The eight day Critérium du Dauphiné begins this Sunday.

As usual it's a star studded field as many riders use this as key preparation for the Tour de France. It’s perhaps less hilly than last year but don't worry, there are plenty of mountains to struggle up and fly down.

Photo. Riders at the 2010 Dauphiné stuff Dauphiné Libéré newspapers into jerseys before descending Chamrousse. © Will

Along with defending champion Bradley Wiggins (SKY), favourites scheduled to appear include Cadel Evans (BMC), Vincenzo Nibali (LIQ), Samuel Sanchez (EUS), Juan Jose Cobo (MOV), Tony Martin (OP), Andy Schleck (RS), Jurgen Van Den Broeck (LB), etc. Below is a tentative start list so you can tell me who your favorites are.

French hopefuls include Thomas Voeckler (EUC), Roman Bardet (AG2R), Rémy Di Gregorio (COF), David Moncoutié (COF), Sylvain Chavanel (OP), Brice Feillu (SAU), and of course, my favourite and local boy: Jérôme Coppel (SAU).

Official Race Site: here
Official list of teams and riders here (Cycling Fever)

Eurosport will be televising and I am sure as always that steephill.tv will provide other viewing options.

EDIT: TV Coverage note (thx andrewp)

At the moment Eurosport only planning on showing live Thur/Fri/Sat stages – all others delayed highlights instead (French Open second week matches until Wed and Superbikes on Sunday instead) Is on France 3/Rai Sport2/TDP/RTL/SBS etc. Distinct lack of live English commentary probable unless can get SBS.

(Also Sun’s opening day TT, the Queen Stage to Morzine on Sat, and the final day start/end earlier than usual – all done by 3pm local)

After the jump, let’s take a brief look at each stage. And please feel free to use the comments for FSA DS smack talk.

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Some rest-day reading to keep your Giro interest fueled:

The penultimate stage of the 2012 Giro will feature the highest mountain top finish in European GT history atop Passo dello Stelvio. Perhaps the greatest cycling climb in Europe. Especially for those that like hairpins.

After the jump:

1. A brief history of the pass.
2. A description of the three routes up.
3. Stelvio in the Giro.
4. Miscellaneous Stelvio facts.

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Herning - Herning 206 km

The race goes out to the western coast of Jutland in search of nasty crosswinds to spice things up.

Podicci's Pazzo Pick: Andrea Guardini

Official site , Startlist , Stageinfo

Live video: 14:00 CEST (08:00 US EDT, 22:00 AUS EST)

Video: RAI , GazzettaTV , steephill , cyclingfans , Procyclinglive , Sports Livez.

I love mountains! And the 2012 Giro has plenty.

• In total, there will be twenty "Category 1" and "Category 2" climbs in yet another mountainous Giro.
• There will be six mid-mountain stages (6, 7, 8, 10, 12, 16), and five high-mountain stages (stages 14, 15, 17,19, 20).

Passo dello Stelvio - Bormio side

After the jump let's take an numerical approach to rank the top 20 Giro climbs in terms of difficulty.

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OK, Tom Boonent wins the first part of the cycling season. But while Chris mourns the end of the spring classics, I rejoice. It’s time for some Swiss stage racing!

The 6 day Tour de Romandie starts tomorrow (Tuesday).

Tour de France champion Cadel Evans will be back to defend his 2011 Romandie title. Most teams are fielding strong line-ups, many in preparation for the Giro in early May. Notable participants include 2010 winner Simon Spilak (Valverde had his title stripped), 2009 winner Roman Kreuziger, Mark Cavendish, Ivan Basso, and many more.

The route in a nutshell: Lots and lots of ups and downs. But nothing too crazy leaving most of the stages wide open.

This preview will focus on the course, but please feel free to use the comments for some FSA DS smack talk.

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Today the Tour de Romandie held a press conference detailing the route and making various announcements.

The Swiss stage race starts in 12 days, running from April 24 to 29th. 695 kilometres with 8,793 metres of climbing - which roughly equals sea-level to the peak of Mont Everest (Mallory started well above sea-level, wimp).

Here's the official 2012 Tour de Romandie promotional video (see Cadel blush while being kissed):

We'll do a more detailed course / rider preview just before the race but after the jump are five quick items to satiate the over-eager:

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The 2012 Critérium du Dauphiné route was revealed today.

After a writer hack at Podium Café complained last year that Col du Grand Colombier (not Col de la Colombière) was the most overlooked climb in France, it will now not only appear in the the 2012 Tour de France for the first time, but will also feature in the 2012 Dauphiné. Much fun.

The race, organized by ASO (the Tour de France guys), will take place from June 3rd to June 10th. We'll do a thorough course preview as the race approaches, but after the jump are a few highlights for us all to savour while the alpine snows melt.

Bottom line? I like the course.

Photo: An unknown Podium Café reporter jumps for joy: Joux Plane is in the 2012 Dauphiné:

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Ascó "la vostra energia" to Manresa 207 km

Another downhill finish after a Category 1 climb roughly 20 kms from end.

Podium Cafe blind squirrel pick: Uran Uran to win win, again again

Official site , Startlist , Stageinfo

Live video:15:00 CET (10:00 US EDT, 01:00 AUS EDT)
Video: steephill , cyclingfans , Procyclinglive , Sports Livez.

Chris calls this his favorite non-monument race of the entire year in his excellent Race Preview.

Podium Cafe likely suspect: Would you bet against Gilbert, Boonen, Fabian?

Official site, Startlist

Earliest Live video: 2:45 CET (9:45 US EDT, 00:45 AUS EDT)
Video: steephill , cyclingfans , Procyclinglive , Sports Livez.

Merde! As I look at the country flags from proposed FSA DS teams, one country seems to be largely ignored: France.

