Whether you’re on board with the name change and ready to call it the Tour Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes, or you’re an old-school fan and will continue to say Criterium du Dauphiné, there should be no confusion about the level of excitement that’s about to unfold in France.
Many of the top cyclists in the world are headed that way for eight days of competition, and that’s just the first course of a satiating summer of racing across Europe.
The Tour Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes 2026 will be the 78th edition of the race – the first under the new name – and it will take place from June 7-14. Viewers in Canada can catch all the action live on FloBikes and the FloSports app.
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Over the eight stages of this year’s race, the riders will experience much of the picturesque, but challenging, terrain the Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes has to offer, and that’s part of what led to the name change after almost eight decades.
The region spans nearly 70,000 kilometers in the south of France and includes 12 departments, all of which have played a role in the history of the event, which began in 1947.
The race was created by the Dauphiné Libéré newspaper, with the route originally limited to the periodical’s distribution area.
From 1947 through 2009, it was known as the Criterium du Dauphiné Libéré. From 2010 until 2025, the race simply was known as the Criterium du Dauphiné.
With the Tour de France 2026 just a few weeks away, the Tour Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes again will serve as a warm-up for many riders, while others will get their reps in at the five-stage Tour de Suisse from June 17-21.
Slovenian superstar Tadej Pogacar, who won the last edition of the Criterium du Dauphiné in 2025, won’t be back to defend his title. He’s headed to Switzerland.
So, who’s the favorite heading into the Tour Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes 2026? It could be Paul Seixas, a 19-year-old sensation from France or Mexican star Isaac Del Toro, who had a breakout performance at the Giro d’Italia in 2025.
Tour Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes 2026 Schedule
- Stage 1 - June 7: Vizille - Saint-Ismier (146.2km)
- Stage 2 - June 8: Saint-Martin-Le-Vinoux - Le Puy-en-Velay (234.3km)
- Stage 3 (TTT) - June 9: Perreux - Perreux (28.4km)
- Stage 4 - June 10: Le Puy-en-Velay - Montrond-Les-Bains (167.4km)
- Stage 5 - June 11: Saint-Chamond - Villars-Les-Dombes (195.8km)
- Stage 6 - June 12: Saint-Vulbas - Crest-Voland (182.3km)
- Stage 7 - June 13: La Bridoire - Grand Colombier (133.6km)
- Stage 8 - June 14: Beaufort - Plateau de Solaison (120.1km)
FloBikes Broadcast Schedule For The Tour Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes 2026
All Times Eastern
- Stage 1 – 7:05-9:05 a.m.
- Stage 2 – 9:20-11:20 a.m.
- Stage 3 – 9:20-11:20 a.m.
- Stage 4 – 9:20-11:20 a.m.
- Stage 5 – 9:20-11:20 a.m.
- Stage 6 – 9:20-11:20 a.m.
- Stage 7 – 8:20–10:20 a.m.
- Stage 8 – 9:15 a.m.-11:15 a.m.
About The Route For The Tour Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes 2026
The eight stages of the Tour Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes 2026 will cover more than 1,200 kilometers. The longest day (Stage 2) will be followed by the shortest (Stage 3) at 234.3 and 28.4 kilometers, respectively.
Riders will encounter four mountain stages, including the last three days, three hilly rides and one team time trial.
Here’s a look at the schedule, host cities and route for the race:
Tour Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes History
Four riders in history – Jacques Anquetil, Eddy Merckx, Bernard Hinault and Miguel Indurain – have won the Tour de France five times, and all four are on the list of winners at the Tour-adjacent Tour Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes.
In the previous 77 editions of the Tour Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes, a rider from France has won 30 times, with Spain next on the list with 10 victories.
Five riders have won a chart-topping three times, with Frenchman Hinault among them.
A dozen riders, including Anquetil in 1963, Merckx in 1971, Hinault in 1979 and 1981 and Indurain in 1995, have won the Tour Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes and Tour de France in the same year.
More recently, Vingegaard and Pogacar became the latest to achieve the feat, doing so in 2023 and 2025, respectively.
And, just like the Tour de France, the leader of the General Classification at the Tour Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes earns the right to wear a yellow jersey.
How To Watch The Tour Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes (Criterium du Dauphiné) 2026
The Tour Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes (Criterium du Dauphiné) 2026 is streaming on FloBikes and the FloSports app for viewers in Canada.
Highlights, replays and breaking news will be available on both platforms.
Fans in the United States can watch on NBC Sports.
Who Won The Tour Auvergne Rhone Alpes (Criterium du Dauphiné) In 2025?
Pogacar, who won the Tour de France in 2020, 2021, 2024 and 2025, was dominant in the final edition of the Criterium du Dauphiné before the name change.
German Florian Lipowitz completed the podium, 2 minutes, 38 seconds behind Pogacar, while Belgium's Remco Evenepoel was fourth, 4 minutes, 21 seconds off the lead.
Paul Seixas Looked Back… Then Ended Flèche Wallonne 2026
Paul Seixas becomes the youngest winner in the history of Flèche Wallonne 2026 with a brutal display on the Mur de Huy.
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