The 2026 Tour Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes (formerly Critérium du Dauphiné) ends Sunday with its queen stage. Stage 8 runs 120.1 km from Beaufort to the Plateau de Solaison – Brison summit finish. Expect around 3,860 m of climbing packed into a short, explosive day.
The general classification sits on a knife edge. Luke Tuckwell leads by the slimmest of margins. One big attack on the final climb could flip everything.
Date, Time & Venue Sunday, June 14, 2026 Start: Beaufort, France (~13:20 CEST / approx. 16:50 IST) Finish: Plateau de Solaison – Brison (summit) Expected finish window: ~17:20 CEST
Route & Key Climbs No flat roads to speak of. The climbing starts almost immediately.
Key Climbs Table
| Climb | Distance | Avg Gradient | Category | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Col du Pré | 6.9 km | 10.1% | 1 | Opens the stage hard |
| Montée de Bisanne | 11.4 km | 7.7% | 1 | Long valley-side effort |
| Col des Aravis | 7.0 km | 6.8% | 2 | Mid-stage reset point |
| Plateau de Solaison | 11.3 km | 9.1% | HC | Summit finish; first 3 km often >10%, one ramp hits 14.5% |
Current General Classification (pre-Stage 8)
| Position | Rider | Team | Gap |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Luke Tuckwell | Red Bull – BORA – hansgrohe | – |
| 2 | Matteo Jorgenson | Visma | Lease a Bike | + 0:42 |
| 3 | Isaac Del Toro | UAE Team Emirates XRG | + 0:49 |
| 4 | Juan Ayuso | Lidl-Trek | + 1:06 |
| 5 | Tobias Halland Johannessen | Uno-X Mobility | + 1:33 |
| 6 | Paul Seixas | Decathlon CMA CGM | + 1:54 |
Key Rider Battles & Form
- Luke Tuckwell – Small lead, strong team support from Red Bull-BORA. Must survive the final climb without cracking.
- Isaac Del Toro – Just won Stage 7 on the Grand Colombier. Explosive on steep gradients. The biggest threat to yellow.
- Paul Seixas – French home hope. Young, powerful on long climbs, and hungry for a big result before the Tour de France.
- Matteo Jorgenson – Experienced, consistent. Visma will look to set up attacks or control.
- Juan Ayuso & Tobias Johannessen – Dangerous if the group fragments. Both capable of big moves on the final ramps.
Weather & Conditions Start in Beaufort: ~27°C, sunny, light north-westerly wind. Summit finish: ~19°C, sunny but cooler at altitude. Alpine weather can shift quickly. The climb faces into the wind in places — crosswinds or sudden temperature drops possible higher up. Riders will need to manage effort carefully in the heat of the day before the cooler summit.
Injury & Team News The peloton has dealt with illness and crashes through the week. Paul Seixas showed real character after an early crash on Stage 7, chasing back and staying competitive. Wout van Aert skipped earlier stages due to injury. Always check official team updates and the race radio closer to the start for last-minute withdrawals.
Stage Prediction & GC Outlook This is a day for pure climbers. Expect early attacks to test legs, but the real selection happens on Plateau de Solaison.
Stage Winner Prediction: Isaac Del Toro or Paul Seixas edges a narrow win in a reduced group. A strong breakaway could surprise if the GC teams hesitate.
Final GC Prediction: Luke Tuckwell holds yellow, but the margin will be under a minute. Del Toro or Seixas could steal it with one explosive move on the steepest sections. Jorgenson stays close for podium.
The 2022 edition saw Jonas Vingegaard win this same finish. History shows summit days here reward the strongest on the day.
Fantasy Team Tips
- GC Focus: Tuckwell (safe points if he holds), Del Toro & Seixas (high-upside attackers).
- Stage Points: Prioritize Del Toro, Seixas, and any strong breakaway specialists.
- Small League: Add Johannessen or Ayuso as differentials.
- Grand League: Stack the top 3-4 GC riders plus one aggressive climber for stage win points.
Check last 5 stage performances for recent form — Del Toro’s Stage 7 win makes him the hottest hand.
Live Streaming & Telecast
- France: FranceTV (free coverage)
- Australia: SBS On Demand (free)
- USA: Peacock
- Canada: FloBikes / FloSports app
- UK: TNT Sports
- Other regions: Official race ticker at tour-auvergne-rhone-alpes.fr, highlights on YouTube, and various national broadcasters.
Many fans will follow via the official live timing and radio. The final 20 km on the climb usually delivers the best drama.
Records & Milestones
- First edition under the new Tour Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes name.
- Plateau de Solaison returns as a summit finish for the first time since 2022.
- Tuckwell aims to become one of the youngest recent winners of this prestigious pre-Tour de France race.
- Del Toro chasing a second consecutive big mountain stage win.
