Criterium du Dauphiné mega tech gallery part 1: Three prototype bikes and more

The Tour de France is, for cycling, something akin to a season finale that occurs in the middle of the season. Teams want to use the best tech possible, but they also try and avoid using anything brand new, preferring to trial potential new products in the warm up races leading up to La Grand Boucle. One such warm up is the Critérium du Dauphiné, a one week stage race in central France.

Last year we saw the first pictures of the new Trek Madone here, and this year the talk of the town is the new BMC prototype that’s broken cover. We’ve got a separate story just for that if you want to nerd out on all the juicy details, but roaming the paddock at Chambon sur Lac, I spotted plenty more noteworthy tech. The BMC wasn’t the only prototype, with something brand new from Ridley too, and the same Look prototype I spotted at the Tour of Flanders earlier in the year.

Without further ado, then, here is all I’ve snapped, papped, and gleaned from the start of the Dauphiné. Every custom paint job, aero mod, sponsor incorrect piece of gear and plenty more besides.