'One day, maybe' – Finn Fisher-Black just shy of the win again at Tour Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes

Finn Fisher-Black narrowly missed out on victory once again, finishing second on stage 4 of the Tour Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes. The 24-year-old New Zealander, riding for Red Bull-Bora Hansgrohe, demonstrated his strength on the hilly terrain, which featured several category 2, 3, and 4 climbs before a flat but slightly uphill finish. Despite his efforts to join a decisive breakaway that formed after more than 60km of intense racing, Fisher-Black was unable to overtake Quinn Simmons of Lidl-Trek in the final sprint, with the peloton finishing just four seconds behind. The stage suited Fisher-Black’s combination of climbing resilience and fast finishing speed, and he had initially hoped for a bunch sprint but recognised his better chances in the breakaway. The leading group of nine riders maintained a tight gap to the peloton, forcing a relentless pace throughout the stage. Fisher-Black described the sprint as challenging, noting the difficulty of navigating through the gaps, but ultimately he fell short of catching Simmons, who took the win. This result continues a pattern for Fisher-Black, who has frequently found himself on the podium this season without sealing a WorldTour victory. Now in his sixth WorldTour season and having recently moved from UAE Team Emirates to Red Bull-Bora Hansgrohe, he has accumulated multiple second and third-place finishes in top-tier races. His 2024 campaign has included three wins outside the WorldTour and a national time trial title, but the elusive breakthrough at the highest level remains just out of reach. Reflecting on his string of near misses, Fisher-Black acknowledged the frustration but remained hopeful for the future. “I’m trying not to think about how many times I’ve been second this year,” he said, adding, “it hurts a bit. But one day maybe, maybe…” His persistence and consistent performances suggest that a maiden WorldTour victory could be imminent, as he continues to develop and adapt to a more demanding race schedule with his new team.