'I didn't have the legs to do anything': Seixas reflects on Alpe d'Huez stage
France's hopes for a podium finish in its home Grand Tour took a hit Friday as Paul Seixas (Decathlon-CMA CGM) shipped a few more seconds to UAE Team Emirates-XRG's Isaac del Toro on the Alpe d'Huez stage.
In the end the deficit was small, but Seixas said afterward that he simply couldn't respond to the accelerations. "It was really terrible," Seixas told media at the finish. He highlighted fans for creating what he called a "magical atmosphere" on the climb, but added that he didn't have the form to match. "This was really one of the hardest days I've ever experienced on the bike," he said.
Seixas is in a battle with Del Toro for the final podium spot and the white jersey of best young rider. He is now 24 seconds behind the Mexican, who is also riding in service of race leader Tadej Pogačar. There is one major mountain stage left, Saturday's queen stage that takes in the Col de Croix de Fer, the double climb of the Col du Telegraphe and Col du Galibier, and finishes atop Alpe d'Huez after a novel ascent of the Col de Sarenne, a back way into Alpe that was used one time as a descent for a Tour stage but has never featured in the race as a climb.
