| 1972 Critérium du Dauphiné Libéré | |
| Date: | 30 May – 4 June 1972 |
| Stages: | 5 + Prologue |
| Distance: | 997.7[1] |
| Unit: | km |
| Time: | 26h 20' 11" |
| First: | Luis Ocaña |
| First Nat: | ESP |
| First Natvar: | 1945 |
| Second: | Bernard Thévenet |
| Second Nat: | FRA |
| Third: | Lucien Van Impe |
| Third Nat: | BEL |
| Points: | Cyrille Guimard |
| Points Nat: | FRA |
| Mountains: | Luis Ocaña |
| Mountains Nat: | ESP |
| Mountains Natvar: | 1945 |
| Team: | [2] |
| Previous: | 1971 |
| Next: | 1973 |
The 1972 Critérium du Dauphiné Libéré was the 24th edition of the cycle race and was held from 30 May to 4 June 1972. The race started in Chalon-sur-Saône and finished at Avignon. The race was won by Luis Ocaña of the Bic team.
Ten teams, containing a total of 100 riders, participated in the race:
| Stage | Date | Course | Distance | Type | Winner | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| P | 30 May | Chalon-sur-Saône | 7.2km (04.5miles) | Team time trial | |||
| 1 | 31 May | Montceau-les-Mines to Saint-Étienne | 244km (152miles) | ||||
| 2 | 1 June | Saint-Étienne to Bourg-en-Bresse | 190km (120miles) | ||||
| 3 | 2 June | Bourg-en-Bresse to Chambéry | 205km (127miles) | ||||
| 4a | 3 June | Chambéry to Grenoble | 68km (42miles) | ||||
| 4b | 3 June | Valence to Romans | 95km (59miles) | ||||
| 5a | 4 June | Valence to Crest | 31.5km (19.6miles) | Individual time trial | |||
| 5b | 4 June | Crest to Avignon | 157km (98miles) | ||||
Final general classification[3]
|