The 66th Criterium du Dauphine certainly delivered on its pre-race billing, giving us plenty to ponder ahead of the Tour de France.

With Alberto Contador (Tinkoff-Saxo), Chris Froome (Team Sky) and Vincenzo Nibali (Astana) in the same race for the first time this season, the pre-Tour form finder gave us a great insight into how the Tour de France favourites are faring.

But a superb ride on stage eight meant Andrew Talansky (Garmin-Sharp) usurped them to win the yellow jersey and throw his name into the Tour de France mix too.

While the Tour de Suisse is still ongoing, the exact make-up of the teams set for the Grand Depart start line in Leeds remains to be seen.

However, having seen many of the leading candidates go wheel-to-wheel on the mountainous parcours of the Dauphine, where does it all leave us?

Read our thoughts on the performances of the big names at the Dauphine, and where it leaves us ahead of the Tour, over the following pages.