2006 Critérium du Dauphiné Libéré

The 58th edition of the Critérium du Dauphiné Libéré took place from June 4 to June 11, 2006. It consisted of a Prologue and seven stages covering a total of 1098 km, starting in Annecy and finishing in Grenoble.

American Levi Leipheimer of Team Gerolsteiner captured the overall title and the maillot jaune et bleu ahead of France's Christophe Moreau and Germany's Bernhard Kohl (T-Mobile Team). Christophe Moreau (AG2R Prévoyance) secured the King of the Mountains competition and the combined classification (winner of the maillot bleu). The points classification for sprinters went to Spaniard Francisco Mancebo. French team AG2R Prévoyance captured the team title.

The 2006 edition featured a feast of climbing, and is considered the ideal race for the Tour de France contenders to hone their form. After eight challenging stages, it finished on June 11 - just under three weeks before the start of 'La Grande Boucle'.

Stages

Prologue, 04 June: Annecy, 4.1 km (ITT)

Prologue Result Cyclist Country Team Time 1 David Zabriskie  United States Team CSC 4' 35" 2 George Hincapie  United States Discovery Channel + 2" 3 Stuart O'Grady  Australia Team CSC + 6"

General Classification after Prologue Cyclist Country Team Time 1 David Zabriskie  United States Team CSC 4' 35" 2 George Hincapie  United States Discovery Channel + 2" 3 Stuart O'Grady  Australia Team CSC + 6"

Stage 1, 05 June: Annecy–Bourgoin-Jallieu , 207 km

Stage 1 Result Cyclist Country Team Time 1 Fabian Wegmann  Germany GST 5h 06' 36" 2 Thomas Voeckler  France BTL s.t. 3 Egoi Martínez  Spain Discovery Channel s.t.

General Classification after Stage 1 Cyclist Country Team Time 1 Fabian Wegmann  Germany GST 5h 11' 23" 2 Thomas Voeckler  France BTL + 5" 3 David Zabriskie  United States Team CSC + 5"

Stage 2, 06 June: Bourgoin-Jallieu–Saint-Galmier, 203 km

Stage 2 Result Cyclist Country Team Time 1 Philippe Gilbert  Belgium Française des Jeux 4h 45' 53" 2 Samuel Dumoulin  France A2R + 5' 19" 3 Peter Wrolich  Austria GST + 5' 23"

General Classification after Stage 2 Cyclist Country Team Time 1 Philippe Gilbert  Belgium Française des Jeux 9h 57' 13" 2 Fabian Wegmann  Germany GST + 5' 22" 3 Thomas Voeckler  France BTL + 5' 27"

Stage 3, 07 June: Bourg-de-Péage, 43 km (ITT)

Stage 3 Result Cyclist Country Team Time 1 David Zabriskie  United States Team CSC 52' 48" 2 Floyd Landis  United States PHO + 53" 3 Levi Leipheimer  United States GST + 1' 17"

General Classification after Stage 3 Cyclist Country Team Time 1 Philippe Gilbert  Belgium Française des Jeux 10h 52' 41" 2 David Zabriskie  United States Team CSC + 2' 47" 3 Floyd Landis  United States PHO + 3' 48"

Stage 4, 08 June: Tain-l'Hermitage–Le Mont-Ventoux, 186 km

Stage 4 Result Cyclist Country Team Time 1 Denis Menchov  Russia RAB 4h 50' 37" 2 Christophe Moreau  France A2R s.t. 3 Levi Leipheimer  United States GST + 15"

General Classification after Stage 4 Cyclist Country Team Time 1 Levi Leipheimer  United States GST 15h 47' 53" 2 Denis Menchov  Russia RAB + 28" 3 Philippe Gilbert  Belgium Française des Jeux + 1' 08"

Stage 5, 09 June: Sisteron–Briançon, 155 km

Stage 5 Result Cyclist Country Team Time 1 Ludovic Turpin  France A2R 4h 06' 49" 2 Iban Mayo  Spain EUS + 26" 3 Francisco Mancebo  Spain A2R + 27"

General Classification after Stage 5 Cyclist Country Team Time 1 Levi Leipheimer  United States GST 19h 55' 30" 2 Denis Menchov  Russia RAB + 28" 3 Christophe Moreau  France A2R + 1' 48"

Stage 6, 10 June: Briançon–La Toussuire, 169 km

Stage 6 Result Cyclist Country Team Time 1 Iban Mayo  Spain EUS 5h 01' 42" 2 Alejandro Valverde  Spain CEI + 1' 21" 3 Christophe Moreau  France A2R + 1' 37"

General Classification after Stage 6 Cyclist Country Team Time 1 Levi Leipheimer  United States GST 24h 58' 49" 2 Christophe Moreau  France A2R + 1' 48" 3 Bernhard Kohl  Austria T-Mobile Team + 2' 51"

Stage 7, 11 June: Saint-Jean-de-Maurienne–Grenoble, 131 km

Stage 7 Result Cyclist Country Team Time 1 Thor Hushovd  Norway CRE 3h 08' 17" 2 Samuel Dumoulin  France A2R s.t. 3 Philippe Gilbert  Belgium Française des Jeux s.t.

General Classification after Stage 7 Cyclist Country Team Time 1 Levi Leipheimer  United States GST 28h 07' 06" 2 Christophe Moreau  France A2R + 1' 48" 3 Bernhard Kohl  Austria T-Mobile Team + 2' 51"

Classification tables

Final general classification (Maillot jaune et bleu)

	Cyclist	Team	Time
1	Levi Leipheimer	GST	28h 07' 06"
2	Christophe Moreau	A2R	+ 1' 48"
3	Bernhard Kohl	T-Mobile Team	+ 2' 51"
4	José Azevedo	Discovery Channel	+ 3' 00"
5	Francisco Mancebo	A2R	+ 3' 29"
6	Denis Menchov	RAB	+ 4' 14"
7	Alejandro Valverde	CEI	+ 4' 21"
8	Leonardo Piepoli	SDV	+ 5' 13"
9	Pietro Caucchioli	C.A	+ 5' 45"
10	George Hincapie	Discovery Channel	+ 6' 48"

Final points standings (Maillot vert)

	Cyclist	Team	Points
1	Francisco Mancebo	A2R	69
2	Philippe Gilbert	Française des Jeux	60
3	George Hincapie	Discovery Channel	57

Final King of The Mountains standings (Maillot à pois rouge)

	Cyclist	Team	Points
1	Christophe Moreau	A2R	162
2	Levi Leipheimer	GST	126
3	Denis Menchov	RAB	119

Final combined classification standings (Maillot bleu)

	Cyclist	Team	Points
1	Christophe Moreau	A2R	224
2	Levi Leipheimer	GST	221
3	Denis Menchov	RAB	171

Stage winners

Yellow jersey progress

External links

• Official website (English)