Isaac del Toro leads GC battle as Tour Auvergne‑Rhône‑Alpes hits final stage

Mexican rider Isaac del Toro topped the seventh stage of the 2026 Tour Auvergne‑Rhône‑Alpes, defeating Spanish contender Juan Ayuso and surviving a dramatic crash involving Frenchman Paul Seixas. Del Toro’s win solidified his position among the general‑classification favorites ahead of the race’s finale.

Seixas, who suffered a heavy fall on the Grand Colombier the previous day, tested his fitness before the final stage but confirmed his participation, hoping to rebound despite lingering injuries. The eighth and decisive stage runs 120.1 km from Beaufort to the Plateau de Solaison, featuring four major climbs—including the hors‑cat Montée de Bisanne—and a total climb of 4,000 m. Current race leader Luke Tuckwell (Red Bull‑BORA) holds a slim 42‑second lead over Matteo Jorgenson and is vulnerable on the steep terrain.

Other contenders include French climber Paul Seixas, Spaniard Juan Ayuso, and Belgian Cian Uijtdebroeks of Movistar, who used the event to build form for the upcoming Tour de France after a brief illness. The tight gaps—four riders within 1′06″—make the final ascent on the Plateau de Solaison pivotal for the overall standings.