The riders roll down the start ramp and are off for a fast race. Until the intermediate check at kilometre 3.5 the route is predominantly flat and at times descending. Then the route continues on level ground to the flamme rouge, while the last kilometre is a false flat. The 500 metres run-in to the line features a short 5% kick-up.
The route takes in a number of sharp bends. With 3 kilometres done two right angles follow in quick succession, while the riders face two U-turns with 800 metres remaining.
It’s been two years since the Critérium du Dauphiné opened with a prologue, although it was hardly the same thing. Only take a look at the winner that day – Alberto Contador – and his average speed – 20.7 kms/h. Yes, the 2016 Dauphiné did start with a long-busting uphill 3.9 kilometres time trial in Les Gets.
Read also: results/report prologue Critérium du Dauphiné 2018.
Critérium du Dauphiné 2018 Prologue: Route maps, height profiles, and more
Click on the images to zoom
Related articles Favourites - Critérium du Dauphiné 20 Overview - Critérium du Dauphiné 20 Stage 7: Adam Yates wins in shadow Mont Blanc, Thomas pockets overall - Critérium du Dauphiné 20 Stage 6: Pello Bilbao wins in La Rosière ski station, Geraint Thomas cements GC lead - Critérium du Dauphiné 20 Stage 5: Daniel Martin wins in Valmorel, Geraint Thomas new leader - Critérium du Dauphiné 20 Stage 4: Julian Alaphilippe wins uphill, Gianni Moscon new leader - Critérium du Dauphiné 20 Stage 3: Sky crushes rivals on TTT, Kwiatkowski back in overall lead - Critérium du Dauphiné 20 Stage 2: Sprint victory Ackermann, Impey new leader - Critérium du Dauphiné 20 Stage 1: Impey sprints to victory, Kwiatkowski remains leader - Critérium du Dauphiné 20 Route stage 1: Valence - Saint-Just-Saint-Rambert - Critérium du Dauphiné 20 Route stage 2: Montbrison - Belleville (Beaujolais) - Critérium du Dauphiné 20 Route stage 3: Pont-de-Vaux - Louhans (TTT) - Critérium du Dauphiné 20 Route stage 4: Chazey-sur-Ain - Lans-en-Vercors - Critérium du Dauphiné 20 Route stage 5: Grenoble - Valmorel - Critérium du Dauphiné 20 Route stage 6: Frontenex – La Rosière - Critérium du Dauphiné 20 Route stage 7: Moûtiers – Saint-Gervais Mont Blanc - Critérium du Dauphiné 20 More articles Vuelta 2025: The Route
Vuelta 2025: Riders
Vuelta 2025 Route stage 1: Turin – Novara
Vuelta 2025 Route stage 2: Alba - Limone Piemonte
Vuelta 2025 Route stage 3: San Maurizio Canavese - Ceres
Vuelta a España: Winners and records
Tour de France 2025: The Route
Tour de France 2025: Riders
Tour de France 2025 Route stage 1: Lille - Lille
Tour de France 2025 Route stage 2: Lauwin-Planque - Boulogne-sur-Mer
Tour de France 2025 Route stage 3: Valenciennes - Dunkirk
Tour de France 2025 Route stage 4: Amiens - Rouen
Tour de France 2025 Route stage 5: Caen - Caen
Tour de France 2025 Route stage 7: Saint-Malo - Mûr-de-Bretagne
Tour de France 2025 Route stage 8: Saint-Méen-le-Grand - Laval
Tour de France 2025 Route stage 9: Chinon - Châteauroux
Tour de France 2025 Route stage 10: Ennezat - Le Mont-Dore
Tour de France 2025 Route stage 11: Toulouse - Toulouse
Tour de France 2025 Route stage 12: Auch - Hautacam
Tour de France 2025 Route stage 13: Loudenvielle - Peyragudes
Tour de France 2025 Route stage 15: Muret - Carcassonne
Tour de France 2025 Route stage 16: Montpellier - Mont Ventoux
Tour de France 2025 Route stage 18: Vif - Col de la Loze
Tour de France 2025 Route stage 19: Albertville - La Plagne
Tour de France 2025 Route stage 20: Nantua - Pontarlier
Tour de France 2025 Route stage 21: Mantes-la-Ville - Paris
Cycling Calendar 2025
Tour de France 2025 Route stage 14: Pau - Superbagnères
Giro 2025: The Route Rumours
Giro 2025: Riders
Tour de France Femmes 2025: The Route
Tour de France Femmes 2025 Route stage 1: Vannes - Plumelec
Tour Down Under 2025: The Route