Not all bicycle races are created equal. Professional cyclists have hundreds of race days to choose from throughout a single season. Many riders in fact will find themselves racing in excess of one hundred days in a year. This grueling reality lends itself to one of the many quirks of the sport. Some races are simply more important than others. Every top racer will treat certain races as preparation for an upcoming high priority race. At the top of the heap of A-races is—of course—the Tour de France.

A case can then be made that June offers the two most important preparatory races of the year. The Tour de Suisse and the Criterium du Dauphine serve as the traditional final testing grounds prior to July’s dash around France. These races offer a unique glimpse into the form and strategies of WorldTour teams and riders alike, right when the pressure for results is reaching fever pitch.

Join PRO to watch the 2018 Tour de Suisse live and on replay.

Which Race Is Better?

With the biggest race of the year looming, choosing between the Dauphine and Tour de Suisse is not a decision for the contenders to take lightly. The Dauphine tends to be heavy handed with its serving of French Alpine stages, while the Tour de Suisse often opts for a healthy mix of Alpine passes and classics-type stages.

The Dauphine in recent years has been the testing grounds for Team Sky’s robotic mountain assaults. In contrast, Tour de Suisse often provides parcours for unpredictable results, like the solo stage win of American national champion Larry Warbasse’s in 2017. Throw in the likelihood for inclement late-spring weather in Switzerland, and a spectacle will surely ensue.

Far be it from us to declare Tour de Suisse the superior race. (But we are certainly pleased to be streaming it live on FloBikes!)

How Do The Top Riders Choose Their TDF Prep Race?

While the top contenders for the Tour de France may not live or die by a result at either Tour de Suisse or Criterium du Dauphine, a confidence boost leading into the Tour de France can go a long way. Riders first and foremost will look for a course that suits their riding style. For example, devoid of a single flat stage (apart from the time trials) at this year’s Criterium Dauphine, Sprinters and Classics riders are flocking to Tour de Suisse.

One obvious advantage that the Criterium du Dauphine has is that it is in France. Occasionally the Dauphine will sample crucial terrain that will later be featured in the Tour de France, in which case the Dauphine becomes an appealing option for those riders seeking a pre-ride. 

In this year’s edition, stage 6 of the Dauphine is a near copy of stage 11 of the upcoming Tour de France.

Do Favorites Avoid Each Other Prior To The Tour De France?

The 2018 season has created the greatest division of power between Suisse and Dauphine in recent memory. 

The Dauphine has historically drawn the largest contingent of Tour de France GC favorites, but the tides seem to be shifting. The Dauphine features Geraint Thomas and Vincenzo Nibali most prominently, while Tour de Suisse boasts Nairo Quintana, Alejandro Valverde, Mikel Landa, and Richie Porte. One may even speculate whether Chris Froome will make a surprise appearance at Tour de Suisse, should he decide to forge ahead and race the Tour de France.

In pre-race interviews, racers are often guarded about their form. It is not unlikely to think that the top racers may want to avoid one another in the month leading up to the Tour de France, lest they divulge any hidden strengths or weaknesses.

Does Tour De Suisse Success Lead To Tour De France Success?

This metric is where the Dauphine has the clear upper hand. Team Sky’s dominance at both the Dauphine and the Tour de France has bolstered the Dauphine’s reputation as the warmup race of champions. In fact, the last person to win the Tour de France after winning the Tour de Suisse was Lance Armstrong in 2001—a title that was later stripped from the records.

Rather than foreshadowing performance to come in the Tour de France, the Tour de Suisse has recently treated spectators to unpredictable racing in grueling conditions, in which underrated riders often triumph. That being said, this year’s Tour de Suisse has a GC contingent that may upset the Dauphine’s applecart.

Although the Tour de Suisse is older than the Criterium du Dauphine, it has struggled to find its identity in recent years. The Dauphine, perhaps aided by the fact that it is owned by the ASO (the powerful sports organization that owns the Tour de France), has enjoyed a majority share of the Tour de France favorites in recent years. However, the Tour de Suisse has been producing properly dramatic racing year after year, and is systematically drawing the stars of the sport away from the Dauphine.


Tune in to flobikes.com to watch the Tour de Suisse live and on-demand, June 9-17.