As it happened: All change in the GC amid attacks and crashes on action-packed stage 7 of Tour Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes

2026-06-13T14:52:25.912Z

But the man who headlines the podium ceremony is Luke Tuckwell, who just about retains his lead at the top of the GC. He’s well positioned going into tomorrow’s finale, too, with Jorgenson and Del Toro the only riders within one minute of him in the rankings. It’s still most likely that he’ll lose the jersey, but he’s certainly in a position where he stands a chance.

2026-06-13T14:50:02.885Z

Paul Seixas is on the podium as we speak – not for what he might have been expected to be there fore, but rather to collect the combativity award for his efforts fighting on after his crash.

2026-06-13T14:45:20.471Z

One rider still very well poised to try and win the GC is Matteo Jorgenson. Though he was dropped, he limited his losses very well, to just 41 seconds to Del Toro and 17 seconds to Ayuso. Tomorrow’s is another hard summit finish, but with gradients not quite as steep as the Colombier today, he might fancy his chances of defending the 7 seconds he has over Del Toro and the 24 seconds he has on Ayuso – though it will be a big ask.

2026-06-13T14:41:07.973Z

The GC is fascinatingly poised with the two strongest riders today left with ground to make up if they’re to win the GC (Del Toro in 3rd at 4 seconds, Ayuso in 4th at 1:06) but clearly with the legs to stand a chance of winning it. Tomorrow promises to be a thrilling conclusion!

2026-06-13T14:39:29.732Z

The day’s winner, Isaac del Toro.

(Image credit: Getty Images)

2026-06-13T14:37:29.554Z

One of the stories of the day was of course Paul Seixas’ crash. While he did eventually make it back to the peloton after a long chase, it was clear he wasn’t his usual self on the final climb, as he was dropped early. He dug deep and paced himself well, and still managed to finish 7th, but it does no longer look like he will win the GC, with almost two minutes to make up and five riders to leapfrog.

2026-06-13T14:33:19.661Z

For a while it looked as though Juan Ayuso was poised to win the stage, before being gazumped by Del Toro. Asked at the finish why he attacked early, Ayuso was frank: “Because I’m stupid!” In hindsight, he wishes he left it until later to make his move, and not burn so many matches.

(Image credit: Getty Images)

2026-06-13T14:29:09.107Z

That’s a great win for Del Toro, his first since March when he claimed overall victory at Tirreno-Adriatico – and also sets him up well for a shot at winning the GC here, with one stage to come tomorrow.

2026-06-13T14:26:42.644Z

It’s all change at the top of the GC. Tuckwell defends yellow, but behind him the big names are assembling – Jorgenson moves up to 2nd at 0:42, Del Toro 3rd at 0:49, Ayuso 4th at 1:06, Johannessen 5th at 1:33 and Seixas 6th at 1:54.

2026-06-13T14:22:15.056Z

Tuckwell finishes at 2:33 – which is just about enough to defend the yellow jersey from Jorgenson!

2026-06-13T14:21:34.645Z

Here he comes, gritting his teeth.

2026-06-13T14:21:16.313Z

Now we wait for the yellow jersey.

2026-06-13T14:21:00.355Z

And Seixas finishes to take 6th, about 1:25 after Del Toro.

2026-06-13T14:20:39.001Z

Johannessen clips off the chase group for third place, while Jorgenson – who made it back into that group – takes fourth ahead of Uijtdebroeks.

2026-06-13T14:19:57.165Z

Ayuso finishes for 2nd place, a whole 25 seconds behind.

The Mexican rider takes the stage!

2026-06-13T14:19:01.466Z

Del Toro is approaching the finish…

2026-06-13T14:18:24.607Z

As things stand he’s set to leap up the GC, but not necessarily ahead of Jorgenson, who is limiting his losses.

2026-06-13T14:17:32.484Z

Del Toro looks set to win the stage, but will also want to gain as much time as possible, with a lot of time needed to overthrow Tuckwell at the top of the GC.

