Paul Seixas chases Del Toro: podium hopes remain alive ahead of the mountain showdown

Le Bourg-d’Oisans – July 25, 2026: Paul Seixas faces the biggest day of his first Tour de France, still with a chance. The 19-year-old rider from Decathlon CMA CGM is fourth overall, 24 seconds behind Mexican rider Isaac del Toro of UAE Team Emirates-XRG, who is third overall. Between them and Paris, mountain stages remain that could reshape the general classification.

Stage 20 covers 170.9 kilometres from Le Bourg-d’Oisans to Alpe d’Huez. It is not a conventional final test, but a relentless succession of long, demanding efforts. The route crosses the Col de la Croix de Fer, Col du Télégraphe, Col du Galibier and Col de Sarenne, before finishing with the final climb to Alpe d’Huez. Three of these climbs are classified as hors catégorie.

For Seixas, the small time gap is tactically decisive. He does not need to drop del Toro on the first mountain; he can wait for moments when teams are exhausted and support riders are gone. UAE has a stronger line-up in terms of numbers, including del Toro, but working for Tadej Pogačar could drain the Mexican rider’s strength late in the race.

Stage 19 on July 24, 2026 showed how closely matched this duel is. Del Toro finished seventh on the climb to Alpe d’Huez, while Seixas followed two places behind in the same time group. Only four seconds separated them in the stage standings. It was not a major shift in the classification, but it again showed that the two young riders are almost evenly matched on the steep Alpine roads.

Seixas has qualities that could be especially valuable on this stage. Throughout the race, he has repeatedly shown controlled climbing rather than chasing every early attack. Third place on the stage in Le Lioran on July 14, along with his consistency in the high-mountain stages, has kept him in podium contention. The question now is not only explosiveness, but how he manages his effort over nearly 171 kilometres.

Del Toro has the advantage on the clock and can ride more defensively. But on a stage featuring the 17.7-kilometre Galibier, the 12.8-kilometre Col de Sarenne and the final steep climb to Alpe d’Huez, a 24-second lead is not safe. The time bonuses of 10, 6 and 4 seconds at the finish add further pressure.

Pogačar’s yellow jersey is another story, and the battle for third place is France’s hope in the closing stages of this Tour. Seixas does not need to force a major move. A well-timed attack, an isolated del Toro, or a small gap before the final climb may be enough. A podium in Paris is not yet secured for this debutant. But on July 25, 2026, it is within reach.