Tour de Suisse

Overlapping with the Critérium du Dauphiné was the Tour de Suisse and this year we decided to give it a try and it did not fail to disappoint. With the first two days clashing we didn’t get to see the race until stage 4 which saw Ariel Maximiliano Richeze (Etixx-Quick Step) take the stage win with Peter Sagan (Tinkoff) 3rd on the stage to maintain his lead overall, after stage wins on the previous two days. Stage 5 saw the big mountains enter the fray and it was Pierre-Roger Latour (AG2R) who lead from Wilco Kelderman (Lotto Nl – Jumbo) with Geraint Thomas (Sky) sitting in third overall.

Critérium du Dauphiné

Unlike 2015 the Critérium du Dauphiné was not one which saw the lead changing on an almost daily basis, instead it was dominated by two past Tour de France winners and included 4 of the 5 most fancied riders to lift the crown in July. The short mountain prologue time trial proved to be very interesting as Chris Froome (Sky) went early but ended up 3rd overall. Richie Porte (BMC) was in the last group of riders and pipped his former team mate only to find himself behind Alberto Contador (Tinkoff). Those positions stood for the next few days/stages as the sprinters took their chances on the flatter stages before the race moved in to the mountains.