Sunday June 7th until Sunday 14th of June: 
Tour Auvergne - Rhône-Alpes // Vizille - Plateau de Solaison (1208.1 km)

The 2026 Criterium du Dauphiné, now called Tour Auvergne - Rhône-Alpes (June 7-14) is traditionally opened with hilly stages and stacked with big mountain stages in the final weekend. It is the most important test for riders who want to perform in the Tour de France starting in less than a month.

The route appears built for complete stage-race riders. There is little room for recovery, the team time trial can already create differences, and the final weekend features two uphill finishes in a row. That makes consistency from day one essential.

• Total distance: 1,208.1 km
• 3 mountain stages, 4 hilly stages
• 1 Team Time Trial
• Vertical meters: 22.327
• Final three stages all finish uphill

The race starts in Vizille and finishes on the Plateau de Solaison, with demanding days to Le Puy-en-Velay, Grand Colombier and Crest-Voland along the way. 

Stage 1 – Vizille to Saint-Ismier, 146.2 km
The opening stage is officially classified as a hilly stage and already includes plenty of elevation gain. It may give attackers a chance, but it is also a first test for the GC teams. 5 categorized times ánd an uphill finish.

Stage 2 – Saint-Martin-Le-Vinoux to Le Puy-en-Velay, 234.3 km
By far the longest stage of the race. This long hilly day could accumulate fatigue quickly and encourage aggressive racing deep into the finale. Stage ends after a descent with a final ramp at 6km before the finish.

Stage 3 – Perreux to Perreux, 28.4 km team time trial
The race's only time trial is a short team effort around Perreux. Even over this distance, the strongest and most organised teams can gain important seconds, three hills make it a challenging route.

Stage 4 – Le Puy-en-Velay to Montrond-les-Bains, 167.4 km
A hilly day directly after the team time trial, offering another opportunity for attacks and time gaps. GC contenders will need to stay alert and avoid unnecessary losses. The stage ends with a 35 km flat run-in.

Stage 5 – Saint-Chamond to Villars-les-Dombes, 195.8 km
Another long stage with rolling terrain. It is not a decisive mountain day, and might be the only opportuniy for sprinters in the race.

Stage 6 – Saint-Vulbas to Crest-Voland, 182.3 km
The first major mountain stage of the final block. The uphill finish in Crest-Voland makes this a key GC day for the climbers.

Stage 7 – La Bridoire to Grand Colombier, 133.6 km
A short but severe mountain stage with the iconic Grand Colombier finish. This is the kind of stage where the strongest riders are expected to make a clear statement.

Stage 8 – Beaufort to Plateau de Solaison, 120.1 km
The final stage ends uphill once again, and on paper it looks like the toughest day of the race. The Plateau de Solaison should provide one last opportunity to turn the GC upside down. 4000 meters of climbing in only 120 kilometer, it's a unique stage set-up.

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