The Frenchman is keen to get more out of the race than a Tour de France warm-up.
"I approach the Dauphiné with a lot of motivation," the Ag2R La Mondiale rider said. "It’s a fantastic race, and acts as much more than just a launching pad for the Tour. Doing well there is definite validation of the level of a rider and his team.
"The 2018 route is very selective, with important moments such as the team time trial stage, and the final days that will be nervous and very demanding. I am anxious to get back to racing.”
The 27-year-old has just finished altitude training at Sierra Nevada but not before enjoying a break from his early season after Liège - Bastogne - Liège in April where he finished third.
“Just like every year, (the training camp) was a great time of hard work, and sharing some good moments with the riders and staff who were there. And we put in some quality riding. It’s an important moment in the year, and not only from a physical point of view."
Bardet's season began with a notable recon of the 2018 Tour de France cobbles. He appears unafraid to mix it up on the rougher stuff after finishing second at Strade Bianche and took to the cobbles in race mode at Dwars door Vlaanderen (finishing 73rd). At the Tirreno-Adriatico and the Tour of the Basque Country stage races he finished 13th.
Listen to the Zwift Podcast preview of the Critérium du Dauphiné:
LISTEN TO
Zwift SBS Cycling Podcast - Froome shocks the Giro and the Dauphiné
SBS Sport
39:01
More on Cycling Central:
Nibali warms up for the Tour at the Critérium du Dauphiné
