The Critérium du Dauphiné has long been regarded as the crucial final rehearsal before cycling’s biggest stage event, the Tour de France. However, the Dauphiné’s significance extends far beyond testing the main GC contenders - it is equally important for showcasing the latest in bike technology, and hinting at what consumers may even be riding by the end of the year.
Both brands and teams aim to equip riders with the most advanced machinery their sponsors offer at the Tour de France, making the Dauphiné the ideal stage for testing new, often unreleased, bike tech in anger before the season's peak. The 2024 edition is no exception, with Pinarello, Trek, and Canyon teasing what look to be new bikes, all emphasizing a formula that seems set to dominate the next era of bike design.
