Exit the Critérium du Dauphiné, make way for the Tour Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes: "No question of cutting anything"
The announcement was made on Monday, June 16: the name of the Critérium du Dauphiné, a cycling race created in 1947, has become the Tour Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes.
The final record of the Critérium du Dauphiné was thus written by Tadej Pogacar last week. The final victory, however, will remain in the hands of Frenchman Lenny Martinez. From now on, their successors will leave their mark on the Tour Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes, the new name given to the event, as announced this Monday, June 16 by President Fabrice Pannekoucke, at the Regional Council.
Alongside the director of Amaury Sport Organisation (ASO), Christian Prud'homme, and the event director, Bernard Thévenet, the president of Aura welcomed a choice to " go further ." In 2010, the cycling event had already changed its name after its acquisition by ASO, thus sweeping away that of Critérium du Dauphiné Libéré, whose race was created in 1947. " It was a bit reductive ," said Bernard Thévenet, referring to the historic region of Dauphiné. "This is closer to reality ."
But could this new change offend some? " Once again, it's the whole history of the Critérium that comes with it. There's no question of cutting anything ," promises Christian Prud'homme, for whom it was a " question of development ." This new partnership between ASO and the Region thus includes a budget of 600,000 euros per year, for a minimum duration of 4 years.
💙 Tour Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes: endless terrain for the new Critérium du Dauphiné!
🤝 The result of a strengthened partnership with the @auvergnerhalpes region, the Critérium du #Dauphiné becomes the Tour Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes from its 2026 edition!
More information:… pic.twitter.com/cgqvg9jVX2
Lyon Capitale
