Van Gils wins, Tuckwell dresses as leader, and Seixas sends the first warning to the favorites in stage 6 of the Dauphiné

The sixth stage of the Tour Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes 2026 left a mountain day full of consequences for the general classification. Maxim Van Gils (Red Bull-BORA-hansgrohe) achieved victory in Crest-Voland after prevailing in a select group of escapees, while his teammate Luke Tuckwell completed the celebration for the German team by taking the yellow jersey.

Maxim Van Gils returns in style and Luke Tuckwell takes the lead in the Tour Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes

The day was also marked by the withdrawal of Wout van Aert before the start. Just 24 hours after finding victory again, the Belgian ended his participation due to the worsening of an elbow infection caused by a fall during a training session prior to the race.

A massive breakaway changes the course of the race

The stage started with an unusual situation. After numerous attacks in the first kilometers, the peloton split, and a group of around 60 riders managed to break away.

Among them were important names like Maxim Van Gils, Luke Tuckwell, Tobias Halland Johannessen, Bruno Armirail, Quinn Simmons, Pablo Torres, Mauri Vansevenant, and Lars Craps. The absence of the main favorites for the general classification in that group allowed the gap to grow rapidly.

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While the Decathlon team tried to control the situation to protect Paul Seixas's chances, the advantage of the breakaway continued to increase, turning the battle for the stage and the lead into a matter reserved for the front men.

Van Gils confirms his return

The victory has a special meaning for Maxim Van Gils. The Belgian rider was competing in his first race after the serious fall he suffered in the Jaén Classic at the beginning of the season, an accident that affected much of his campaign.

Even before the start, he had acknowledged that he was feeling better and that the breakaway represented a great opportunity. He was not mistaken.

In the final ascent to Crest-Voland, Van Gils was one of the most active riders. First, he responded to the attacks that definitively selected the breakaway, and then he stayed among the strongest alongside Tobias Halland Johannessen, Luke Tuckwell, and Pablo Torres.

The outcome was decided in the final meters. Johannessen tried to surprise with a long-range attack, but Van Gils managed his strength perfectly and launched his sprint at the right moment to claim victory ahead of the Norwegian.

Luke Tuckwell inherits the yellow jersey

Although the stage victory went to Van Gils, the other big news of the day came in the general classification.

Luke Tuckwell had started the day just over a minute behind Alex Baudin and infiltrated the big breakaway with the clear goal of seeking the lead. The Australian held on among the best in the final climb and crossed the finish line in third place, just six seconds behind the winner.

That result was enough to dethrone Baudin, who could not keep up with the pace of the favorites when the race intensified in the final ascent.

Red Bull-BORA-hansgrohe thus completed a perfect day: stage victory for Van Gils and the yellow jersey for Tuckwell before the decisive alpine stages of the weekend.

Seixas attacks among the favorites

Behind, the battle for the general classification also left important movements. In the final climb, it was Paul Seixas who took the initiative and increased the pace among the favorites.

The young Frenchman managed to select the main group, and only Isaac del Toro and Matteo Jorgenson could initially follow his wheel. The effort eventually took its toll on the American, while Del Toro held on until the final meters.

Juan Ayuso and Mattias Skjelmose lost ground to their main rivals in a day that further compressed the fight for the general classification before the stages of Grand Colombier and Plateau de Solaison.

Top 10 Stage 6 Tour Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes 2026

1. Maxim Van Gils (Red Bull-BORA-hansgrohe) – 4:06:34
2. Tobias Halland Johannessen (Uno-X Mobility) – +00
3. Luke Tuckwell (Red Bull-BORA-hansgrohe) +6”
4. Pablo Torres (UAE Team Emirates-XRG) +13”
5. Raúl García Pierna (Movistar Team) +33”
6. Yannis Voisard (Tudor Pro Cycling Team) +33”
7. Jordan Jegat (TotalEnergies) +33”
8. Cristian Rodríguez (XDS Astana Team) +33”
9. Clément Braz Afonso (Groupama-FDJ United) +33”
10. Lennart Jasch (Tudor Pro Cycling Team) +33”