Critérium du Dauphiné 2025: Preview of stage 6: A battle on the mountain

Stage 6 of the Critérium du Dauphine 2025 at a glance

• Route length: 126.7 kilometres
• Altitude metres: 2630
• Start: Valserhône
• Destination: Combloux
• TV: 15:25-17:30 Eurosport 1
• Live stream: Discovery Plus (fee required)
• The 6th stage in the live ticker
• All stages of the Critérium du Dauphiné 2025 at a glance

The 6th stage of the Critérium du Dauphiné 2025 leads the peloton over 126.7 kilometres from Valserhône to Combloux. With a total of 2630 metres of climbing and five categorised climbs, the stage represents a real challenge for the favourites for overall victory. The course offers ideal conditions for attacks and could lead to gaps in the overall classification. The final climb to the Côte de la Cry in particular promises an exciting finale, in which the top favourites such as Tadej Pogačar, Jonas Vingegaard and Remco Evenepoel could exchange blows.

Challenging route profile with five categorised climbs

The stage begins in Valserhône and initially leads the riders over undulating roads in a south-easterly direction. After around 35 kilometres, the first categorised climb of the day awaits with the Côte de Villy-le-Pelloux. At 0.8 kilometres long and with an average gradient of 8.1 per cent, this category 4 climb is short but steep and could provide the first selection in the peloton. This is followed by a long descent before the Col des Fleuries, a category 3 climb, is tackled after 59 kilometres. This 5.1 kilometre long climb has an average gradient of 4.4 per cent and is likely to thin out the peloton further.

The decisive phase of the stage begins after around 87 kilometres with the Côte du Mont-Saxonnex. This 1st category climb stretches over 5.4 kilometres and has an average gradient of an impressive 8.7 percent. After a technically demanding descent, the Côte de Domancy follows at kilometre 120. With a length of 2.4 kilometres and an average gradient of 8.6 percent, this 2nd category climb is short but extremely steep and could serve as a springboard for attacks.

Final on the Côte de la Cry

The grand finale of the stage is the final climb to the Côte de la Cry. This 2.7 kilometre 2nd category climb has an average gradient of 8.2 percent and takes the riders up to an altitude of 1190 metres. The steep ramps offer ideal conditions for attacks by the overall favourites. This could decide who wears the yellow jersey at the end of the day and goes into the decisive stages with a lead.

The climbs of stage 6 at a glance

• Côte de Villy-le-Pelloux: - Length: 0.8 kilometres - Average gradient: 8.1% - Category: 4
• Col des Fleuries: - Length: 5.1 kilometres - Average gradient: 4.4% - Category: 3
• Côte du Mont-Saxonnex: - Length: 5.4 kilometres - Average gradient: 8.7% - Category: 1
• Côte de Domancy: - Length: 2.4 kilometres - Average gradient: 8.6% - Category: 2
• Côte de la Cry: - Length: 2.7 kilometres - Average gradient: 8.2% - Category: 2 - Altitude: 1190 metres