The Dauphine!

[maillotpois]

The "Dauphine Libere", which is the full name of the race, is also the name of a local newspaper which sponsors the race.

ETA (from cyclingnews):

The Critérium du Dauphiné Libéré, named after the daily newspaper of the French Alps just after World War II, celebrates 60 years of existence this year. It's a family affair; created and run for a long time by Georges Cazeneuve, the event has been under the guidance of his nephew, Thierry, a respected cycling journalist, for the past 20 years.

As a result of this long tradition, all the great champions of modern history have used the Dauphiné as a rehearsal for the Tour de France: same venue in the Alps, same mix of prologue, sprint, breakaway, long time trial, uphill finish and high mountain stages, but all grouped into one week, from Sunday to Sunday.

Nowadays, probably even more than in the past, the Dauphiné remains a Tour contender's favoured preparation race, alongside the Tour de Suisse (Tour of Switzerland). It's highly prestigious, the standard of the race has been significantly reinforced by the concept of the ProTour, but so close to the Tour, less than one month before the start, every move is interpreted in relation to the Tour, with top favourites hiding their strength or potential Tour contenders spending too much energy to win.

[Kalidurga]

Oh my gosh, maillotpois, where did you find that quote?!?! I almost snorted iced tea all over my monitor when I read that.

Gotta love DZ

[PinkBike]

there go my favorites to win. vino-cracked. hushovd-cracked. valverde-who?
very impressed with DZ today, but i'll bet his jaws hurt from clenching them up the ventoux! what an amazing climb! and levi and contador were right there, levi didn't even look like he was working at all. i hope the Disco team are just gaging their fitness and holding back for the biggie - The Tour!

[margo49]

Ahhhh, but what a ride (again) from Moreau.
And did you see that Evans came in 4 th. Watch this man!

[equus123]

Astana does it again today! Go boys in light bluuuuuuuuue

[Kalidurga]

there go my favorites to win. vino-cracked. hushovd-cracked. valverde-who?
very impressed with DZ today, but i'll bet his jaws hurt from clenching them up the ventoux! what an amazing climb! and levi and contador were right there, levi didn't even look like he was working at all. i hope the Disco team are just gaging their fitness and holding back for the biggie - The Tour!

I need to subscribe to cyclingtv. Somehow, though, I don't think my boss would appreciate me screaming for DZ (or Vino) when I'm supposed to be working...

[PinkBike]

if your watching the race on cycling.tv the commentators anthony and brian read all the remarks sent in to "the innertube," and it appears a lot of people are watching it at work!!

as for subscribing to cycling.tv, you don't have to pay for the 100 kbps feed or to take part in the chat, but once you've seen the riders' faces closeup at 1200 kbps you'll just have to have it!!

and i love the on-demand options, i usually watch each stage again later.

[margo49]

Allez, Aussie, allez!
See that Cadel Evans ride up the Col de Telegraphe!
What did I tell you all?!

[margo49]

Cadel Evans at 14 sec from Moreau...
Watch this man in the TdF and remember who "discovered" him on TE!

Wow, that Astana team is talented - Vino has really put together something special. And they all seem such a great bunch of guys supporting each other. Such a change eg from USPS/Discovery and D.Telecom/T-Mobile who were centred round the "star". Or Milram with that 8 man train leading out Alessandro Pettacchi stage after stage.

Roll on the TdF...

[maillotpois]

Oh my gosh, maillotpois, where did you find that quote?!?! I almost snorted iced tea all over my monitor when I read that.

Gotta love DZ

That quote came out a week or so ago, I think. He is SO funny. He's also quite shy and modest, so it's so tongue-in-cheek that I just love it.