The eight stages unveiled for this year’s Criterium du Dauphine are the sort that would have the out-and-out sprinters waking up in a cold sweat – and there is a distinct shortage of fast men on the startlist as a result.

Instead, with just a short opening time trial – a 10.4km race against the clock in Lyon – before seven undulating days, it will take the very best mountain men to seal the maillot jaune this year.

The return of the opening time trial – shelved last year – is followed by a summit finish atop the Col du Beal on stage two, while the final weekend sees gruelling finishes on the Finhaut-Emosson and Courchevel le Praz.

Finhaut-Emosson represents 10.2km of climbing, with average gradients of eight per cent, and comes just ten kilometres after the similarly punishing ramps of the Cote de la Forclaz.

It is the latter where the race could be won, or lost, however, with the 5.9 kilometre climb boasting average gradients of 6.2 per cent.

Aside from the summit finishes, stages three and five will suit any fast men in the race – perennial Giro d’Italia stage runner-up Giacomo Nizzolo (Trek Factory Racing) among them.

Stage four, meanwhile, which finishes in Gap, includes the ascent of the Col de Manse before the pacey descent into the finish.

Stage five is another undulating course, with six short, punchy ascents packed into the 179km route.