Seixas Withdraws from Tour Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes Final Stage After Crash but Finished Seventh on Prior Stage
The 19-year-old French cyclist abandoned the final stage on Sunday after sustaining multiple abrasions in a high-speed crash the previous day.
Le MondePaul Seixas withdrew from the final stage of the Tour Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes on Sunday, June 14, 2026, after failing to recover from injuries sustained in a crash the day before. The 19-year-old was dropped on the opening climb of the eighth stage and abandoned the race at the end of the subsequent descent, 30 km into the route through the French Alps.
He had sustained multiple abrasions on his hands, arms, and legs after crashing on a descent while traveling at 70 kph and sliding up to 30 meters along the tarmac.
Julien Jurdie, Seixas's team manager at Decathlon CMA CGM, said the decision followed a rapid return of soreness. "He had a good night, there was no problem," Jurdie told France TV. "But then the soreness came back quickly.
The start wasn't easy, so we didn't take any risks. " Jurdie stated the withdrawal was made to protect Seixas ahead of the Tour de France. On Saturday, Seixas had finished seventh on the stage, 1 minute 21 seconds behind winner Isaac Del Toro, after chasing back to the peloton for 60 km following a four-minute deficit caused by the crash.
He sat sixth overall, just under two minutes behind leader Luke Tuckwell of Australia. Seixas had previously won La Flèche Wallonne and the Tour of the Basque Country.
