Cycling: 'I was really smashed'… the scare, then the incredible unfinished comeback of Paul Seixas

French cyclist Paul Seixas endured a dramatic ordeal during the 7th stage of the Tour Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes, suffering a crash described as a 'flight onto the tarmac' at approximately 70 km/h. The incident occurred on a descent, which Seixas attributed to his own error in taking a corner too fast, a risky strategy he had employed before to gain positions.

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I paid for it today.

'I paid for it today,' Seixas stated after the stage, his elbows and knees bandaged. He admitted to feeling 'really smashed' and initially doubted his ability to continue. However, his team, Decathlon CMA-CGM, immediately mobilized to support him. Teammates Stefan Bisseger and Dan Hoole waited for him, and together they began a remarkable chase to regain the peloton, overcoming a deficit that at one point reached four minutes.

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I wasn't sure I was going to get back up, I was really smashed.

With the help of teammates Aurélien Paret-Peintre and Nicolas Prodhomme, Seixas steadily closed the gap. The final push came from Léo Bisiaux, who sacrificed his own race to help Seixas rejoin the main group with 38 km remaining. Although Seixas ultimately could not contend for the stage win on the final climb of Grand Colombier, his tenacious effort and the team's collective sacrifice earned him the designation of the day's most combative rider.

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It was incredible what they did, they gave 200% even though I made a mistake. I gave everything until the end for these five guys who sacrificed themselves one after another for me.