© Team Sky
Criterium du Dauphine 2017 start list announced
Cycling's warm up race for the Tour de France
In March 2017 it was announced that the Criterium du Dauphine cycling race would be coming back to Alpe d'Huez, after a period of speculation and lots of rumours that it might not.
The race, a warm up for the Tour de France, will have a stage finish here in Alpe d'Huez on Saturday 10th June and has finished in Alpe d'Huez in previous years, but this year's surprise was the change in route that the organisers announced back in March.
The 2017 route will see cyclists coming up the Sarenne gorge route rather than the usual 21 bends from the base of the mountain. The Col de Sarenne has an average of 7% gradient incline with some much tougher 13% sections to overcome, which will prove challenging for the riders. Once they've passed through resort they will head down the alternate road and rejoin the 21 bends to descend.
Today saw the official announcement of the teams and their rider start list, with Chris Froome heading up Team Sky and Alberto Contador riding for Trek-Segafredo. Frenchman Romain Bardet could prove a threat, as could Richie Porte (Aus) or Nicoals Roche (Irl). Take a look at the full start list.
