Greig Leach

The Criterium du Dauphine Libere started with a very short individual time trial. The riders faced a 4 kilometer climb up from Les Gets to the ski slope summit at Le Mont Chery. Many racers use this race as a way to check their form's progress before the Tour de France. Many of the same alpine climbs that feature in the Tour are contested in the "Dauphine." Alberto Contrador (Tinkoff) came to the start house knowing that his primary rival, Chris Froome (Sky), had already posted the best time. The reigning winner of the 2015 Tour de France had made the climb in less than twelve minutes. Spoiler alert, Contador was able to log the best time at the summit, a time that wasn't able to be surpassed. The Spaniard will be wearing the leader's yellow jersey tomorrow for Stage 1.