Tour Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes: Baudin wins, Seixas on track

The successor race to the Critérium du Dauphiné kicked off on Sunday in dramatic fashion: Alex Baudin of EF Education-EasyPost claimed the first stage of the Tour Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes, a 146.2 km route from Vizille to Saint-Ismier. The 25-year-old Frenchman soloed to victory as a breakaway rider, securing his first WorldTour-level win with a 32-second gap over the first chase group, which included Belgian Ramses Debruyne (Alpecin-Premier Tech).

As for the race’s big talking point—how Paul Seixas would perform—the day delivered a promising answer: the 19-year-old finished 17th, 44 seconds down, but his biggest rivals for the overall, Isaac del Toro (UAE Emirates-XRG) and Juan Ayuso (Lidl-Trek), suffered the exact same time loss.

For Seixas, who dominated the Tour of the Basque Country in April with three stage wins ahead of Florian Lipowitz and later took the Flèche Wallonne, the Tour Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes serves as direct preparation for his Tour de France debut (4–26 July). It will be his first Grand Tour, and all of France is watching—a nation eagerly awaiting a home winner since Bernard Hinault’s last Tour triumph in 1985.

Cycling / Stage Race

Pogacar dominates Tour de Suisse

Tadej Pogačar crowned his impressive Swiss week with victory on the queen stage and claimed the overall classification.

Cycling / Stage Race

Pogacar edges Van der Poel by 31 hundredths in TT

Tadej Pogacar didn’t just win the stage – he even overhauled Richard Carapaz on the road, stretching his Tour de Suisse lead to over four minutes.

Pogacar cannot be beaten in the time trial either

Cycling / Stage Race

Pogacar takes a back seat – Narváez strikes with solo breakaway

The shock of fiancée Urska Zigart's crash and the focus on the Tour de France shaped Tadej Pogacar's strategy – his top domestique made the difference.

Cycling / Stage Race

Zigart’s heavy crash overshadows Pogacar’s Tour de Suisse dominance

Tadej Pogacar leads the field by nearly three minutes - but the day was defined by concern for Urska Zigart, hospitalized with a broken jaw.

Tadej Pogacar before the stage start on Thursday

Cycling / Stage Race

Show of force: Pogacar alone in a class of his own

Two and a half weeks before the Tour de France, Tadej Pogacar showed at the Tour de Suisse why he is considered the clear favourite for overall victory in France.

Cycling / Stage Race

Del Toro claims Tour Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes after Seixas abandons

The 22-year-old Mexican capped off a dominant final phase with a solo breakaway on the Plateau de Solaison—making a strong case for Tour de France selection.

Cycling / Stage Race

Del Toro wins on Grand Colombier – Seixas loses time

French cycling young star Paul Seixas fought his way back to the peloton after his crash, but lost valuable seconds on the final climb in the battle for the overall victory.

Cycling / Stage Race

Van Gils wins Stage 6 – Tuckwell in yellow

Red Bull-Bora-hansgrohe dominated Stage 6 of the Tour Auvergne Rhône-Alpes: Maxim Van Gils claimed the stage win, while teammate Luke Tuckwell seized the overall lead.

Cycling / Stage Race

Van Aert beats Bauhaus in sprint – Baudin retains the lead

In the bird park of Villars-les-Dombes, the Belgian takes the last flat stage before the Alps.

Cycling / Stage Race

Next breakaway triumph: Simmons wins fourth stage

The US champion prevailed in a sprint from a breakaway group on the fourth stage – the peloton came too late.

Cycling / Stage Race

Visma dominates team time trial – Red Bull only fifth

In the team time trial at the Tour Auvergne Rhone-Alpes, Visma-Lease a Bike set the fastest time ahead of Netcompany Ineos. Alex Baudin defends the leader's jersey.

In this article: