Critérium of Dauphine released

The Critérium of Dauphine released is a competition cyclist by stages created in 1947, organized by the newspaper Dauphiné Libéré and being held mainly in the the Alps around the Dauphiné. Since 2005, it is registered with the program of the Pro Turn. Some of the great names of cycling registered their names with the prize list: Louison Bobet, Jacques Anquetil, Raymond Poulidor, Shine Ocaña, Eddy Merckx, Bernard Thévenet, Bernard Hinault, Luis Herrera, Charly Mottet, Miguel Indurain and more recently Alexandre Vinokourov, Christophe Moreau and Lance Armstrong. He celebrates in 2007 his sixty years of existence.

Critérium is held in the month of June over one week, preceding the Tour de France which begins some weeks later. It is famous for its difficulty related to the mountainous course and the accession of large collars and arrivals in altitude, because of its geographical placement. Its current configuration is generally made up of a prolog, a stage of plain, a against-the-watch and other stages undulating or mountainous. The runners often make use of it like preparation with the Tour de France.

The edition 2007 took place between the June 10th and the June 17th 2007 which began with Grenoble to finish itself with Annecy, whose course includes/understands the Mont Ventoux, the Col of the Telegraph or Col of Cross-of-Iron inter alia, it was gained by the French Christophe Moreau.

History

After the Second world war, the Cycling, with the Boxing, belonged to the most popular sports in France, the newspaper Dauphiné Libéré then decides to create and organize a test cyclist by stages through the area which will take place right before the Tour de France in the month of June. As of its beginnings, this competition will attract the best French cyclists (Louison Bobet, Jean Robic, etc) which enables them as well as possible to prepare the great appointment of July. Popular real success, the test is also an economic success where the cities are numerous to require to be city-stages of Critérium, finally it also makes it possible to try out during the test technological advances for the material of retransmission, in particular in the mountains, and the material of the bicycles.

The current form of critérium is the consequence of its fusion with the Circuit of Six-Province-Dauphine the in 1969.

In this race, many champions asserted themselves, for example Critérium is the only test to be gained by all the victorious quintuples of the Tour de France (Anquetil, Merckx, Hinault, Indurain and Armstrong).

The cities having generally accommodated the test are Grenoble (44 times), Avignon (32 times), Saint-Etienne (23 times), Annecy (22 times), Chambéry (21 times), Gap (21 times), Lyon (19 times), Aix-the-Baths (18 times), Valence (16 times), Briançon (15 times) or Valley-the-Baths (15 times).

Shirts

The leader of general classification revêt an yellow jersey with blue band distinct from the other runners. As of 1948 a red shirt with white peas is decreed with best climbing because of the mountainous course of Critérium, then in 1955 a green shirt rewards the best sprinter, finally a blue shirt rewards the most complete cyclist by his positions with the individual classifications at time (general), the points (sprint) and of the mountain.

Chronological reference marks

1947 : First Critérium of Dauphiné Libéré and first arrival abroad with Geneva.
1948 : Creation of the price of best climbing.
1955 : Creation of the price of the best sprinter.

Various directors

Georges Cazeneuve, member of the board of directors of Dauphiné Libéré puts forward the idea to create and organize Critérium with leaving the war, idea which will be supported by this council. There will remain the director until in 1980 and created the meanwhile Six days of Grenoble (test of Cyclisme on track). Marcel Patouillard takes his succession starting from 1981 during seven years before leaving his station to Thierry Cazeneuve (nephew of Georges) who is always at this station.

Principal records

Victories with general classification

3. Nello Lauredi in 1950, 1951 and 1954.
3. Shine Ocaña in 1970, 1972 and 1973.
3. Bernard Hinault in 1977, 1979 and 1981
3. Charly Mottet in 1987, 1989 and 1992.

Better climbing

5. Thierry Claveyrolat in 1986, 1990, 1991, 1992 and 1993.
3. Shine Ocaña in 1971, 1972 and 1973.
3. Lucien Van Impe in 1975, 1976 and 1977.
3. Bernard Hinault in 1979, 1981 and 1984.

Better sprinter

3. Thierry Claveyrolat in 1987, 1989 and 1990.

Prize list

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