Stage one of the Critérium du Dauphiné is a bit of a scrum. If you're a Cyclingnews subscriber you've doubtless already seen all the new stuff from the Dauphine mega tech gallery, where I spotted two brand new bikes (a new BMC and a new Ridley), some new handlebars, some custom paint jobs, and plenty more besides. The paddock at the very start of the race is hectic, awash with other journalists wanting to grab a scoop, and fans keen to see their favourite riders. As a result, one can't always spot everything on the first pass.
I stuck around for stage two, too, just in case I missed anything, so consider this a bonus feature to the main gallery. There's some new tech for sure that I didn't spot on stage one, but there are also some more candid shots that should give you a feel for what it's like to be at the race yourself, except without the burden of a very sweaty back from carrying a camera bag all day in the heat.
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Will joined the Cyclingnews team as a reviews writer in 2022, having previously written for Cyclist, BikeRadar and Advntr. There are very few types of cycling he's not dabbled in, and he has a particular affection for older bikes and long lasting components. Road riding was his first love, before graduating to racing CX in Yorkshire. He's been touring on a vintage tandem all the way through to fixed gear gravel riding and MTB too. When he's not out riding one of his many bikes he can usually be found in the garage making his own frames and components as a part time framebuilder, restoring old mountain bikes, or walking his collie in the Lake District.
Height: 182cm
Weight: 72Kg
Rides: Custom Zetland Audax, Bowman Palace:R, Peugeot Grand Tourisme Tandem, 1988 Specialized Rockhopper, Stooge Mk4, Falcon Explorer Tracklocross