As fans of UAE Team Emirates count down the days until the Tour de France, the team has been busy assembling a solid squad of riders to support their General Classification hopeful Dan Martin at the Criterium du Dauphine (June 9-16).

Often considered as the ultimate preparation for the Tour, the eight-stage race will see the team take on two tough days of climbing in the mountains, three hilly days of rolling terrain and classified climbs, two flatter stages that are set up for the sprinters and a 26.1km Individual Time Trial.

Ahead of the race, Martin said: “The Dauphine is a race I always enjoy. Racing on the French roads against a high level of competition is the perfect preparation for the Tour de France.

“Training has gone well and I feel good although I’m not sure on my expectations having not raced since Liege. It is always an unknown how the first race back will go but the aim is to get a good week of racing in the legs and to continue building towards July.

“I’ve performed well in the last few years at the race so am aiming to enjoy the race and hope the legs are there to be aggressive at some point in the week.”

Joining Irishman Martin is Norway’s Vegard Stake Laengen, Colombian Cristian Munoz, Australian Rory Sutherland and Italy trio Simone Petilli, Edward Ravasi and Oliviero Troia.