Tour Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes 2026 start list | Van Aert, Seixas & Del Toro start the 'old' Critérium du Dauphiné

After the Giro d’Italia, we focus on a whole new batch of riders, many of whom are building towards the Tour de France. Some of them will do so via the Tour Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes, the new name for what we knew as the Critérium du Dauphiné. IDL Pro Cycling brings you the Tour Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes 2026 start list.

Originally, Remco Evenepoel was due to be one of the stars on the start list, but the Belgian of Red Bull-BORA-hansgrohe is opting for a build-up without a stage race on the road to the Tour de France.

The other big Belgian star, Wout van Aert, is there. He will ride for Visma | Lease a Bike with Matteo Jorgenson — who had originally been due to ride the Tour of Switzerland — and Ben Tulett. In addition, the team time trial will be an important test for the team, and for all the other squads, ahead of the first day of the Tour.

From France, all eyes will be on Paul Seixas, who will also prepare for his first Tour de France on home soil. The Decathlon CMA CGM climber is also regarded as the top favourite for the stage race.

Lidl-Trek will line up with Mattias Skjelmose and Juan Ayuso, while UAE Emirates-XRG will field Isaac del Toro and João Almeida. Netcompany INEOS will do the same with Oscar Onley, Kévin Vauquelin and Carlos Rodríguez. Those teams will be looking to put Seixas and Jorgenson under as much pressure as possible.

The Critérium du Dauphiné was rebranded to the Tour Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes to reflect the growing partnership with the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes regional government and to emphasize the race's expanded geographical reach across the 12 departments of the territory.

Race organizer ASO officially altered the historic name, which dates back to its origins as Le Dauphiné Libéré in 1947, to be more aligned with the extensive logistical and financial support provided by the local host region.