Del Toro leads, and there’s daylight between himself and Ayuso.

2026-06-13T14:15:16.721Z

And now Del Toro has gone clear – he’s riding alone to what looks like will be the stage victory.

2026-06-13T14:14:45.172Z

In the blink of an eye, suddenly Del Toro has caught Ayuso!

2026-06-13T14:14:15.349Z

Johannessen and Uijtdebroeks have dropped Jorgenson.

2026-06-13T14:13:12.707Z

Del Toro can see Ayuso up ahead on these steep gradients, but can’t close the gap that stubbornly refuses to dip below 10 seconds.

2026-06-13T14:11:54.519Z

It’s unclear how far adrift the yellow jersey of Tuckwell is.

2026-06-13T14:11:23.243Z

3km to go, Ayuso leads Del Toro by 13 seconds and Seixas/Skjelmose by 40 seconds, with Johannessen, Uijtdebroeks and Jorgenson somewhere in between.

2026-06-13T14:09:53.498Z

Del Toro is trying to chase Ayuso, but still has over 10 seconds to make up.

2026-06-13T14:07:52.902Z

And now Del Toro has gone clear from all of them!

2026-06-13T14:07:38.141Z

Del Toro takes over from Jorgenson, and his increase in pace has seen Uijtdebroeks dropped.

2026-06-13T14:06:41.429Z

Seixas (with Skjelmose glued to his wheel) is slowly but surely making up ground. He’s just caught and passed Tulett.

2026-06-13T14:05:38.263Z

Tulett is done, so Jorgenson takes over in the main chase group.

2026-06-13T14:04:57.300Z

Seixas has upped the pace in the yellow jersey group, and dropped everyone in it aside from Skjelmose.

Ayuso leads Jorgensson, Del Toro, Uijtdebroeks and Johannessen by 22 seconds, and the yellow jersey group by 40 seconds.

2026-06-13T14:03:08.374Z

Also in the yellow jersey group with Tuckwell and Seixas – Skjelmose, Cristián Rodríguez, Bisiaux and Castellon.

2026-06-13T13:59:52.987Z

Seixas is with Tuckwell in a group, and they’re 20 seconds behind the Jorgensson group.

2026-06-13T13:59:30.515Z

Ayuso has dropped Tulett and leads the race alone, but 15 seconds ahead of the Jorgensson group.

2026-06-13T13:58:57.086Z

Jorgenson, Cian Uijtdebroeks, Johannessen and Del Toro have formed a group behind, but Seixas is missing from it.

2026-06-13T13:58:19.740Z

Ayuso has taken Tulett with him.

The Lidl rider makes his move just under 7km from the finish! This is what the team was setting up.

2026-06-13T13:56:45.767Z

There’s a slight gap of about a bikelength opened up between Seixas’s teammate Bisiaux and the rider in front of him but not a big enough gap to say they’ve been dropped yet.

2026-06-13T13:55:41.812Z

The peloton is very stretched out, and Seixas and Tuckwell are right at the back of it.

2026-06-13T13:55:11.377Z

Now Visma take over at the front with Tulett, Jorgensson on his wheel.

2026-06-13T13:54:41.013Z

Seixas is only one rider ahead of him. Is the Frenchman suffering from his crash, and the efforts required to rejoin the peloton?

2026-06-13T13:54:09.462Z

The yellow jersey appears to be struggling! Tuckwell is at the back of the group, just about hanging on.

2026-06-13T13:53:44.505Z

The peloton is thinning, G Martin one of those dropped.

2026-06-13T13:53:25.029Z

Kamna’s done, and there’s a change at the front as Uno-X take over.

2026-06-13T13:51:58.690Z

Simmons is done, and Kamna takes over for Lidl. Their leaders Ayuso and Skjelmose must be feeling good today.

2026-06-13T13:50:19.157Z

Already Rodríguez has been dropped. His legs must have blown up, despite looking so well positioned in the break earlier.

2026-06-13T13:49:52.789Z

They begin the climb, Simmons setting the pace.

