Organizers ASO have released a provisional list of stars for this year's Criterium du Dauphiné and true to tradition it will be a real dress rehearsal for the Tour de France. Chris Froome, Alberto Contador and Vincenzo Nibali are set to clash on the French roads as they finalize their build up for July's battle.

The peloton is ready to fire the opening salvoes of the summer hostilities at the Critérium du Dauphiné. Chris Froome will try and see off the pretenders to his Alpine crown before he sets his sights on the Tour de France. Alberto Contador and Vincenzo Nibali will have ample opportunity from June 8 to 15 to usurp his place on the throne.
 
Calculations are child's play for Chris Froome, whether it is about determining just how much to put into an attack in the mountains or plotting his physical build-up with painstaking accuracy. The week-long Dauphiné will be the first acid test for the plan with which he hopes to defend his Tour de France title at the end of July. Although the Brit's performances so far show he has a legitimate shot at a double, the Team Sky leader has not made such a strong impression on opponents and pundits as last year. 2014 has been a mixed bag for Froomey so far, with wins in Oman and Romandie on one hand and a series of physical setbacks on the other, while trusted lieutenant Richie Porte has also had to visit his doctors a few times too many.
 
The hero of the 2013 season has assembled a crack team of climbers to help him stamp his authority on the Alpine roads, including Richie Porte as well as David López, Mikel Nieve and Xabier Zandio. With Alberto Contador on rising form and eager to finally add his name to the Dauphiné honour roll, and Vincenzo Nibali pulling out all the stops to surprise Froome this season, the Brit will have good use for his teammates. The summit finish on Courchevel, where the 66th edition will come to a close, will provide a great opportunity to take the fight to the Tour favourite. A step below, Tejay van Garderen, Michał Kwiatkowski, Andrew Talansky and France's Romain Bardet, Jean-Christophe Péraud and Sylvain Chavanel will also be there to figure out where they stand.
 
21 teams: main contenders
 
Australia
Orica-GreenEDGE: Gerrans (AUS) and A. Yates (GBR)
 
Belgium
Lotto-Belisol: Gallopin (FRA) and Van den Broeck (BEL)
Omega Pharma-Quick Step: Bakelants, Meersman (BEL) and Kwiatkowski (POL)
  
France
Ag2r-La Mondiale: Bardet and Péraud (FRA)
Cofidis, Solutions Crédits: Coppel, Simon (FRA), Navarro (ESP) and Taaramäe (EST)
FDJ.fr : Démare, Élissonde and Vichot (FRA)
Team Europcar: Voeckler, Gautier and Cousin (FRA)
 
Germany
Team Netapp-Endura: Bárta (CZE) and Matzka (GER)
 
Great Britain
Sky ProCycling: Froome, Thomas (GBR) and Porte (AUS)
 
Italy
Cannondale: De Marchi and Caruso (ITA)
Lampre-Merida: Cunego (ITA) and Niemiec (POL)
 
Kazakhstan
Astana Pro Team: Nibali (ITA), Fuglsang (DEN) and Westra (NED)
 
Netherlands
Belkin Pro Cycling Team: Hivert (FRA), Kelderman (NED) and Nordhaug (NOR)
Team Giant-Shimano: Janse Van Rensburg (RSA) and Hupond (FRA)
 
Russia
Team Katusha: Špilak (SLO)
Tinkoff-Saxo: Contador (ESP) and N. Sørensen (DEN)
 
Spain
Movistar Team: Anton (ESP), Gadret (FRA) and Szmyd (POL)
 
Switzerland
IAM Cycling: S. Chavanel (FRA) and Denifl (AUT)
 
United States
BMC Racing Team: Van Garderen (USA) and Atapuma (COL)
Garmin-Sharp: Talansky (USA), Hesjedal (CAN) and Millar (GBR)
Trek Factory Team: Jungels (LUX), Voigt (GER) and Zubeldia (ESP)

Stages 
Sunday, June 8, stage 1: Lyon – Lyon, 10 km (individual time trial)
Monday, June 9, stage 2: Tarare – Pays d'Olliergues-Col du Béal, 158.5 km
Tuesday, June 10, stage 3: Ambert – Le Teil, 194 km
Wednesday, June 11, stage 4: Montélimar – Gap, 169.5 km
Thursday, June 12, stage 5: Sisteron – La Mure, 184 km
Friday, June 13, stage 6: Grenoble – Poisy, 168 km
Saturday, June 14, stage 7: Ville-la-Grand – Finaut-Émosson (Switzerland), 161.5 km
Sunday, June 15, stage 8: Megève – Courchevel, 130.5 km