Portugal Colonial - Del Toro overhauls Tuckwell to win Auvergne Tour

The 22-year-old UAE Team Emirates rider will now head to the Tour de France as a 'super-domestique' for the sport's dominant figure Tadej Pogacar, who will be chasing a record-equalling fifth Grande Boucle title.

Having already won the UAE Tour and Tirreno-Adriatico this season, Del Toro completed a third week-long stage race victory in probably the most prestigious of that category.

Del Toro, who started the day third overall, attacked with just over 9km remaining of the final of four tough climbs in Sunday's short 120km stage from Beaufort to Plateau de Solaison-Brison.

None of the other overall contenders went with him but Spain's Juan Ayuso counter-attacked 4km later and took second place on the stage.

But that was only enough to move up from fourth to third in the overall standings as Australian overnight leader Luke Tuckwell battled to limit his losses and took eighth on the stage at 1min 43sec.

That was enough to finish second overall.

American Matteo Jorgenson was the biggest loser, finishing 10th on the stage to drop from second overall to fourth.

G.M.Castelo--PC