2026-06-13T13:49:19.652Z

Lidl-Trek lead the peloton as they’re about to hit the bottom of the climb.

2026-06-13T13:49:09.028Z

The break has been caught! In truth they were never given any hope of surviving by a peloton, with the racing having been on all day.

2026-06-13T13:44:32.958Z

The final climb is the same as the third-from-last tackled earlier, the Grand Colombier only this time via a much steeper way up. It averages a horrible 10.5%, for 8.5km whole kilometres.

The break’s days are surely numbered. They lead by only 13 seconds, as they descend to the foot of the final climb.

Berthet leads the break over the penultimate climb, ahead of Bennett, De Plus and Paret-Peintre.

2026-06-13T13:37:21.599Z

Rodríguez is back in the peloton, which is now being paced again by Simmons, who’s made his way back to the front.

2026-06-13T13:36:54.172Z

Rodríguez was also poised to gain time on the GC by being in the lead group. He began the stage 20th overall at 4:22, just 1:16 behind Seixas.

2026-06-13T13:34:40.542Z

De Plus looks confused. He’s looking behind him and wondering what has happened to his teammate.

2026-06-13T13:33:51.257Z

Rodríguez is dropped from the front group! That’s a surprise, as his Netcompany teammate De Plus had been doing much of the work on his behalf.

2026-06-13T13:32:01.505Z

The peloton, being led by Lidl’s Carlos Verona.

(Image credit: Getty Images)

2026-06-13T13:28:31.947Z

A reminder that Jorgenson is 2:34 behind Tuckwell on GC, Seixas 3:06 behind, Ayuso and Skjelmose 3:15 behind and Del Toro 3:22.

2026-06-13T13:27:13.392Z

Luke Tuckwell is safely in it, and doesn’t look in any trouble at all yet.

2026-06-13T13:26:45.309Z

The peloton is being reduced, down to about 35 riders.

2026-06-13T13:25:43.985Z

UAE are also working with Lidl.

2026-06-13T13:22:32.997Z

Simmons might be done, but his Lidl team aren’t. They’ve taken over from UAE setting the pace in the peloton.

2026-06-13T13:21:56.092Z

Simmons has dropped out from the peloton on the climb, having done a lot of work to try and delay Seixas’ rejoining it.

(Image credit: Getty Images)

2026-06-13T13:19:52.415Z

UAE lead the peloton as they ride the lower slopes of the penultimate climb the category two Col de Richmond, which rises for 7.7km at 6%.

The pace has steadied in the peloton now that Seixas is back, and the break’s lead has been allowed to grow to 50 seconds.

2026-06-13T13:15:47.624Z

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And it hasn’t taken Bisiaux long to succeed. With 36km, the Seixas is back with the peloton!

2026-06-13T13:08:02.175Z

Léo Bisiaux has dropped back from the peloton to become the latest Decathlon rider to help Seixas.

2026-06-13T13:07:21.459Z

The peloton earlier, riding up the famously beautiful Lacets du Grand Colombier.

(Image credit: Getty Images)

2026-06-13T13:05:01.819Z

Aurélien Paret-Peintre is at last done, swinging off the front and dropping out of the group. That was a monster turn from Seixas’ teammate.

The peloton is 45 seconds behind the leading five, and 35 seconds ahead of the Seixas group.

2026-06-13T12:59:55.264Z

There can’t be more than 40 riders left in the peloton.

2026-06-13T12:59:08.166Z

Simmons and Armirail are ensuring that Seixas has to work to return to the peloton. He still has 40 seconds to make up.

2026-06-13T12:57:55.871Z

Simmons is sharing the peloton pace-setting with Visma’s Armirail.

2026-06-13T12:55:55.927Z

Simmons is back in the peloton and pulling at the front. It seems his Lidl team must have called him back for domestique duties on behalf of Ayuso and Skjelmose.

2026-06-13T12:54:32.715Z

Seixas still has Prodhomme and Paret-Peintre pacing him. Decathlon have done a great job timing who to send to help him, and when to do so.

