Mike O'Connor
Australian rising star Luke Tuckwell remains in the overall lead of the Tour Auvergne Rhône-Alpes 2026 – 78th Edition, formerly known as the Critérium du Dauphiné, after surviving another tough day in the mountains and setting up a tense final stage tonight.
The 21-year-old Red Bull-BORA-hansgrohe rider from Orange, NSW, has been one of the revelations of the race, taking the leader’s jersey after a decisive breakaway on stage six and successfully defending it through Saturday’s penultimate stage.
Tuckwell’s ride has been among the standout stories of a race that has already delivered plenty of drama. The opening week featured aggressive racing from the outset, with several sprint finishes and breakaway battles before the mountains reshaped the general classification.
Among the biggest highlights was the emergence of Mexican star Isaac del Toro, who has continued his impressive 2026 campaign with a stage victory and a sustained challenge for the overall title.
American Matteo Jorgenson has also been a constant presence near the front of the race, using his climbing strength and consistency to remain within touching distance of the yellow jersey despite illness in Team Visma Lease A bike.
The queen stage proved particularly decisive, with the general classification contenders finally forced to show their cards on the race’s toughest climbs.
It was here that Tuckwell demonstrated he belonged among the elite, matching many of the sport’s established stars and limiting his losses when the attacks began to fly.
Stage seven was won by Del Toro, but the battle for the general classification remained the focus as Tuckwell fought to limit his losses on a demanding mountain route. The Australian crossed the line with the key contenders and retained his grip on the overall lead with just one stage remaining.
The young Australian heads into the final stage still in yellow, with only Jorgenson and Del Toro sitting within a minute of him on general classification, giving himself a genuine chance of completing a remarkable overall victory.
“We’ll find out tomorrow if I can keep it all the way to the end. It’s another crazy crazy day, so I’ll recover as much as I can and fight for it,” he said.
“It’s my first year pro. I’m still finding out what my limitations are, what I need to work on. New roads tomorrow, with new climbs, I’m looking forward to it.”
Tuckwell oined Red Bull-BORA-hansgrohe after impressing in the under-23 ranks, including a runner-up finish at the Giro Next Gen and a string of strong performances against elite opposition.
The Tour Auvergne Rhône-Alpes is widely regarded as one of cycling’s premier week-long stage races, has long served as a proving ground for future Grand Tour contenders as it winds through southeastern France.
At the same time, many Tour de France champions have used the race as a final test before July, making it one of the most prestigious titles outside the three Grand Tours.
You can watch the final stage of the Tour tonight on SBS.
| Pos | Rider | Team | Gap |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Luke Tuckwell (AUS) | Red Bull-BORA-hansgrohe | 25h59’09” |
| 2 | Matteo Jorgenson (USA) | Team Visma | Lease a Bike | +42″ |
| 3 | Isaac del Toro (MEX) | UAE Team Emirates-XRG | +49″ |
| 4 | Juan Ayuso (ESP) | Lidl-Trek | +1:06 |
| 5 | Tobias Halland Johannessen (NOR) | Uno-X Mobility | +1:33 |
| 6 | Paul Seixas (FRA) | Decathlon CMA CGM | +1:54 |
| 7 | Mattias Skjelmose (DEN) | Lidl-Trek | +1:59 |
| 8 | Cian Uijtdebroeks (BEL) | Movistar Team | +2:17 |
| 9 | Cristian Rodriguez (ESP) | XDS Astana Team | +2:33 |
| 10 | José Félix Parra (ESP) | Caja Rural-Seguros RGA | +3:02 |
Mike O’Connor – A keen cyclist, runner and photographer, Mike O’Connor is the Editor of Bicycling Australia. He manages the BA website and social media, and loves promoting the achievements of Australian cyclists.
