Route for Tour warm-up race leaked.

The Dauphiné Libéré newspaper, which previously ran the Criterium du Dauphiné, has leaked the broad outline of the week-long stage race one month before the official presentation.

Two new mountaintop stage finishes will feature on the 2013 route according to the Dauphiné Libéré, at Valmorel and Super-Devoluy. Other innovations include a start in Switzerland for the first time in the 65-year-old event, as well as the absence of an opening prologue.

Traditionally, the race acts as a vital stepping stone en route to July for the Tour de France’s overall challengers.

Amongst those expected to participate this year are Alberto Contador (Saxo-Tinkoff), Cadel Evans (BMC) and possibly Chris Froome (Sky), fourth in 2012 behind his team-mate Bradley Wiggins. The chances of Wiggins trying to defend his title and equal the record of three Dauphiné Libere victories in 2013, though, are low, since he is most likely to have just completed the Giro d’Italia.