2026-06-13T12:52:12.914Z

Up ahead, Simmons has sat up and dropped out of the lead group.

2026-06-13T12:51:49.539Z

It’s still advantage Seixas though. He has just 45 more seconds to make up.

2026-06-13T12:51:17.002Z

Seixas also has more direct GC rivals in Del Toro and Jorgenson, and their respective UAE and Visma teams are leading the peloton as they begin the valley road following the descent.

2026-06-13T12:50:09.551Z

Amid all the Seixas drama, it’s easy to forget that he already had a lot of work to do even pre-crash to win this race in order to depose GC leader Luke Tuckwell. The neo-pro intends to defend the jersey to the best of his ability, and has survived the day’s climbs so far with no problems.

2026-06-13T12:46:10.387Z

As they descend, Seixas is just 1:10 behind the peloton.

2026-06-13T12:44:40.042Z

Seixas has more support now too, as teammate Nicolas Prodhomme has also dropped back to help him.

2026-06-13T12:42:12.276Z

Seixas is getting closer to the peloton. He’s getting an easier ride now as he’s reached the convoy of cars.

2026-06-13T12:41:06.584Z

The lead group of 6 is 30 seconds ahead of the peloton.

Berthet leads the front group over the top of the climb.

2026-06-13T12:39:38.659Z

Simmon has made it back to the leaders, along with Valentin Paret-Peintre.

2026-06-13T12:38:03.747Z

Simmons is now being dropped from the front group.

2026-06-13T12:37:06.726Z

De Plus’ pace is too much for most in the lead group, with only Bennett, Berthet and Simmons still with his and his teammate Rodríguez.

2026-06-13T12:36:19.721Z

The peloton is thinning out on this climb. Armirail, who is second on GC, looks like he’s about to be dropped.

2026-06-13T12:34:56.652Z

Behind, Seixas is still being paced by Paret-Peintre, and is gradually making inroad, now two minutes behind the peloton.

2026-06-13T12:34:07.311Z

De Plus leads the break with Netcompany teammate Rodríguez on his wheel. The group is being thinned out.

The lead group is made up of ten riders, who have a lead of 15 seconds:

Quinn Simmons, Valentin Paret-Peintre, George Bennett, Clément Braz Afonso, Pello Bilbao, Carlos Rodriguez, Sergio Samitier, Jordan Jegat, Laurens De Plus and Clément Berthet

2026-06-13T12:29:30.915Z

In the front group, Samitier, Braz Afonso and Paret-Peintre are also present.

2026-06-13T12:28:14.368Z

Seixas has company again in teammate Aurélien Paret-Peintre, after he dropped back from the peloton.

2026-06-13T12:27:33.859Z

Vauquelin is out the back of the peloton on the lower slopes of the climb.

2026-06-13T12:26:18.448Z

Behind, Seixas has ditched teammates Hoole and Bissegger and climbing this mountain by himself.

2026-06-13T12:25:42.603Z

Simmons, De Plus and Bouchard have joined the four leaders.

2026-06-13T12:24:58.373Z

The leaders are on the climb! This is the first proper mountain of the stage, an a brutally steep slog averaging 10.1% for 8.5km.

2026-06-13T12:23:52.401Z

Seixas is at last making some inroads! The gap is back down from almost four minutes to about 2:30.

2026-06-13T12:22:15.758Z

Simmons, De Plus and Bouchard are trying to bridge up to the four leaders, Bilbao, Bennett, Berthet and Burgaudeau.

The Movistar rider has abandoned the race.

2026-06-13T12:20:18.519Z

Maisonobe is dropped from the other four as they near the foot of Lacets du Grand Colombier.

2026-06-13T12:17:28.656Z

Seixas’ problem is that the pace in the peloton remains fast, as a definitive break is yet to form. Could he make it back into the bunch if a break does eventually form and the race therefore calms down?

