN BROECK, (BEL) Omega Pharma-Lotto, in 3:36:42
• 2. Joaquim RODRIGUEZ OLIVER, (ESP) Team Katusha, at 6
• 3. Cadel EVANS, (AUS) BMC Racing Team, at 7
• 4. Alexandre VINOKOUROV, (KAZ) Astana, at 7
• 5. Nicolas ROCHE, (IRL) Ag2r La Mondiale, at 7

GC after stage 1

Rabobank's Lars Boom took the overall lead of the Critérium du Dauphiné Libéré stage race after winning the prologue Sunday in Saint-Jean-de-Maurienne.

Quick Results

• 1. Lars Boom (NED), Rabobank Cycling Team, 5.4km in 6:18
• 2. Alexandre Vinokourov (KAZ), Astana, at 0:02
• 3. Bradley Wiggins (GBR), Team Sky, at 0:05
• 4. John Degenkolb (GER), HTC-Highroad, at 0:06
• 5. Biel Kadri (FRA), Ag2r La Mondiale, at 0:08

HTC-Highroad's final build-up for the 2011 Tour de France gets underway this weekend at the Critérium du Dauphiné, with the Grenoble time trial as one of the main targets.

Unless they ride May’s Giro d’Italia, Tour de France contenders choose between June’s Critérium du Dauphiné in France and Tour of Switzerland (Tour de Suisse) to hone their form for La Grande Boucle. This year, the choice is going to be a difficult one.

Tejay Van Garderen is still relishing his milestone podium spot at the recent Critérium du Dauphiné.

Tongues are wagging that Alberto Contador looks vulnerable after he couldn’t dominate the Critérium du Dauphiné, his final test before July’s Tour de France.

RadioShack management told Janez Brajkovic not to get his Tour de France hopes too high despite securing his biggest ever stage-race win at the Criterium du Dauphiné Libéré.

Janez Brajkovic (Team RadioShack) crosses with the bunch to win the Criterium du Dauphiné Libéré as Norwegian Edvald Boasson Hagen (Team Sky) solos to victory in the final stage.

Tejay Van Garderen (HTC-Columbia) survived a harrowing stage up one of the steepest and hardest climbs in cycling to defend a podium spot at the Critérium du Dauphiné in Saturday’s summit finish up Alpe d’Huez.

Astana's Alberto Contador won atop L'Alpe d'Huez on Saturday as RadioShack's Jani Brajkovic defended his overall lead in the Criterium du Dauphiné Libéré.

RadioShack sports director Alain Gallopin says no one can stay with Contador when he is in top form

Former Tour de France King of the Mountains Mauricio Soler is in doubt for next month's race because of a knee problem, his Caisse d'Epargne team said Thursday.

Vogondy takes stage at Dauphiné, Brajkovic keeps lead

2010 Critérium du Dauphiné results

Brajkovic takes over at Dauphiné

Slovakia's Peter Velits is all but certain to miss the Tour de France after fracturing his collarbone in a fall on the second stage of the Citérium du Dauphiné on Tuesday.

David Millar concedes finishing on the podium at the week-long Dauphine Criterium would prove a considerable morale boost to his Garmin-Transitions squad ahead of its biggest test of the season next month.

Saxo Bank's Juan Jose Haedo sprinted to victory in the second stage of France's Critérium du Dauphiné Libéré on Tuesday.

Haimar Zubeldia's Tour de France campaign is under threat after the Spaniard suffered a fracture in a crash on Monday at the Dauphine Criterium.

Lampre's Grega Bole scored the biggest win of his career after countering Geraint Thomas (Team Sky) to claim the first stage of the Dauphiné Criterium stage race Monday.

Contador wins the prologue in 8:34, while American Tejay Van Garderen is just 2 seconds back in second place.

Contador: 'Tour prep, not Dauphine win, is crucial'

With the Giro d’Italia in the rearview mirror, European racing shifts gears into a series of transition races as anticipation grows for July’s Tour de France.

Alberto Contador might not be racing much between Sunday’s conclusion of Liège-Bastogne-Liège and July’s Tour de France, but that doesn’t mean he won’t be busy.

The Dauphiné Libéré goes back to its roots in 2010 and will feature a summit finish at Alpe d’Huez for its 62nd edition.

France's iconic week-long stage race, the Dauphiné Libéré, may soon belong to the growing empire of the Amaury Sports Organization (ASO).