The 58th edition of the Critérium du Dauphiné Libéré took place from June 4 to June 11, 2006. It consisted of a Prologue and seven stages covering a total of 1098 km, starting in Annecy and finishing in Grenoble.
American Levi Leipheimer of Team Gerolsteiner captured the overall title and the maillot jaune et bleu ahead of France's Christophe Moreau and Germany's Bernhard Kohl (T-Mobile Team). Christophe Moreau (AG2R Prévoyance) secured the King of the Mountains competition and the combined classification (winner of the maillot bleu). The points classification for sprinters went to Spaniard Francisco Mancebo. French team AG2R Prévoyance captured the team title. After admitting that he has been doping from 1999 to 2007, Levi Leipheimer lost all his results, and the winner changed to Christophe Moreau, who too won King of the Mountains.
The 2006 edition featured a feast of climbing, and is considered the ideal race for the Tour de France contenders to hone their form. After eight challenging stages, it finished on June 11 - just under three weeks before the start of 'La Grande Boucle'.