Dan Martin leads UAE Team Emirates in the Critérium Dauphiné

UAE Team Emirates will compete in the Critérium du Dauphiné from June 9 to 16 with Daniel Martin as its leader.

The race is considered a dress rehearsal ahead of the Tour de France. Neil Stephens (Aus) and Marco Marzano (Ita) will direct the following seven cyclists:
– Vegard Stake Laengen (Nor)
– Daniel Martin (Irl)
– Cristian Muñoz (Col)
– Simone Petilli (Ita)
– Edward Ravasi (Ita)
– Rory Sutherland (Aus)
– Oliviero Troia (Ita)

The route of the French World Tour race varies. It includes two hilly stages, two stages suitable for sprinters, an individual time trial of 26.1km and the final two days in the high mountains finishing up to Pipay and Champéry.

Martin said: “Dauphiné is a race I always enjoy. Racing on the French roads against a high level competition is the perfect preparation for the Tour de France.
Training has gone well and I feel good although I’m not sure on my expectations having not races since Liege-Bastogne-Liege, so it is always an unknown how the first race back will go. The aim is to get a good weeks racing in the legs and to continue biulding towards July.
I’ve performed well in the last few years at the race, so I am just aiming to enjoy the race and hope the legs are there to be aggressive at some point in the week”.