Del Toro turns the tables to win the Tour Auvergne - Rhône-Alpes

Isaac del Toro (UAE Team Emirates-XRG) sealed a stunning overall victory at the Tour Auvergne - Rhône-Alpes 2026, launching a dominant solo attack on the final climb of stage 8.

The Mexican national champion rode away from all his rivals on the slopes of the Plateau de Solaison to win the stage by a full minute. Behind him, Juan Ayuso (Lidl-Trek) finished second, with Tobias Halland Johannessen (Uno-X Mobility) taking third at 1:02.

The result dramatically overturned the general classification on the final day. Del Toro took the yellow jersey from Luke Tuckwell (Red Bull-BORA-hansgrohe), who faded on the final ascent to lose the race lead.

The final stage was always destined to be a showdown for the general classification, culminating in the brutal summit finish on the Plateau de Solaison. With several riders still in contention, the pace was high from the start, but the real fireworks were saved for the final climb.

As the leaders hit the lower slopes, the pace from contenders' teams began to shatter the bunch. The decisive move came with several kilometres remaining when Del Toro launched his attack. No one could follow, and the young Mexican quickly established a significant gap as the GC group disintegrated behind him.

Race leader Luke Tuckwell was soon isolated and dropped, his hopes of victory evaporating. Del Toro powered on alone, holding a lead of over 50 seconds on his nearest chaser, Ayuso, at the flamme rouge to seal a remarkable stage and overall win. Ayuso's ride secured him second overall, while Johannessen's third place elevated him to the final podium step.

• Del Toro's victory was a masterclass in timing and power. He waited for the steepest part of the final climb to launch a single, decisive move that no one could answer, confirming his status as a top-tier GC talent.
• Lidl-Trek played their cards well, with Ayuso learning from a previous day's early effort. He paced his climb perfectly to become the 'best of the rest' and secure second overall, supported by teammate Mattias Skjelmose.
• The final climb proved merciless for several contenders. Tuckwell's hold on the yellow jersey was broken, and early protagonist Matteo Jorgenson also faded significantly, demonstrating the brutal nature of a final-day mountain showdown.
• Johannessen was one of the day's big winners. His tenacious ride to third on the stage saw him leapfrog other contenders to claim the final spot on the overall podium, a fantastic result for the Uno-X Mobility rider.