After the Giro, the calendar moves into its final run-up to the Tour de France: the Tour Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes opens a week of truth for climbers, rouleurs and teams targeting July.

From 7 to 14 June, the Tour Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes acts as a dress rehearsal. The route mixes tricky stages, a team time trial and three closing days at altitude, with the Grand Colombier and then the Plateau de Solaison to separate the GC contenders.

For sports directors, this is the moment to watch routines as much as legs: climbing trains, leader hierarchy, lieutenants' form and the ability to absorb several high-intensity days.

The Tour de Suisse follows from 17 to 21 June with a condensed format, five stages and men's/women's races held on the same day at the same venues. It will offer another reading of the balance of power before the big shift into July.

A pivotal week, then: fewer classics, more management, mountains and weak signals to spot before building the next teams.