The general rehearsal of the Tour kicks off this week with Seixas, Ayuso, Del Toro, Almeida, and Van Aert

From June 7 to 14, the Tour Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes 2026 will take place, the race that officially replaces the Critérium du Dauphiné following the agreement between ASO and the French region. Although the name changes, the event maintains its role as the main rehearsal before the Tour de France and will once again bring together many of the riders expected to compete for the overall title of the Grande Boucle.

Tour Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes 2026: route, favorites, and where to watch the first edition of the new era of the Dauphiné

The race will feature eight stages and 1,208 kilometers of route, including a team time trial and a demanding final block of mountains that should decide the overall classification.

A route designed for climbers

The 2026 edition will start with two hilly stages before facing a 28.4-kilometer team time trial in Perreux. This stage could mark the first significant differences among the favorites and gives an advantage to particularly strong teams like Lidl-Trek or INEOS Grenadiers.

After several transition stages, the race will enter its decisive phase during the last weekend. The sixth stage will finish in Crest-Voland, the first mountaintop finish of the event, while the final two stages include two of the toughest climbs in French cycling: Grand Colombier and Plateau de Solaison.

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With three consecutive mountain stages and no individual time trial, climbers will have a perfect opportunity to decide the overall classification.

Stages of the Tour Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes 2026

• Stage 1 (June 7): Vizille – Saint-Ismier (146.2 km)
• Stage 2 (June 8): Saint-Martin-le-Vinoux – Le Puy-en-Velay (234.3 km)
• Stage 3 (June 9): Perreux – Perreux, TTT (28.4 km)
• Stage 4 (June 10): Le Puy-en-Velay – Montrond-les-Bains (167.4 km)
• Stage 5 (June 11): Saint-Chamond – Villars-les-Dombes (195.8 km)
• Stage 6 (June 12): Saint-Vulbas – Crest-Voland (182.3 km)
• Stage 7 (June 13): La Bridoire – Grand Colombier (133.6 km)
• Stage 8 (June 14): Beaufort – Plateau de Solaison (120.1 km)

Seixas, Ayuso, and Del Toro lead the list of favorites

The first edition of the Tour Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes will bring together several riders expected to star in the upcoming Tour de France. Among the top favorites for the overall classification are Paul Seixas, Juan Ayuso, and Isaac del Toro, three names leading a participation marked by the generational change taking place in the international peloton.

Seixas arrives as one of the main references after continuing to establish himself as one of the greatest promises in world cycling, while Ayuso will face an important test to measure his form after several months without competing. Del Toro, for his part, returns to competition accompanied by João Almeida, making UAE Team Emirates-XRG one of the strongest teams in the race.

But beyond the battle for the overall title, one of the major attractions of the week will be the presence of Wout van Aert. The Belgian will use the race as part of his preparation for the Tour de France and will have several opportunities to seek prominence, especially in the team time trial and on stages more favorable to powerful and versatile riders. His presence adds a top-level name to a participation that also includes Tobias Halland Johannessen, Oscar Onley, Mattias Skjelmose, Cian Uijtdebroeks, Kevin Vauquelin, Luke Plapp, Ion Izagirre, and Iván Romeo.

How to watch the Tour Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes 2026

The race can be followed in Spain through Eurosport, available via platforms such as DAZN, Movistar+, Orange TV, or Vodafone TV. The event will take place from June 7 to 14 and will serve as the last major reference before the start of the Tour de France 2026.