2026-06-13T12:16:16.329Z

Still Seixas and his two Decathlon teammates aren’t making any inroads They remain at just under four minutes.

(Image credit: Getty Images)

2026-06-13T12:14:22.966Z

The group has been reduced, to just Bilbao, Bennett, Burgaudeau, Maisonobe and Berthet.

2026-06-13T12:11:44.352Z

The other riders now in the front group: Bennett, Kron, Burgaudeau, Maisonobe, Berthet, Vermaerke and Bisiaux.

2026-06-13T12:10:26.683Z

Multiple riders have joined Quinn and Bilbao at the front of the race, including Simmons.

2026-06-13T12:08:40.515Z

Paul Seixas, bearing the scars of his crash.

(Image credit: Getty Images)

2026-06-13T12:06:02.545Z

The riders are now on the longest flat section of the stage, leading up to the foot of the category one Lacets du Grand Colombier. Just as well Seixas has two big rouleurs with him in Bissegger and Hoole, as this is horrible terrain to have to chase a whole peloton.

Still Seixas trails by about four minutes, while Bilbao and Quinn have a slender lead on the peloton of just a few seconds.

2026-06-13T11:59:53.257Z

At the front, Quinn and Bilbao are the latest riders to have a go at attacking.

2026-06-13T11:58:46.409Z

Seixas has Hoole and Bissegger with him, but now has four minutes to make up.

2026-06-13T11:57:17.988Z

Simmons and Le Berre lead by only a few seconds, while Seixas is still over three minutes adrift.

2026-06-13T11:45:22.722Z

Back at the front of the race, former stage winner Quinn Simmons has joined Le Berre.

2026-06-13T11:42:54.459Z

The big question is: how badly hurt is he?

2026-06-13T11:42:32.705Z

Seixas took some time to get back on his bike and start racing again. Consequently, he’s over three minutes behind the peloton.

2026-06-13T11:40:34.918Z

Mathis Le Berre has attacked out of the peloton and has a lead.

2026-06-13T11:37:24.294Z

Meanwhile there is no breakaway at the moment – the group of 6 that had gone clear prior to the neutralisation are back in the peloton.

2026-06-13T11:36:42.213Z

Seixas is on his bike and chasing back to the peloton with his teammates.

The race favourite has gone down! Two Decathlon teammates are waiting up for him.

They’ve reached the bottom of the descent, and the road has been deemed safe again for them to race.

The racing is about to resume again.

2026-06-13T11:27:52.103Z

The descent is being taken very slowly to avoid any incident on the gravel found on the road.

2026-06-13T11:26:16.473Z

Here’s what the KOM rankings look like after the first three climbs of the day have been completed:

1 Braz Afonso 40

2 Baudin 14

3 Thomas 12

4 Samitier 11

5 Vercher 11

2026-06-13T11:23:42.772Z

(Image credit: Getty Images)

Berthet crests the climb first ahead of Bennett, Jegat and Paret-Peintre. The race will now be neutralised as they descend.

6 riders have gone clear and have a gap – Paret-Peintre, Quinn, G. Bennett, Garcia Pernia, Jegat and Berthet.

2026-06-13T11:13:34.773Z

It’s been announced that the race will be neutralised on the descent following this climb. There is gravel on the road, so in the name of safety the riders will take it on slowly before resuming racing at the bottom.

2026-06-13T11:11:17.960Z

(Image credit: Getty Images)

2026-06-13T11:10:20.580Z

This climb, the Côte de Saint-Maurice-de-Rotherens, is the hardest of the opening trio, with a steeper gradient of 7% for its 4.9km.

2026-06-13T11:08:10.930Z

They’re climbing again, and there’s a surprise at the back of the peloton a Luke Plapp is dropped.

2026-06-13T11:06:48.459Z

Here was Kévin Vauquelin trying to go clear earlier, on the first climb.

(Image credit: Getty Images)

2026-06-13T11:04:48.498Z

Braz Afonso has been caught, as the peloton is about to start the third climb in quick succession.

