Quinn Simmons claimed Lidl-Trek’s first stage win at the Tour Auvergne Rhône-Alpes. On the 167.4-kilometre fourth stage from Le Puy-en-Velay to Montrond-les-Bains, the 25-year-old US champion powered to victory in a sprint from the breakaway, narrowly holding off the chasing peloton. Finn Fisher-Black (Red Bull-Bora-hansgrohe) of New Zealand took second, with France’s Mattéo Vercher (TotalEnergies) in third.
This marks the race’s third breakaway success, a key warm-up event ahead of the Tour de France (4 – 26 July). In the GC, Alex Baudin (EF Education-EasyPost) leads by twelve seconds over Kévin Vauquelin and Oscar Onley (both Netcompany Ineos). Race favourite Paul Seixas (Decathlon-CMA CGM) sits a minute back, while Juan Ayuso (Lidl-Trek), Isaac del Toro (UAE Emirates-XRG), and the 19-year-old Seixas all rolled in with the peloton.
The decisive break, including Simmons, formed 90 kilometres from the finish, building a lead of up to two minutes. Though the peloton closed in on the flat run-in, the escapees’ tempo proved just enough to seal the win.
Simmons, set for his fourth Tour de France start, once again showcased his attacking flair after last year’s repeated breakaway efforts.
Thursday’s fifth stage spans 195 kilometres with just two early categorised climbs—a clear sprinters’ day. Before the race wraps up on Sunday, three back-to-back mountain finishes remain.
