"I've never won a sprint before" - Quinn Simmons shows Tour de France readiness with Auvergne breakaway win
Cycling
Quinn Simmons is a rider who does not win very often, but always wins big. In 2025 he won the USA national championships and stages at the Volta a Catalunya and Tour de Suisse. In 2026 he opened up his tally this Wednesday afternoon, winning stage 4 of the Tour Auvergne-Rhône Alpes.
Winning another breakaway stage
This was fruit of a successful breakaway, in his final race before the national championships - meaning it was his second win in the jersey he won 13 months ago.
"You never know when your last chance to win in the national jersey is. You have to earn it back every year. I'm so proud to race in this jersey and then also race for this team and race with these guys. To be flying this flag in Europe is beautiful for me," Simmons said in a post-race interview. The chances were on the front group's side, featuring 12 men against a peloton under favourable conditions, with a tailwind in the final kilometers.
"I actually don't know how close we were. I never looked. We obviously didn't have the car behind our group, so I didn't hear too much. But to be honest, when we only had a minute and a half with 70 kilometers to go, I didn't believe. I wanted a hard day in front to prepare for what comes next," he admits.
A sprint wasn't in his plans, or wishes. The American did not know how he would fare in the group, but there was no alternative with the speeds in the final kilometers nearing 60Km/h.
But by the time the frontrunners launched their bid for the line, the Lidl-Trek rider ended up being the strongest. "So you just go and commit full out. I've never won a sprint before, so that's kinda cool," he shared.
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Simmons ready for the Tour de France
Simmons seems to be coming into form nicely ahead of the Tour de France, winning once again right before it, as happened last year - where he went on to be the race's top domestique, as chosen by the race organizers.
"Swiss (Tour de Suisse 2025, ed.) was the last time I put my hands in the air. Now I have the two biggest one-week stage races, I have a stage in each, both in the national jersey. That's pretty special for me".
And as for the Tour de France, his selection seems pretty certain, if it wasn't already beforehand.
"I think I punched my ticket. That's the biggest dream. But first I go home for the nationals. I'd really like to bring this jersey back and then we can speak for the Tour."
Rúben SilvaEditor-in-Chief
A founding contributor to CyclingUpToDate since its launch in January 2022, Ruben Silva has played a central role in shaping the site’s editorial direction and long-term growth. Before joining the project, he built his experience through independent blogging at Echelons Hub and by producing race previews for Ciclismo Internacional, developing a strong analytical voice rooted in daily engagement with professional cycling.
Beyond editorial work, he has been closely involved in the expansion and coordination of CyclingUpToDate’s wider network, helping establish and support sister platforms across multiple languages. This includes ongoing collaboration with CiclismoAlDia (Spanish), CiclismoAtual (Portuguese), WielrennenUpToDate (Dutch), and RadsportAktuell (German), contributing to a shared editorial vision and consistent international coverage.
He also helps oversee editorial governance across the network, setting standards for accuracy and consistency and coordinating updates or corrections when needed.
Originally from the Porto metropolitan area in Portugal, he holds a bachelor’s degree in Geography. His path into cycling journalism was shaped not through formal media training, but through independent reporting, community engagement, and sustained on-the-ground involvement in the sport.
Over the course of his career, he has conducted approximately 100 interviews across road cycling and cyclocross, ranging from one-to-one conversations and online formats to press conferences and on-site pre- and post-race coverage. His interviews include leading riders, team managers, and prominent figures within cycling media: Tadej Pogacar, Jonas Vingegaard, Mathieu van der Poel, Primoz Roglic, Wout van Aert, Joao Almeida and Tom Pidcock; managers like Patrick Lefevere and Joxean Matxin; and YouTube personality Bryan Kennedy (BKXC)...
Within 18 months of launch, he helped grow CyclingUpToDate’s English-language platform into one of the most-read cycling news websites, built entirely from the ground up. As both a professional journalist and lifelong cycling enthusiast, his focus remains on delivering accurate, timely, and well-contextualized coverage.
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- bravo! a rider likes jonas needs motivation and he needs to believe in being able to reach goals. he - like anybody else in the world - doesn't believe that he can win the tdf with pogi present. and what's it worth for when pogi is not there? second class victory only. he has checked all three grand tours, so what is left if not retire? the classics! go for it, jonas!Ketterechts02-11-2026
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- dude, Lemond never even was in the same race as Armstrong. He throws all these aspersions on other American riders who might usurp his throne as the greatest ever American racer. He doesn't say a single thing about (foreign) dopers who he actually raced against. Biggest douchebag move ever. I used to revere that guy, now I despise him. His actions are so weird.fatsupermodel02-11-2026
- This is just stupid, You do what you are good at not what you are weak at. He has no results to speak of when he participated. Even Froome, Conatdor had very little. With Pogi there he wont win none of the classics. he is already 30+ with a few years left at the top. It takes years to get good at classics. Is that really worth the effort???abstractengineer02-11-2026
- Sure, little fella.awp02-11-2026
- You'll be the ongoing joke of 2027 with anything you post here!frieders302-11-2026
- Awwww your inside information must be from PogiFanGirl. You two daughters of different mothers?frieders302-11-2026
- Hey PogIFanGirl...wipe that cream from your lips! You're ever loving drooling and whatever you have for Tadej has your brain fried!frieders302-11-2026
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