Stage 7 of the Tour Auvergne – Rhône-Alpes 2026 brings the race to Grand Colombier on Saturday, 13th June, and it now carries far more significance after the dramatic GC reshuffle on stage 6. Luke Tuckwell starts the day in the yellow and blue jersey after Red Bull-BORA-hansgrohe turned the Crest-Voland stage into a breakaway masterclass, with Maxim Van Gils winning the stage and Tuckwell moving into the overall lead.
For UK viewers, stage 7 starts at 11:25 BST, with the finish expected around 15:00 BST. The key live window should begin around 13:00 BST, when coverage is likely to move towards the decisive climbs and the final ascent of Grand Colombier.
The stage runs for 133.6km from La Bridoire to Grand Colombier, with a hard climbing sequence across the Col du Banchet, Col de la Crusille, Côte de Saint-Maurice-de-Rotherens, Lacets du Grand Colombier, Col de Richemond and the summit finish. The final climb is the major set-piece, with the Grand Colombier listed at 8.4km at 10.2 per cent.
For wider race context, see our Tour Auvergne – Rhône-Alpes 2026 full route guide, Tour Auvergne – Rhône-Alpes 2026 stage 7 preview, GC and jerseys after Tour Auvergne – Rhône-Alpes 2026 stage 6 and how to watch Tour Auvergne – Rhône-Alpes 2026 in the UK.
Photo Credit: GettyWhat time does Tour Auvergne – Rhône-Alpes 2026 stage 7 start?
Stage 7 starts in La Bridoire at 11:25 BST on Saturday, 13th June. The stage is expected to finish at Grand Colombier around 15:00 BST.
Key stage 7 timings for UK viewers:
| Stage 7 detail | UK time |
|---|---|
| Stage start | 11:25 BST |
| Main live window to check | From around 13:00 BST |
| Expected finish | Around 15:00 BST |
| Stage distance | 133.6km |
The stage is shorter than stage 6, but much more concentrated. The early climbs mean the race could become active well before the final hour, while the Grand Colombier summit finish should decide the stage and possibly reshape the overall standings again.
The wider stage-by-stage shape of the race is covered in our Tour Auvergne – Rhône-Alpes 2026 full route guide, while the tactical detail for this specific day is covered in our stage 7 preview.
Where can I watch Tour Auvergne – Rhône-Alpes 2026 stage 7 in the UK?
UK viewers can watch Tour Auvergne – Rhône-Alpes 2026 stage 7 through TNT Sports and HBO Max.
TNT Sports is the main linear TV route, while HBO Max is the streaming option. The race may appear under Tour Auvergne – Rhône-Alpes, Tour Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes, or the rebranded event listing within the cycling section, so it is worth checking the live sport schedule manually if it does not appear immediately on the front page.
The main point for stage 7 is the timing. Coverage should be checked from around 13:00 BST, with the finish expected around 15:00 BST. That should give viewers the key phase across the later climbs and the final summit finish.
For the full UK broadcast picture across the week, including the TNT Sports and HBO Max setup, see our guide on how to watch Tour Auvergne – Rhône-Alpes 2026 in the UK.
Photo Credit: GettyIs Tour Auvergne – Rhône-Alpes 2026 stage 7 free to watch in the UK?
There is no confirmed UK free-to-air broadcast for stage 7.
UK viewers should treat TNT Sports and HBO Max as the main live options. Free coverage may exist in some other markets, but the UK route is through Warner Bros. Discovery’s cycling coverage.
For viewers without access, live text updates, race social channels, team updates and post-stage highlights will be the most practical alternatives. But anyone wanting to watch the Grand Colombier GC fight live in the UK should check TNT Sports and HBO Max first.
Why stage 7 is a major viewing day
Stage 7 was always going to be one of the decisive mountain stages of the race. After stage 6, it has become even more important.
Luke Tuckwell now leads the general classification after finishing 3rd at Crest-Voland. He sits 3:06 ahead of Paul Seixas, with Juan Ayuso at 3:15, Isaac del Toro and Jørgen Nordhagen both at 3:22, and Kévin Vauquelin at 3:50. That gives Tuckwell a strong lead, but not a secure one with Grand Colombier and Plateau de Solaison still to come.
