All eight stages of the from June 2-9, with most stages simulcast on either SBS or SBS VICELAND.
They’re back!
Remco Evenepoel and Primoz Roglic are expected to contest the Criterium du Dauphine in what is their first race since crashing out of the Itzulia Basque Country two months ago.
The high-speed collision left several riders injured, including Evenepoel (Soudal Quick-Step) who was forced to miss the Ardennes Classics after suffering a fractured scapula and collarbone.
Now, with an 18-day altitude camp behind him, Evenepoel will ride the Dauphine-based event for the first time, where he will reunite with Roglic - a rider perhaps fortunate to escape the pile-up with no serious injuries.
Roglic has had just 11 days of racing since signing for Bora-Hansgrohe at the start of the season, though team officials remain content with his progress and preparation ahead of the 2024 Tour de France.
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Contenders only
The presence of Evenepoel and Roglic adds further intrigue to the impending general classification battle, though it remains to be seen just how much of an impact they’ll make.
Race kilometres have been lacking as a result of their respective recoveries, and this year’s field only complicates their ambitions.
Defending Vuelta a Espana champion Sepp Kuss (Visma–Lease a Bike) is expected to contest the leader’s jersey, as are the promising Spanish duo of Juan Ayuso (UAE Team Emirates) and Carlos Rodriguez (Ineos Grenadiers).
Grand Tour winner Tao Geoghegan Hart (Lidl–Trek) will also be in the mix at the stage race, followed closely by fellow contenders David Gaudu (Groupama–FDJ), Guillaume Martin (Cofidis), Santiago Buitrago (Bahrain Victorious) and Felix Gall (Decathlon–AG2R La Mondiale).
Aussies in the mix
There will be four Australians lining up at the Criterium du Dauphine to put the finishing touches on their preparations for the Tour.
Jayco-AlUla duo Luke Durbridge and Chris Harper have been selected along with Jack Haig of Bahrain-Victorious and Bora-Hansgrohe’s Jai Hindley.
Hindley finished fourth in the stage race last year before going on to wear the yellow jersey in an eventual seventh-placed finish at the French Grand Tour.
The 28-year-old will once again set his sights on the podium at both races in 2024, though it remains to be seen how the team use him alongside new teammate Roglic.
Heat check
Spanning eight stages over eight days, the Dauphine has developed a reputation for testing a rider’s form ahead of the Tour de France.
However, the close proximity between both events on the calendar - not to mention their location - leaves little room, or time, for improvement.
Since the first edition of the Dauphine in 1947, only 11 riders have won both races in the same year.
The last to do so was Jonas Vingegaard in 2023, the Visma-Lease a Bike star who recently returned to training after suffering significant injuries in the Basque Country.
The course, of course
Twenty-two teams will contest the stage race over a course that stretches more than 1,200 kilometres long.
Stage 1 features a flat, 174.8-kilometre journey in Saint-Pourçain-sur-Sioule, followed by two hilly days in the south-central region of France.
A 34.4-kilometre individual time trial awaits the peloton at the midway point of the race, before a hilly, 167-kilometre day makes up Stage 5.
The final three stages are an Alpine trilogy of sorts and will feature three energy-sapping summit finishes to close out what is bound to be an entertaining week of racing.
How to watch the Criterium du Dauphine 2024
Sunday, June 2
Criterium du Dauphine - Stage 1
11:00pm - 1.00am (AEST)
LIVE on SBS and SBS On Demand
Monday, June 3
Criterium du Dauphine - Stage 2
11:10pm - 1.10am (AEST)
LIVE on SBS and SBS On Demand
Tuesday, June 4
Criterium du Dauphine - Stage 3
11:10pm - 1.10am (AEST)
LIVE on SBS and SBS On Demand
Wednesday, June 5
Criterium du Dauphine - Stage 4
11:10pm - 1.10am (AEST)
LIVE on SBS and SBS On Demand
Thursday, June 6
Criterium du Dauphine - Stage 5
8:45pm - 10.45pm (AEST)
LIVE on SBS On Demand
Friday, June 7
Criterium du Dauphine - Stage 6
11:25pm - 1.25am (AEST)
LIVE on SBS and SBS On Demand
Saturday, June 8
Criterium du Dauphine - Stage 7
9:05pm - 11.05pm (AEST)
LIVE on SBS On Demand
Sunday, June 9
Criterium du Dauphine - Stage 8
9:05pm - 11.05pm (AEST)
LIVE on SBS VICELAND and SBS On Demand
