"I hope I don't crash on Alpe d'Huez because of the spectators" - Paul Seixas wishes for a fair duel with Isaac del Toro
CyclingFriday, 24 July 2026 at 03:00
The vicinity of mythical Alpe d'Huez will be the scene to the 2026 Tour de France's grand finale. Over the coming two days, the positions in general classification will be decided. Whilst Tadej Pogacar's overall victory is not really questioned at the moment, the rest of podium spots could well change its holders in stages 19 & 20.
Two key protagonsits of the final block will be third overall Isaac del Toro whose task will consist of defending a 20-second lead over Paul Seixas. Further moves up or down the standings for both men are less likely as second-placed Remco Evenepoel has a two-minute advantage over Del Toro. And fifth Juan Ayuso is two minutes behind Seixas.
For the 19-year-old Seixas, riding a third week of Tour de France is a brand new experience. But so far, he's shown no weakness. "I feel good, for a third week, it's pretty good," the Frenchman confirmed after stage 18.
The finish in Orcières-Merlette didn't put high demands on GC favourites, something that has been welcomed by most. Now the focus shifts to Alpe d'Huez. "I think it's going to go well. With the fatigue of the third week, you have to pace yourself. I think we rode well, we stayed together for a long time."
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Seixas underlines that even though no gaps opened between the top-10 contenders, the eighteenth stage was far from easiest with riders asked to take on close to 4,000 meters of elevation.
"I think it was a day that hurt everyone's legs, but the goal was really to conserve energy. There are two very tough days coming up, and the Tour will be decided on them - at least the podium - and I'm happy to have gotten through today without any problems," Seixas highlights.
Paul Seixas did not falter even in the stage 16 ITT
The stage 18 ultimately went to early breakaway. Ecuadorian Richard Carapaz triumphed ahead of Mauro Schmid and Matteo Jorgenson. Paul Seixas crossed the finish line 4:35 later in 16th position as part of the main group of GC contenders.
Fear of Alpe d'Huez
Tomorrow will be Seixas' first time riding up Alpe d'Huez in competition. The climb itself is quite a challenge, but it's the massive crowds which arrive every time that makes it a legendary cycling venue. Yet that's also where one of Seixas' major concerns comes from.
"I especially hope I don't crash on the climb of Alpe d'Huez because I think there will be a lot of spectators, and we've seen that it's quite dangerous. I hope everything goes well, and then it's the legs that will decide."
Another reason for concern us an illness spreading in the UAE team bus. "There are some riders who are a bit sick at UAE Team Emirates - XRG, it's really a shame for them. We'll see how it goes and whether these riders continue or not. I hope that Del Toro and Pogacar won't be sick, that's not how we want to race. These will be difficult stages, so it's the legs that will decide."
Ondrej ZhasilCycling Journalist
Ondřej Zhasil is a cycling journalist at CyclingUpToDate and has been part of the team since 2023. He is based in Ostrava, the third-largest city in the Czech Republic, and covers professional cycling across the main UCI competitions, including the Tour de France, the Giro d’Italia, and La Vuelta a España. A key focus of his work is startlist analysis and pre-race coverage, where he examines team selections, rider line-ups, and tactical scenarios ahead of major events.
Alongside WorldTour coverage, Ondřej has developed specific expertise in junior cycling and in racing across East Asia, including competitions in China and Japan. He also maintains a broad working knowledge of other disciplines and levels, including cyclocross, while continuing to expand his understanding of mountain bike racing.
Ondřej holds a bachelor’s degree in Mathematics and Physics, which supports his analytical, data-driven approach to performance and race analysis. In his reporting, he regularly uses ProCyclingStats for results, statistics, and historical context. He places strong emphasis on careful sourcing, editorial accuracy, and updating articles promptly when new, verified information becomes available.
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