Stage 6 changed the race through a huge breakaway. Stage 7 should be more direct. Red Bull-BORA-hansgrohe now have to defend yellow, while Decathlon CMA CGM Team, Lidl-Trek, UAE Team Emirates-XRG, Team Visma | Lease a Bike and Netcompany INEOS Cycling Team all have clear reasons to attack.
Grand Colombier is steep enough to make waiting dangerous. If the favourites leave everything until the final kilometres, Tuckwell may limit the damage. If they make the race hard before the summit climb, the yellow jersey could come under serious pressure.
The pre-race hierarchy was already framed in our Tour Auvergne – Rhône-Alpes 2026 contenders preview, but stage 6 has changed the order of responsibility. The favourites are no longer simply testing each other. They are chasing a rider with a real advantage.
Stage 7 route: La Bridoire to Grand Colombier
The stage starts in La Bridoire and finishes at Grand Colombier after 133.6km. It is a compact mountain stage, with climbing spread throughout the route before the final summit finish.
The listed climbs are:
- Col du Banchet
- Col de la Crusille
- Côte de Saint-Maurice-de-Rotherens
- Lacets du Grand Colombier
- Col de Richemond
- Grand Colombier
The final climb is the most important. Grand Colombier is listed at 8.4km at 10.2 per cent, which makes it one of the hardest climbing tests of the week. The gradient gives the strongest climbers a real chance to force gaps, while the climbs before it can strip away team support.
The stage is not long, but that could make it more explosive. With a start at 11:25 BST and an expected finish around 15:00 BST, the race should move quickly into its decisive phase.
For a fuller breakdown of the climb sequence and stage tactics, see our Tour Auvergne – Rhône-Alpes 2026 stage 7 preview.
What happened on stage 6?
Stage 6 changed the Tour Auvergne – Rhône-Alpes 2026 completely. A large breakaway gained enough time to become a GC threat, and Red Bull-BORA-hansgrohe made the most of it. Maxim Van Gils won the stage at Crest-Voland, Tobias Halland Johannessen finished 2nd, and Luke Tuckwell crossed the line 3rd to move into the overall lead.
Alex Baudin lost the yellow jersey and dropped to 7th overall. The riders who had looked best placed before the mountain block now have to chase. Seixas, Ayuso, del Toro, Nordhagen and Vauquelin are all still close enough to win the race, but the tactical situation has flipped.
The result was a major contrast with the expected pattern set out before the stage. Our Tour Auvergne – Rhône-Alpes 2026 stage 6 preview framed Crest-Voland as the first big mountain test, but the size and strength of the breakaway made it much more than that.
For the full classification picture after Crest-Voland, see our GC and jerseys after Tour Auvergne – Rhône-Alpes 2026 stage 6.
GC situation before stage 7
Luke Tuckwell starts stage 7 in yellow and blue, with a lead of more than three minutes over the nearest challengers.
General classification before stage 7:
| Position | Rider | Team | Time / gap |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Luke Tuckwell | Red Bull-BORA-hansgrohe | 22:14:55 |
| 2 | Paul Seixas | Decathlon CMA CGM Team | +3:06 |
| 3 | Juan Ayuso | Lidl-Trek | +3:15 |
| 4 | Isaac del Toro | UAE Team Emirates-XRG | +3:22 |
| 5 | Jørgen Nordhagen | Team Visma | Lease a Bike | +3:22 |
| 6 | Sam Maisonobe | Cofidis | +3:35 |
| 7 | Alex Baudin | EF Education-EasyPost | +3:38 |
| 8 | Kévin Vauquelin | Netcompany INEOS Cycling Team | +3:50 |
| 9 | Cian Uijtdebroeks | Movistar Team | +4:09 |
| 10 | Léo Bisiaux | Decathlon CMA CGM Team | +4:17 |
Those gaps create a clear tactical picture. Tuckwell can afford to lose some time, but he cannot afford a full collapse. Seixas, Ayuso, del Toro and Nordhagen need to attack, but they also have to be careful not to help each other too much while chasing yellow.
Vauquelin is the rider who may need the most aggressive approach. At 3:50 down, he is still in the race, but he needs movement before Plateau de Solaison.
Who should viewers watch on stage 7?
