Paul Seixas lines up for Tour Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes final stage one day after 70 km/h crash
The 19-year-old French rider confirmed on social media he will start Sunday's decisive mountain stage from Beaufort to Plateau de Solaison, despite multiple dermabrasions suffered in Saturday's pile-up.
The crash
Paul Seixas hit the tarmac at 70 km/h after misjudging a corner 32 km into Saturday's seventh stage of the Tour Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes. He got back on his bike with help from teammates but struggled to hold his hands on the bars, a problem that immediately tightened his back. The French prodigy still limited his losses to finish the day and stay in contention.
It’s back on. We don’t give up.
He announced his decision to continue in a video posted by his CMA CGM team.
The standings
Seixas sits sixth on the general classification, 1 minute 54 seconds behind Australian Luke Tuckwell. Mexican Isaac Del Toro, who won atop the Grand Colombier on Saturday, is 49 seconds off the lead and now the favorite to take the overall crown. Seixas trails Del Toro by 1 minute 5 seconds and is about one minute behind other contenders Matteo Jorgenson, Juan Ayuso and Del Toro.
The final test
Sunday’s 120 km stage from Beaufort to the Plateau de Solaison packs four classified climbs, including two hors-catégorie ascents: the Montée de Bisanne (11.5 km at 8.9%) and the summit finish at Plateau de Solaison (also 11.5 km at 8.9%). The stage sets off at 13:30 CEST, with the winner expected between 16:05 and 16:30. Live coverage is available on Eurosport and France 3.
What comes next
Once the line is crossed, Seixas’s priority will be healing his hands and back ahead of his Tour de France debut in July. The young Lyonnais has already won the Tour of the Basque Country and La Flèche Wallonne this season, and will head to the Grand Boucle with ambitions in the general classification despite the presence of four-time champion Tadej Pogačar.
