'It was stupid' - Juan Ayuso disappointed after a miscalculated attack costs him victory atop Grand Colombier at Tour Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes

Juan Ayuso of Lidl-Trek expressed deep disappointment after a premature attack on the final climb of stage 7 at the Tour Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes cost him a potential victory. The Spaniard launched his move 6.7 kilometres from the summit of the Grand Colombier but was eventually caught and dropped by stage winner Isaac del Toro of UAE Team Emirates-XRG. Ayuso crossed the line 24 seconds behind del Toro, reflecting that his timing was ill-judged and that he had thrown away the chance to win despite feeling strong. The 133.6-kilometre stage was marked by challenging conditions, including a partially neutralised descent to mitigate risk on gravel sections. The race resumed fully after 30 kilometres, coinciding with a crash involving Paul Seixas (Decathlon CMA CGM), who then faced a tough chase to rejoin the peloton. A breakaway of ten riders formed early on, featuring Ayuso’s teammate Quinn Simmons, but teams such as Visma-Lease a Bike and UAE Team Emirates-XRG controlled the pace to keep the gap manageable ahead of the decisive climbs. Ayuso candidly described his attack as “stupid,” acknowledging that the timing was off and that he underestimated the benefit of staying on his rivals’ wheels during the steepest section. His Lidl-Trek teammates had worked effectively to position him well, with Simmons setting a strong tempo on the preceding climbs. However, as Mattias Skjelmose faded on the lower slopes, Ayuso’s solo move left him vulnerable to the chasing group led by del Toro, who made a decisive late surge to secure the stage win. Behind the leading riders, overall leader Luke Tuckwell (Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe) and Seixas struggled to maintain contact, highlighting the intensity of the final ascent. Del Toro’s well-timed attack with 4.5 kilometres remaining enabled him to bridge the gap to Ayuso and then pull clear in the closing kilometres. Despite the setback, Ayuso acknowledged his team’s strong performance throughout the day and remained reflective about the lessons learned from his tactical error. The stage outcome underscores the fine margins in mountainous racing and the importance of timing attacks carefully, especially on demanding climbs like the Grand Colombier. Ayuso’s experience may influence his approach in upcoming races, as he aims to convert his evident form into victories. Meanwhile, del Toro’s triumph marks a significant achievement for UAE Team Emirates-XRG and adds intrigue to the ongoing battle for overall honours in the Tour Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes.