Tour Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes 2026: Del Toro triumphs atop Grand Colombier

fotobureau Cor VosJuan Ayuso attacks early on the Grand Colombier, but Isaac del Toro comes past him with 1.7 kilometres to go to the summit. The Mexican goes on to solo to victory, while Luke Tuckwell finishes eleventh and retains the yellow jersey. Matteo Jorgenson moves up into second place, with Del Toro now third overall. (Slideshow route/profile)

Stage 7 Results – 2026 Tour Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes

1. Isaac del Toro (mex) 3:41:41
2. Juan Ayuso (spa) + 0:24
3. Tobias Halland Johannessen (nor) + 0:38
4. Matteo Jorgenson (usa) + 0:41
5. Cian Uijtdebroeks (bel) s.t.
6. Mattias Skjelmose (den) + 1:17
7. Paul Seixas (fra) + 1:21
8. Cristián Rodríguez (spa) + 2:29
9. José Felix Parra (spa) + 2:31
10. Jan Castellon (spa) + 2:33

11. Luke Tuckwell (aus) s.t.

GC after stage 7

1. Luke Tuckwell (aus)
2. Matteo Jorgenson (usa) + 0:42
3. Isaac del Toro (mex) + 0:49
4. Juan Ayuso (spa) + 1:06
5. Tobias Halland Johannessen (nor) + 1:33
6. Paul Seixas (fra) + 1:54
7. Mattias Skjelmose (den) + 1:59
8. Cian Uijtdebroeks (bel) + 2:17
9. Cristián Rodríguez (spa) + 2:33
10. José Felix Parra (spa) + 3:02

Race report
After the race has been neutralised on the descent of the Côte de Saint-Maurice-de-Rotherens — and with no breakaway still established — Paul Seixas crashes. It takes a while before he gets back on his bike, and by the time he resumes racing he is over 3 minutes down. Together with his teammate Stefan Bissegger, he sets off in pursuit.

Meanwhile, Andreas Kron, Mathieu Burgaudeau, Sam Maisonobe and King of the Mountains Clément Braz Afonso go clear off the front. It does not come to anything, but the speed remains high, causing Seixas to lose more ground. His deficit grows to 4 minutes, prompting Daan Hoole to wait for him as well. The three of them then begin the chase.

While racing on the flat towards the Lacets du Grand Colombier, Kevin Vermaerke, Quinn Simmons, Léo Bisiaux, Andreas Kron, Sean Quinn, Pello Bilbao, Mathieu Burgaudeau, George Bennett, Sam Maisonobe and Clément Berthet jump off the front of the peloton. Their lead never grows beyond 30 seconds, and by the summit of the Lacets du Grand Colombier only Berthet and Bennett remain from that group, while Laurens De Plus, Carlos Rodríguez and Valentin Paret-Peintre have joined them.

On the ascent, Seixas receives support from his his team's stronger climbers, and that teamwork pays off, as he rejoins the peloton before the start of the Col de Richemond, after a 70-kilometre chase.

Up front, the five leaders never hold more than a 1-minute advantage, and by the summit of the Col de Richemond their lead has been reduced to 30 seconds before their race at the front comes to an end on the approach to the final climb.

Paul Seixas and yellow jersey Luke Tuckwell are dropped early on the Grand Colombier, while Juan Ayuso ups the pace inside the last 7 kilmetres. Ben Tulett initially follows him, but then eases back into the first chasing group: Matteo Jorgenson, Isaac del Toro, Cian Uijtdebroeks and Tobias Halland Johannessen. Seixas and Tuckwell are still within touching distance at that stage, although the yellow jersey later starts to drift further behind.

Just before the gradient eases, Toro drops the other chasers. The Mexican catches Ayuso with 1.7 kilometres to go and rides straight past him.

In the closing kilometres, Del Toro takes 24 seconds out of Ayuso, but it is not enough for the yellow jersey, as Tuckwell limits his losses and still holds a 42-second lead over Matteo Jorgenson and 49 seconds over the stage winner.

Another interesting read: route 7th stage 2026 Tour Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes.