Tour Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes 2026: Charmig wins from the break, Baudin stays in yellow

fotobureau Cor VosAnthon Charmig is the first attacker of the day and is also first across the line in Le Puy-en-Velay. On the final climb, he rides away from his breakaway companions to solo to victory. Alex Baudin comes home safely in the peloton and defends his position at the top of the GC. (Slideshow route/profile)

Stage 2 Results – 2026 Tour Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes

1. Anthon Charmig (nor)
2. Henri-François Renard-Haquin (fra) + 0:41
3. Vlad Van Mechelen (bel) s.t.
4. Raul Garcia Pierna (spa) + 0:43
5. Clément Braz Afonso (fra) + 0:44
6. Benjamin Thomas (fra) + 1:56
7. Jordan Jegat (fra) + 1:59
8. Nadav Raisberg (isr) + 2:10
9. Finn Fisher-Black (nzl) + 3:13
10. Maxim Van Gils (bel) s.t.

77. Mattias Skjelmose (den) + 3:13

GC after stage 2

1. Alex Baudin (fra)
2. Ramses Debruyne (bel) + 0:32
3. Kevin Vermaerke (usa) s.t.
4. Léo Bisiaux (fra) s.t.
5. Ben Tulett (gbr) s.t.
6. Luke Tuckwell (aus) s.t.
7. Kévin Vauquelin (fra) s.t.
8. Oscar Onley (gbr) s.t.
9. Rudy Molard (fra) s.t.
10. Luke Plapp (aus) s.t.

Race report
Anthon Charmig, Baptiste Veistroffer, Alex Diaz, Nadav Raisberg, Benjamin Thomas and Henri-François Renard-Haquin attack from the flag. On the first climb, Veistrofer is unable to follow the pace and drops into a chasing group featuring Raul Garcia Pierna, Vlad Van Mechelen, Jordan Jegat and Clément Braz Afonso. They manage to make it across to the break on the Col de la Croix de Toutes Aures. At the summit, the peloton is close to 6 minutes behind, which proves to be the biggest advantage of the day. At the summit, the peloton trails by around 6 minutes, and that remains the case for dozens of kilometres.

With 47 kilometres remaining, the gap stands at around 5 minutes as Veistroffer and Braz Afonso leave their fellow breakaway riders behind. On the Côte des Baraques, the latter presses on alone. The Frenchman is then joined by Van Mechelen and García Pierna in the final 27 kilometres, while Charmig, Jegat, Thomas and Renard-Haquin make it seven at the front inside the final 21 kilometres.

Just before the Côte de Saint-Vidal, Benjamin Thomas breaks clear, but Alexander Charmig and Clément Braz Afonso overhaul him before Raúl García Pierna and Vlad Van Mechelen also make it across in the final kilometre of the climb. Then Charmig attacks and he crests the summit 5 seconds ahead of García Pierna, while Braz Afonso is a little further back again. The latter two come together and begin the chase of the lone leader.

But the chase comes to little, as the Norwegian steadily rides further and further clear. He crosses the line 41 seconds ahead of Renard-Haquin, who outsprints Van Mechelen for second place.

The general classification remains largely unchanged, although Mattias Skjelmose drops out of contention after suffering misfortune in the final phase. Alex Baudin retains the yellow jersey with a lead of just over half a minute over Ramses Debruyne.

Another interesting reads: route 2nd stage 2026 Tour Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes.