‘I blew myself up’ – Matteo Jorgenson slips off the podium on final climb of Tour Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes

Matteo Jorgenson entered the final stage of the Tour Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes with strong ambitions, sitting second overall and within striking distance of the leader, Luke Tuckwell. However, his hopes of a podium finish were dashed on the punishing final climb to Plateau de Solaison, where he struggled in the closing kilometres and ultimately slipped to fourth place. Despite his efforts to stay with the race leader and eventual winner Isaac del Toro, Jorgenson admitted he "blew up" and could not maintain the pace on the steep ascent. The stage saw Isaac del Toro, fresh from a previous day’s victory, assert his dominance with a commanding performance that secured him the overall race win. Meanwhile, Tuckwell managed to hold onto second place, with Juan Ayuso moving into third after a late attack. Jorgenson, who had been part of a small chase group for much of the climb, was caught by Tuckwell before the summit, signalling the end of his challenge for the podium. The high tempo throughout the stage proved decisive, highlighting the brutal nature of the mountainous terrain. Reflecting on his performance, Jorgenson remained positive despite the setback, acknowledging the difficulty of the day but expressing satisfaction with his effort and determination. He described the experience as motivation to improve on longer climbs in the future, showing resilience after a tough race. This event marked an important step in his season, especially after a collarbone injury disrupted his earlier plans and forced him to miss key races. Looking ahead, Jorgenson will join his Jumbo-Visma teammates, including Tour de France favourite Jonas Vingegaard, for a final altitude training camp in Tignes as they prepare for the Grand Tour’s start in Barcelona on 4 July. His performance in the Tour Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes, including a strong showing in the team time trial, offers encouragement despite the challenges faced on the mountain stages. The experience gained here will be crucial as he aims to build form and fitness for the demanding weeks ahead in the cycling calendar.