Paul Seixas is the closest challenger to Tuckwell and should be one of the key riders on Grand Colombier. Decathlon CMA CGM Team also have Léo Bisiaux in the top 10, which gives them more than one card if they want to make the race hard before the final climb.
Juan Ayuso is another obvious name. He starts 3rd overall and needs to take time before the final stage. Lidl-Trek cannot afford to wait for Plateau de Solaison if Red Bull-BORA-hansgrohe look comfortable.
Isaac del Toro is one of the most unpredictable threats. UAE Team Emirates-XRG have a rider who can attack sharply, race instinctively and turn a steep final climb into a stage-winning move.
Jørgen Nordhagen is level with del Toro and remains a major GC threat for Team Visma | Lease a Bike. If he can follow the accelerations on Grand Colombier, he keeps his podium and overall hopes alive.
Kévin Vauquelin, Alex Baudin, Cian Uijtdebroeks, Sam Maisonobe and Léo Bisiaux all belong in the wider GC picture. A climb like Grand Colombier can move riders up or down quickly.
The depth of the field is clear from the full start list for Tour Auvergne – Rhône-Alpes 2026, while our team-by-team guide explains why this final mountain block is not only about individual leaders, but also about which squads still have the numbers to shape the race.
Could the breakaway win again?
A breakaway can win stage 7, but it should be harder than on stage 6.
The peloton was punished heavily at Crest-Voland for letting a huge move gain too much time. Red Bull-BORA-hansgrohe now have the race lead to defend, while several teams behind them need the stage to become a GC fight. That should reduce the chances of another dangerous group being given a large advantage.
There is still a reason for attackers to try. The mountains classification remains active, and riders far enough down on GC may be allowed room. The early climbs also suit a strong breakaway. But the Grand Colombier summit finish is so important for the overall that the favourites should eventually take control.
The most likely pattern is a breakaway up the road early, followed by the GC teams taking over before or on the final climb.
What time should UK viewers tune in?
The stage starts at 11:25 BST, but the main viewing window should be from around 13:00 BST. That should allow viewers to catch the later climbs and the build-up to Grand Colombier.
Suggested UK viewing plan:
| Time | What to expect |
|---|---|
| 11:25 BST | Stage start in La Bridoire |
| Around 13:00 BST | Main live window to check on TNT Sports and HBO Max |
| Around 15:00 BST | Expected finish on Grand Colombier |
Because the route is short and mountainous, the race may already be split by the time live coverage settles in. Checking live updates before the broadcast begins is sensible, especially after the stage 6 breakaway changed the race so dramatically.
How stage 7 could shape the GC
Stage 7 could either confirm Tuckwell as a serious overall contender or bring the race back towards the pre-stage 6 favourites. The difference will be how he handles Grand Colombier.
If Tuckwell stays close to Seixas, Ayuso, del Toro and Nordhagen, he will carry a strong lead into the final stage to Plateau de Solaison. That would make him very hard to remove from yellow. If he loses a minute or more, the race becomes far more open on Sunday.
For the chasing riders, the question is whether they cooperate or mark each other. Seixas is closest, so others may not want to tow him towards yellow. Ayuso, del Toro and Nordhagen all need time, but they also need to think about each other. That tension could either produce a series of attacks or allow Tuckwell to limit the damage.
Grand Colombier is the kind of climb that can make those calculations irrelevant if one rider is simply stronger. That is why stage 7 is essential viewing.
The race’s wider role as a June form check is covered in our beginner’s guide to Tour Auvergne – Rhône-Alpes 2026, but this weekend is now about more than Tour de France preparation. It has become a proper GC fight in its own right.
Tour Auvergne – Rhône-Alpes 2026 stage 7 summary
Stage 7 of the Tour Auvergne – Rhône-Alpes 2026 starts at 11:25 BST on Saturday, 13th June. The stage runs for 133.6km from La Bridoire to Grand Colombier and is expected to finish around 15:00 BST.
UK viewers can watch through TNT Sports and HBO Max, with the main live window to check from around 13:00 BST. There is no confirmed UK free-to-air broadcast.
This is one of the decisive days of the race. Tuckwell starts in yellow after the stage 6 breakaway changed the GC, but Grand Colombier gives Seixas, Ayuso, del Toro, Nordhagen and Vauquelin the chance to strike back before Sunday’s final stage to Plateau de Solaison.