Braz Afonso hasn’t sat up after cresting the climb, and leads the race with a small gap.

Braz Afonso again moves to the front to claim the solitary points on offer at the top of the day’s second climb.

2026-06-13T10:57:01.333Z

(Image credit: Getty Images)

2026-06-13T10:54:36.273Z

Attacks keep being made but nothing has stuck yet.

2026-06-13T10:52:05.499Z

Done descending, the riders are now embarking on the second climb of the day. The Col de la Crusille rises at 4.2% for 2.9km.

2026-06-13T10:50:26.259Z

By claiming the points, Braz Afonso increases his lead in the virtual KOM classification, which now looks like this:

1 Braz Afonso 39

2 Baudin 14

3 Thomas 12

4 Samitier 11

5 Vercher 11

2026-06-13T10:47:21.692Z

However, all three have been caught again. That was too dangerous a move to let go.

That trio make it to the top of the climb together, Braz Afonso take the KOM points ahead of Vauquelin and Paret-Peintre.

2026-06-13T10:45:01.882Z

Those two are joined by Clément Braz Afonso.

2026-06-13T10:44:31.795Z

Kévin Vauquelin is also on the attack. That’s interesting, as, despite losing time yesterday, he’s still up in 15th on GC at 3:50. This could be a very hard start to control if riders like him keep trying to get up the road.

2026-06-13T10:41:51.478Z

Having attacked yesterday, Valentin Paret-Peintre is still in an aggressive mood and is trying to go off the front again.

And they’re off!

2026-06-13T10:37:48.395Z

That crash has delayed the official start, but they will be racing soon.

2026-06-13T10:35:57.357Z

Martinez and Diaz are both up and running, but Glivar is worse off. He’s abandoned the race.

Unfortunately, there’s been another crash today, before the riders have even reached the official start. Dani Martinez (Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe), Alex Diaz (Caja Rural-Seguros RGA) and Gal Glivar (Alpecin-Premier Tech) have all gone down.

2026-06-13T10:32:16.538Z

There are a few non-starters to report. The headline name is Oscar Onley, who only just managed to finish yesterday after a worrying crash, and has opted against continuing the race. Where this leaves his Tour de France ambitions remains to be seen, but the nature of the incident means he’ll be feeling lucky matters aren’t worse.

2026-06-13T10:27:53.251Z

Yesterday it was Red Bull-Bora Hansgrohe who benefited from the break’s success, with Max Van Gils taking the stage and Luke Tuckwell the overall lead. The latter now has a yellow jersey to defend, and based on how he climbed yesterday, it won’t be easy to prise from his shoulders.

2026-06-13T10:21:30.667Z

The parcours offers a great chance for any riders with strong climbing legs to do just that. The road goes uphill almost from the start for the Col du Banchet, the first of three climbs within the first 25km.

2026-06-13T10:20:02.784Z

The riders are off from the unofficial start. Given the success of the breakaways so far at this race, there will surely be many itching to attack and get into today’s once the flag drops.

2026-06-13T10:16:23.291Z

Leading the charge for the yellow jersey will be Paul Seixas. All eyes were on the Frenchman to blow away the opposition as he has done regularly this season, and while his ride wasn’t quite as domineering as former efforts, he still did succeed in distancing everyone other than Isaac Del Toro on the final climb yesterday.

2026-06-13T10:09:16.898Z

That leaves the men with aspirations of winning the yellow jersey with lots of time still to make up, but only two stages left to do so. The stage is therefore set for an attacking penultimate day of the race today, when they can’t afford to leave it too late to make their moves.

2026-06-13T10:07:23.103Z

Far from providing a definitive sort out in the race for GC at this Tour Auvergne – Rhône-Alpes, yesterday’s stage served instead to make the rankings look even messier.

A successful breakaway means the top three is entirely made up of riders we would not have expected to be so high up this deep into the race, while the top favourites like Matteo Jorgenson, Paul Seixas and Isaac del Toro are still left with minutes to make up.