Yes France. The country that held the first bike race. The country that invented gothic art, the guillotine, codeine, the rabies vaccine, the oboe, the bikini, and, without a doubt, the country that perfected polka dots (yes ant1, you should click this link).

Here are 5 French cyclists (and a couple of bonus picks) that should make every FSA DS team better - or at least far more fun to support.

[All this week we will be featuring different angles on playing our year-long fantasy game, the FSA Directeur Sportif. Remember, deadlines for submitting your teams are Feb 22 for the women and Feb 24 for the men. Don't miss out!]

Photo*: Thomas Voeckler being awesome, 2011 Paris-Nice.

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Friday, I attended day 3 of the 4 day 6-day in Zurich. Very fun. A brief video of my trip:

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Looking for a 2012 calendar that features some of the most famous Alps cycling climbs in France, Italy, and Switzerland? Here are two to choose from. 

A new one for 2012. And, after some positive feedback, an updated 2011 Calendar of famous climbs  - with 2012 dates. Each comes in two sizes - see below.

To purchase, click any of the links below and you will be redirected to the QOOP.com site - orders are placed directly with them. Here's a video of the new calendar. Each photo page in the calendar is higher quality and zoomed out - and has a calendar - see well below.

FLICKR set here

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I've been doing a lot of yoga lately.

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The 2012 Tour de France route is official. 

Over the next nine months we will hear endless stories about the Tour de France route.  Here are  5 "minor" facts that might get less press elsewhere.   The goal is for you to learn something obscure but hopefully "slightly interesting" so you can impress your friends. 

1.  Col du Granier

Stage 12:  Several years ago, Le Cycle magazine did an article on the 30 most beautiful climbs in France (Ventoux, Tourmalet, Galibier, etc).  By far the lowest altitude-wise on the list was Col du Granier at 1134 metres.  

Part of the Chartreuse Alps .... and above Saint-Pierre-de-Chartreuse - home of the Chartreuse monastic order - the Col is one of the most recognizable in France.

Below: the big massif at left is "Le Granier", the Col du Granier is through the "bite."  If you are driving home from Val d'Isere, Courchevel, etc.   .... this will be your view. 

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As a lot of you know, I like taking cycling photos. Fortunately, I am not the first in my family to have this hobby. Here are a few old cycling photos from my family collection that I really like. 

Just for fun:  If you have an old cycling photo, post it here in the comments.

My grandmother, 3rd from left:  

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Here's a quick Tour de l'Ain update before the final Queen stage tomorrow.  

Remember, tomorrow's hors categorie, mountain-top finish, final stage should be available live via France 3 (Rhone-Alpes region) on the internet (or on TV at my house).  Should be very exciting.  

The GC battle is wide open, with the top 14 riders all within a minute or so.  

 1 POELS Wouter VCD NED
 2 ROLLAND Pierre EUC FRA 22''
 3 MONCOUTIE David COF FRA 28''
 4 PERAUD Jean-Christophe ALM FRA 41''
 5 COPPEL Jérôme SAU FRA 41''
 6 TUFT Svein CSM CAN 49''
 7 KOENIG Leopold APP CZE 56''
 8 DUPONT Hubert ALM FRA 59''
 9 GADRET John ALM FRA 59''
 10 * BARGUIL Warren FRA FRA 01'00''
 11 MEDEREL Maxime AUB FRA 01'00''
 12 HOOGERLAND Johnny VCD NED 01'01'' 
 13 * BARDET Romain FRA FRA 01'03'' 
 14 GUILLOU Florian BSC FRA 01'05''

Stage winners so far:  Wilco Kelderman (Prologue), Jimmy Caspar (flat stage), Thibault Pinot (bumpy stage), and Wout Poels (mid-mountain stage).   

Going into tomorrow, besides Poels wearing both the yellow and green jerseys, Johnny Hoogerland is wearing Polka dots, and Warren Barguil the White jersey.  AG2R is leading the team competition.   Detailed overall and stage results (and pics of the jerseys) available here.  

So who are you picking going into tomorrow's huge final stage?

via www.tourdelain.com

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The five day Tour de l'Ain stage race starts tomorrow.  

An interesting course with each stage getting progressively harder:  A prologue, a flat stage, a bumpy stage, a mid mountain stage, and then a Queen stage mountain top finish.   

As usual, the final stage will end at the summit of the Hors Categorie "Col du Grand Colombier." (NOT the easier Col de la Colombière).   This fearsome climb was included on our list of 5 Worthy Climbs Ignored by the Tour de France  (although there are occasional rumours that the 2012 Tour may add it).  They will be climbing the Culoz side (3rd hardest of the 4 possibilities).  But still very steep and very Hors Categorie - details of all four sides of this great mountain here.

The start list is a collection of top pro teams mixed with some smaller teams.  Podium Cafe favourite Johnny Hoogerland is racing along with several French stars such as John Gadret, JC Peraud, David Moncoutié and 2011 Tour sensation Pierre Rolland.  

The Tour de l'Ain began as an amateur race in 1989. First opened to pros in 1993, it is now a UCI class 2.1 race. Haimar Zubeldia won in 2010. Other former winners include Bobby Julich, Axel Merckx, Cyril Dessel, Jerome Pineau, John Gadret, Linus Gerdemann, and Rein Taaramae. 

More info and links after the jump

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Pinerolo - Galibier Serre Chevalier 200.5km

Official site , Startlist , Stageinfo , General Classification

Video: steephill , cyclingfans , Myp2p, Procyclinglive , BVLS.

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Above:  view of south side of Galibier from the summit.

Stage 18 visits the roof of the Alps - with three massive climbs including the highest point in the 2011 Tour and the highest mountain top finish in Tour de France history.   We voted this the 2011 Queen stage.     

After the jump:  More drooling. 

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